Nyjer is a tiny, oily, expensive seed, and it punishes the wrong feeder. Port design and how easily the thing comes apart decide this purchase — not price.
By Scooter M.Published September 12, 2026Content updated September 12, 2026Prices verified September 12, 2026
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For most yards, a metal mesh or screen finch feeder is the right buy: there are no pinhole ports to clog, the whole surface is a perch, and metal survives being chewed. The Nature's Way Sunglow mesh publishes 2 quarts at 13.25 in and the More Birds screen publishes 1.6 lb with a seed diverter. If squirrels have already destroyed a finch feeder, the Brome Squirrel Buster Nyjer is the one with a published weight mechanism and a lifetime warranty. If you have never fed nyjer before, start with the $23 plastic tube and find out whether finches visit at all.
Finch feeders are their own category for one reason: nyjer, sometimes sold as thistle, is a much smaller seed than sunflower. A standard tube feeder's ports pour it on the ground. So these feeders use pinhole ports or fine mesh instead, and that single design choice creates every trade-off on this page. This sits alongside the feeder-by-species guide, which maps birds to feeder types generally; this page is the finch end of it in detail. Every figure below is the maker's own published number, read on the date in the sources — we have not handled any of these feeders.
What we judged on
Whether it can be taken apart. Nyjer is oily and it goes rancid. Every feeder here that we recommend states tool-free disassembly, because a feeder that cannot be stripped down does not get cleaned, and a dirty nyjer feeder is worse than no feeder.
Port design versus mesh. Pinhole ports meter the seed precisely and clog when it takes on moisture. Mesh cannot clog and lets far more birds feed at once, but it also lets rain straight in. This is the central choice and neither answer is wrong.
Capacity against refill frequency. Published figures here run from 1.6 quarts to 2.4 lb. Bigger is not automatically better with nyjer: seed that sits for weeks in a big tube spoils before it is eaten.
Material. Metal survives squirrels and weather; plastic is cheaper and lighter. Two of these are all metal, one is metal over a plastic tube, one is plastic.
Whether the maker publishes anything at all. Three of these five publish capacity, dimensions, weight and materials. That is unusually good for this category, and it is why they are the ones here.
Honesty about limits. Brome publishes the list of animals its mechanism will not stop. More Birds prints Squirrel Resistant: No. Both of those earn a lot of trust.
The picks
Ranked picks with what each is best for, our score out of ten, the budget band it falls in, and a link to check its current price on Amazon.
#
Pick
Best for
Score
Price
01
Brome Squirrel Buster Nyjer (model 1016)The only feeder here that shuts itself when a squirrel lands on it, and the only one with a lifetime care program behind it.Under $100
Finches, when squirrels have already ruined one feeder
Nature's WayNo photoNature's Way Sunglow Metal Mesh Thistle Bird Feeder (KMESH-1)All metal, 360 degrees of mesh, and no ports to block — the design that lets the most birds feed at once and survives being gnawed.Under $50
Clinging finches, and anyone tired of replacing chewed plastic
More BirdsNo photoMore Birds 13 Inch Finch Screen Bird Feeder (model 38115)An all-metal screen that lets a bird cling, perch on the tray or hang upside down — and a maker honest enough to print that it is not squirrel-resistant.Under $50
Nature's WayNo photoNature's Way Bottoms-Up Metal Thistle Finch Feeder (NMRT-1)Ports above and below each perch, so a bird that will feed hanging upside down gets access that a sparrow mostly will not.Under $50
Goldfinches specifically, when house sparrows keep taking over
Nature's Way Large Plastic Thistle Tube Bird Feeder (PT35186)A plain six-port tube at the lowest price here, with the largest capacity of the Nature's Way feeders — and the shortest life, because it is plastic.Under $25
The cheapest way to find out whether you have finches at all
32 in from base to hanger loopSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Nyjer (formerly Squirrel Buster Finch, model 1016) product page, store.bromebirdcare.com, read 2026-09-12
Perching and clinging
Wire shroud doubles as a cling surface, with perches at the lower portsSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Nyjer (formerly Squirrel Buster Finch, model 1016) product page, store.bromebirdcare.com, read 2026-09-12
Squirrel mechanism
Weight-activated: the maker states that when a squirrel climbs on, its weight forces the shroud down and closes the portsSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Nyjer (formerly Squirrel Buster Finch, model 1016) product page, store.bromebirdcare.com, read 2026-09-12
Ventilation
Seed Tube Ventilation — vents at the top let humidity and hot air escapeSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Nyjer (formerly Squirrel Buster Finch, model 1016) product page, store.bromebirdcare.com, read 2026-09-12
Cleaning
