Fitting
How to stop a window feeder falling off.
A window feeder is only as good as its suction cups. The good news: almost every fall comes down to one of four things, and all of them are easy to fix.
Why window feeders fall
- Dirty or greasy glass. Even an invisible film of grime stops a cup sealing.
- Cold, stiff cups. Rubber that's cold or old can't mould itself to the glass.
- The wrong surface. Textured, frosted or filmed glass has tiny gaps air can leak through.
- Overloading. A tray piled high with seed, plus a heavy bird or two, adds up.
The three-minute fitting routine
- Clean the glass. Wash the outside of the pane with warm soapy water, rinse, then dry completely with a lint-free cloth.
- Warm the cups. Hold each one in warm (not boiling) water for a minute so the rubber softens.
- Press from the centre out. Push each cup firmly against the glass, squeezing out every bit of air.
- Wait before filling. Give the seal an hour before you add seed.
Some people add a tiny smear of water to the rim of each cup. It can help a seal on smooth glass. Avoid oils or petroleum jelly, which attract dirt.
In cold weather
Suction weakens on cold glass. If you can, fit your feeder on a mild day. After a cold snap or a frost, press each cup again. A quick check when you refill is enough.
When to replace the cups
Sun and seasons make rubber cloudy and stiff. Once cups lose their clarity or spring, swap them. For most windows that's about once a year. Our spare suction cups come in a pack of six.
And if a Perchwild window feeder does come unstuck from clean glass, our “Falls off? We replace it.” guarantee has you covered.
Written by the Perchwild team. Questions? Write to us.