Dismantles by hand into components, no toolsSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Nyjer (formerly Squirrel Buster Finch, model 1016) product page, store.bromebirdcare.com, read 2026-09-12
Grackles, starlings, juvenile squirrels, chipmunks, possums, bears, deer and raccoons — Brome publishes this list itselfSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Nyjer (formerly Squirrel Buster Finch, model 1016) product page, store.bromebirdcare.com, read 2026-09-12
Maker's list price and stock
$77.95, add-to-cart on the maker's store on 2026-09-12Source: Brome Squirrel Buster Nyjer (formerly Squirrel Buster Finch, model 1016) product page, store.bromebirdcare.com, read 2026-09-12
What it gets right
Publishes a weight mechanism AND its own limitations, which almost nothing in this category does
2.4 lb is the largest capacity here, so it needs filling least often
Tool-free disassembly, which is what decides whether a nyjer feeder ever gets cleaned
Lifetime Care warranty
What it does not
Roughly three times the price of the plain tubes on this page
32 in tall — it needs real headroom under a hook or a tall pole
The published exclusion list is long: chipmunks and grackles still get in
Overkill if squirrels have never touched your nyjer, which is common — they usually prefer sunflower
Who it is for
Someone who has already replaced a chewed finch feeder once. If the squirrels have found it, this is the one that ends the argument.
Skip this if
Squirrels are not actually raiding your finch feeder. Nyjer is far less attractive to them than sunflower, so many gardens never have this problem, and the money is better spent on a second feeder somewhere else.
Pick 02
Nature's WayNo photo
Clinging finches, and anyone tired of replacing chewed plastic
Nature's Way Sunglow Metal Mesh Thistle Bird Feeder (KMESH-1)
All metal, 360 degrees of mesh, and no ports to block — the design that lets the most birds feed at once and survives being gnawed.
2 quarts, which the maker states is over 2.65 lbSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Sunglow Metal Mesh Thistle Bird Feeder (model KMESH-1) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Feeding surface
360-degree metal mesh for clinging birds; no discrete portsSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Sunglow Metal Mesh Thistle Bird Feeder (model KMESH-1) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Dimensions and weight
13.25 in H x 6 in W x 6 in D; 1.5 lbSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Sunglow Metal Mesh Thistle Bird Feeder (model KMESH-1) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Materials
All metal with a powder-coated finishSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Sunglow Metal Mesh Thistle Bird Feeder (model KMESH-1) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Filling and cleaning
Twist-off lid and a large tube opening; all parts remove without toolsSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Sunglow Metal Mesh Thistle Bird Feeder (model KMESH-1) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Drainage
Holes in the seed tray for rain run-offSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Sunglow Metal Mesh Thistle Bird Feeder (model KMESH-1) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Species named by the maker
Purple finches, pine siskins, house finches, goldfinchesSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Sunglow Metal Mesh Thistle Bird Feeder (model KMESH-1) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Warranty
Not published by the manufacturer in a form we could verify on the product page we read
Maker's list price and stock
$26.99, in stock and ready for shipping on 2026-09-12Source: Nature's Way Bird Products, Sunglow Metal Mesh Thistle Bird Feeder (model KMESH-1) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
What it gets right
Mesh has no ports to clog, which is the most common failure on a nyjer tube
All-metal construction is the one thing squirrels cannot chew through
More birds feed at once than on a six-port tube, because the whole surface is a perch
Shortest feeder here at 13.25 in, so it fits under a low hook
What it does not
Mesh lets rain in as easily as it lets water out, and wet nyjer clumps fast
The maker publishes no warranty on the page we could read
Clinging-only: finches manage it easily, but it excludes birds that will not cling
We could not resolve a matching Amazon listing for this exact model, so the buy link is a tagged search rather than a direct product page
Who it is for
Someone who wants the largest number of finches feeding simultaneously and has a sheltered spot to hang it. Also the right answer where squirrels chew plastic even though they ignore the seed.
Skip this if
Your feeder spot is exposed to driving rain with no cover. Mesh is the wrong choice there; a roofed tube with drainage will keep the seed dry longer.
Pick 03
More BirdsNo photo
Letting finches choose how they feed
More Birds 13 Inch Finch Screen Bird Feeder (model 38115)
An all-metal screen that lets a bird cling, perch on the tray or hang upside down — and a maker honest enough to print that it is not squirrel-resistant.
1.6 lbSource: More Birds 13 Inch Finch Screen Bird Feeder (model 38115) product page, perkypet.com, read 2026-09-12
Dimensions
13.5 in H x 6 in W x 6 in DSource: More Birds 13 Inch Finch Screen Bird Feeder (model 38115) product page, perkypet.com, read 2026-09-12
Materials
Steel, with a yellow powder-coated top and baseSource: More Birds 13 Inch Finch Screen Bird Feeder (model 38115) product page, perkypet.com, read 2026-09-12
Feeding surface
All-metal screen; the maker lists clinging, perching on the tray and feeding upside downSource: More Birds 13 Inch Finch Screen Bird Feeder (model 38115) product page, perkypet.com, read 2026-09-12
Seed diverter
Built in, to move seed into the feeding areas as the level dropsSource: More Birds 13 Inch Finch Screen Bird Feeder (model 38115) product page, perkypet.com, read 2026-09-12
Filling and cleaning
Twist-off top and base; built-in drainage holesSource: More Birds 13 Inch Finch Screen Bird Feeder (model 38115) product page, perkypet.com, read 2026-09-12
Squirrel resistant?
No — stated as such by the makerSource: More Birds 13 Inch Finch Screen Bird Feeder (model 38115) product page, perkypet.com, read 2026-09-12
Seed types
Thistle (nyjer), sunflower chips and nyjer blendsSource: More Birds 13 Inch Finch Screen Bird Feeder (model 38115) product page, perkypet.com, read 2026-09-12
Maker's cleaning guidance
Weekly, or monthly at minimum — a 9:1 water-to-bleach soak, then dish soap and waterSource: More Birds 13 Inch Finch Screen Bird Feeder (model 38115) product page, perkypet.com, read 2026-09-12
Maker's list price and stock
$27.59, add-to-cart on the maker's store on 2026-09-12Source: More Birds 13 Inch Finch Screen Bird Feeder (model 38115) product page, perkypet.com, read 2026-09-12
What it gets right
Three feeding postures on one feeder, so it suits goldfinches and siskins without a second purchase
The seed diverter addresses the real nyjer problem: seed stranding at the bottom out of reach
Takes sunflower chips as well as nyjer, so it is not a single-seed feeder
The maker publishes both a cleaning schedule and a bleach ratio, which is unusual and useful
What it does not
Explicitly not squirrel-resistant, by the maker's own spec sheet
1.6 lb is a small capacity for a feeder this size
A screen in an exposed spot wets through the same way mesh does
We could not resolve a matching Amazon listing for this exact model, so the buy link is a tagged search rather than a direct product page
Who it is for
Someone starting with nyjer who does not yet know whether their finches prefer to cling or perch. This feeder does not make you choose.
Skip this if
Squirrels already raid your feeders. The maker says this one will not stop them, and that is worth believing rather than testing.
Pick 04
Nature's WayNo photo
Goldfinches specifically, when house sparrows keep taking over
Nature's Way Bottoms-Up Metal Thistle Finch Feeder (NMRT-1)
Ports above and below each perch, so a bird that will feed hanging upside down gets access that a sparrow mostly will not.
1.6 quartsSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Bottoms-Up Metal Thistle Finch Feeder (model NMRT-1) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Ports and perches
Six perches, with seed openings both above and below each oneSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Bottoms-Up Metal Thistle Finch Feeder (model NMRT-1) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Dimensions and weight
19.5 in H x 5.75 in W x 5.75 in D; 1 lbSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Bottoms-Up Metal Thistle Finch Feeder (model NMRT-1) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Materials
Powder-coated aluminum, UV-stabilized crack-resistant tube, metal roof and baseSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Bottoms-Up Metal Thistle Finch Feeder (model NMRT-1) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Cleaning
Easy Clean — all parts remove without toolsSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Bottoms-Up Metal Thistle Finch Feeder (model NMRT-1) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Drainage
Drainage base for water run-off and air circulationSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Bottoms-Up Metal Thistle Finch Feeder (model NMRT-1) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Species named by the maker
American goldfinches, house finches, pine siskins, purple finchesSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Bottoms-Up Metal Thistle Finch Feeder (model NMRT-1) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Maker's list price and stock
$28.99, in stock and ready for shipping on 2026-09-12Source: Nature's Way Bird Products, Bottoms-Up Metal Thistle Finch Feeder (model NMRT-1) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
What it gets right
The below-perch ports are a genuine selective feature, not styling — goldfinches feed inverted readily and many competitors do not
Metal roof and base over a plastic tube is the right mix: the parts that weather are metal
Tool-free cleaning, which matters more on nyjer than on any other seed
Publishes capacity, dimensions and weight, which most feeders in this class do not
What it does not
1.6 quarts is the smallest capacity here, so it needs refilling more often
Upside-down feeding takes birds longer to work out; expect a slow start
19.5 in is tall for the capacity, because the tube is narrow
The selectivity is partial — house finches and siskins use it too, which the maker says plainly
Its Amazon listing read Currently unavailable at our last check, so the buy link is a tagged search; Nature's Way still shows it in stock on its own store
Who it is for
Someone whose nyjer feeder is being emptied by house sparrows before the goldfinches get a turn. This is the specific fix for that specific complaint.
Skip this if
You want to feed all the finches equally. The inverted design is there to filter, and if sparrows are not a problem you are paying for a feature that only slows your birds down.
Pick 05
The cheapest way to find out whether you have finches at all
Nature's Way Large Plastic Thistle Tube Bird Feeder (PT35186)
A plain six-port tube at the lowest price here, with the largest capacity of the Nature's Way feeders — and the shortest life, because it is plastic.
2.1 quarts — the largest of the Nature's Way feeders hereSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Large Plastic Thistle Tube Bird Feeder (model PT35186) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Ports and perches
6 ports, each with a perchSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Large Plastic Thistle Tube Bird Feeder (model PT35186) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Dimensions and weight
18.5 in H x 6.75 in W x 6.75 in D; 0.7 lbSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Large Plastic Thistle Tube Bird Feeder (model PT35186) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Wide opening for refilling; removable base for cleaningSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Large Plastic Thistle Tube Bird Feeder (model PT35186) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Drainage
Drain holes in the base to keep seed freshSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Large Plastic Thistle Tube Bird Feeder (model PT35186) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Species named by the maker
Goldfinches, purple finches, house finches, pine siskinsSource: Nature's Way Bird Products, Large Plastic Thistle Tube Bird Feeder (model PT35186) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
A listing inconsistency worth knowing
The product page states in stock and ready for shipping, while also carrying a pre-order tag. We read it as available on 2026-09-12 but the two labels disagree.Source: Nature's Way Bird Products, Large Plastic Thistle Tube Bird Feeder (model PT35186) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
Maker's list price
$22.99Source: Nature's Way Bird Products, Large Plastic Thistle Tube Bird Feeder (model PT35186) product page, natureswaybirds.com, read 2026-09-12
What it gets right
The cheapest feeder here by a clear margin, and the low-risk way to test whether finches visit your yard
2.1 quarts beats both metal Nature's Way feeders on capacity
Removable base and drain holes, so it can actually be cleaned and dried
Light at 0.7 lb — it will hang from almost anything
What it does not
Plastic: it will not outlast the metal feeders, and a determined squirrel can chew it
Six small ports are the part that clogs when nyjer absorbs moisture
The maker's own listing carries contradictory stock labels (see the spec above)
No roof overhang to speak of at 6.75 in wide, so rain reaches the ports
Who it is for
A first-time nyjer buyer. Nyjer is expensive and finches are regional, so proving they will come before committing to a $78 feeder is a sensible order of operations.
Skip this if
You already know finches visit and you want the feeder to last. Spend the extra on one of the metal designs; this one is a starter, not an heirloom.
The published figures, side by side
Every feeder on this page, on the maker's own numbers
Every feeder on this page, on the maker's own numbers
Feeder
Capacity
Feeding surface
Material
Height
Squirrel defense
Maker's list price
Brome Squirrel Buster Nyjer
2.4 lb
8 ports + cling shroud
Metal shroud, plastic tube
32 in
Weight-activated shroud
$77.95
Nature's Way Sunglow Mesh
2 qt (over 2.65 lb)
360-degree mesh
All metal
13.25 in
Metal resists chewing; no mechanism
$26.99
More Birds 13 in Finch Screen
1.6 lb
Screen + tray + inverted
All steel
13.5 in
None — maker states so
$27.59
Nature's Way Bottoms-Up
1.6 qt
6 perches, ports above and below
Aluminum + UV tube
19.5 in
None stated
$28.99
Nature's Way Thistle Tube
2.1 qt
6 ports + perches
Plastic
18.5 in
None stated
$22.99
Figures are each maker's own, read 2026-09-12. Capacities are quoted in the unit the maker uses — some publish quarts, some pounds — and we have not converted between them, because nyjer's density varies by blend. Maker's list price is the figure on the maker's own store that day and is not a live retail price; the buy buttons carry the live one.
Ports or mesh? The one decision that matters
Ports are small holes sized for nyjer, usually with a perch beneath. They waste very little seed, they keep the seed enclosed and dry, and they are what clogs. Nyjer absorbs moisture readily, and once the seed at a port swells or cakes, the birds stop coming and the owner assumes the finches left. They did not; the feeder jammed.
Mesh and screen feeders have no holes to block. Finches cling naturally, so the entire surface becomes feeding space and five or six birds can eat at once instead of queuing for six ports. The cost is weather: rain reaches the seed from every direction, and wet nyjer clumps and spoils faster than it does in a sealed tube.
So the honest rule is about your hanging spot rather than your budget. Sheltered spot — buy mesh. Under an eave, a porch roof, a dense tree, anywhere rain does not drive sideways. Exposed spot — buy a ported tube and accept that you will occasionally poke a port clear.
The nyjer problem nobody mentions
It is expensive. Nyjer costs substantially more per pound than black oil sunflower, which is why buying a huge feeder first is the wrong order. Prove the birds come, then scale up.
It goes off. Nyjer is oily and it goes rancid, and birds refuse stale seed long before a person can tell. If a feeder has been full and untouched for weeks, the seed is the suspect, not the feeder.
It is not thistle. Nyjer is often sold as thistle seed, but it is a different plant entirely and it is heat-sterilized before import so it will not germinate. You are not seeding your lawn with weeds.
Buy small bags. The corollary of the two points above: a big sack is false economy unless you are filling several feeders.
Squirrels mostly do not want it. They will chew a plastic feeder out of curiosity, but nyjer is not the prize sunflower is. That is why the squirrel-proof pick is fifth on price and first only for people with a proven problem.
Which finches you are actually feeding
All five makers here name broadly the same birds — American goldfinches, house finches, purple finches and pine siskins — and that list is the point of nyjer. Goldfinches in particular will feed hanging upside down, which no house sparrow does readily, and that is the entire design premise of the Bottoms-Up feeder. If your complaint is that sparrows empty the feeder before the goldfinches get near it, the inverted design is the specific fix rather than a gimmick.
Worth setting expectations: finches are flocking, seasonal and regional. A new nyjer feeder can sit untouched for weeks and then be mobbed. The free Merlin app will tell you which finches are being reported near you and when, which is a better basis for buying than the picture on the box.
Cleaning, which is not optional here
More Birds publishes the clearest guidance of any maker on this page: clean weekly, or monthly at a minimum, using a 9:1 water-to-bleach soak followed by dish soap and water. That schedule is more demanding than a sunflower feeder needs, and it is because of the oil. Every feeder we recommend above states that it comes apart by hand without tools — treat that as a requirement rather than a nice-to-have, because a feeder you have to fight is a feeder you will not clean.
FAQ
Questions people ask about this
What is the best finch feeder?
For most yards a metal mesh or screen feeder, because there are no ports to clog and the whole surface is a perch. The Nature's Way Sunglow mesh publishes 2 quarts in an all-metal body; the More Birds screen publishes 1.6 lb with a seed diverter. If squirrels have already wrecked a feeder, the Brome Squirrel Buster Nyjer has a published weight mechanism and a lifetime warranty.
What seed do finch feeders use?
Nyjer, often sold as thistle. It is a small oily seed that goldfinches, house finches, purple finches and pine siskins favor, and it needs pinhole ports or fine mesh — a standard sunflower tube simply pours it on the ground.
Is nyjer the same as thistle?
No. Nyjer is widely marketed as thistle seed but it is a different plant, and it is heat-sterilized before import so it cannot germinate. Spilled nyjer will not seed your lawn with thistles.
Why have the birds stopped using my finch feeder?
Usually the seed rather than the birds. Nyjer is oily and goes rancid, and finches refuse stale seed well before a person would notice. The other common cause is clogged ports after the seed has taken on moisture. Empty it, clean it and refill with fresh seed from a small bag.
Do I need a squirrel-proof finch feeder?
Often not. Squirrels prefer sunflower and largely ignore nyjer, though they will chew a plastic feeder out of curiosity. Buy the squirrel-proof model if you have already lost a feeder; otherwise an all-metal mesh feeder handles the chewing without the extra cost.
How often should I clean a finch feeder?
More Birds publishes weekly, or monthly at a minimum, with a 9:1 water-to-bleach soak then dish soap and water. That is more often than a sunflower feeder needs because nyjer is oily. Buy a feeder that dismantles without tools or it will not happen.
Mesh or tube for a finch feeder?
Mesh if the spot is sheltered — nothing clogs and more birds feed at once. A ported tube if the spot is exposed, because mesh lets rain in from every direction and wet nyjer clumps and spoils.
