Many people all over the world enjoy the hobby of feeding backyard birds. You might be one of them if you’re reading this. When it comes to the best brands of bird feeders, Brome is always one of the first that comes to mind. The Squirrel Buster lineup are their flagship models, so this article is going to be a Brome Squirrel Buster bird feeder review.
Let’s not waste any time and dive right in!
Brome Squirrel Buster bird feeder review
As you can see in the image below, there are eight different models in the Squirrel buster lineup. Each one is different from all of the others, some much more than others. You have varying sizes and type of feeders, all of which are squirrel-proof thanks to Brome’s patented squirrel-proof technology.
About Brome
Brome Bird Care is largely known for their squirrel-proof bird feeders that we are discussing in this article. Brome is based out of Knowlton, Quebec in Canada where it was founded by Pail Cote. Their patented squirrel proof technology has helped them win awards and serve over 4 million customers since the company’s inception.
Brome guarantees service on any products you purchase from them for your lifetime, free of charge. They design their products with the environment in mind as all of their products are 100% recyclable and certified lead-free. Aside from their high quality bird feeders that are loved by millions worldwide, they are also known for the amazing customer service that comes with a Brome squirrel proof bird feeder purchase.
Buy with confidence when it comes to Brome.
Squirrel Buster Model | Food Type | Capacity |
---|---|---|
Plus | Sunflower, mixed | 5.1 lbs |
Legacy | Sunflower, mixed | 2.6 lbs |
Classic | Sunflower, mixed | 2.4 lbs |
Standard | Sunflower, mixed | 1.3 lbs |
Mini | Sunflower, mixed | .98 lbs |
Finch | Nyjer/Thistle only | 2.4 lbs |
Suet | Suet | 2 5x5 suet cakes |
Peanut+ | Shelled peanuts only | 1.3 lbs |
Squirrel Buster Plus
Up first is the Plus model, the biggest Squirrel Buster. It also has the most features and the ability for add-ons that Brome sells separately. These add-ons include the pole adapter, weather guard, seed buster and the cardinal ring which only comes with the Squirrel Buster Plus model.
- 5.1 pounds seed capacity
- 6 feeding ports
- Uses Brome’s patented squirrel-proof technology
- Weight adjustable for selective feeding
- Includes Brome’s free lifetime care
- Free cardinal ring that others models do not have
- Seed ventilation system keeps seed fresh
- Chew proof, durable construction
- Squirrel-proof and chew-proof
- Easy to refill as well as take apart and clean
- Extra large capacity of 5.1 pounds
- Free cardinal ring
- Lifetime care, this feeder will last forever
- May be too big/heavy for some people
- Price also may be a little high for some
As the largest feeder in the Squirrel Buster line, it holds a whopping 5.1 pounds of seeds and stands almost 2 feet tall. Like all of the other models it is indeed fully squirrel-proof, assuming that you use it in the way they instruct. For instance, if hanging from a hook or tree it must have at least 18 inches of clearance on all sides. If it doesn’t, squirrels will easily put their weight on the tree or pole and be able to steal seed without triggering the mechanism. Clever rascals.
Squirrel Busters, including the Plus, are designed to be easily taken apart and put back together which makes them simple to clean. I mentioned that the premium price may be considered a drawback to this model for some people, but I don’t see it that way. Sure you pay a little extra up front, but you will save in the long run. Let me explain.
The fact that Squirrel Busters are actually squirrel-proof will save you a ton in bird seed! Squirrels can drain a feeder seemingly before you can blink an eye, especially if your yard is full of trees and multiple squirrels are working on it. They are essentially stealing your money if you are trying to feed the birds.
The Squirrel Buster Plus will not only save you money in bird seed, but because of its large capacity you won’t have to refill it as much. With the clear tube feeder you can easily see from your house when it’s time to refill.
Birds this feeder attracts
This bird feeder attracts most common feeder birds such as cardinals, chickadees, wrens, and titmice. The added feeding ports and cardinal ring allows for some larger birds and more simultaneous feeding. Birds that visit your feeder can greatly vary by your location.
Seeds to use in this feeder
- Black sunflower
- Safflower
- Mixed seeds
Available add-ons
Squirrel Buster Plus verdict
Here at Bird Feeder Hub, Brome is one of our favorite brands of bird feeders. The Squirrel Buster Plus has also been one of our most loved models in their lineup. Sadly when our co-founder and writer Melanie sold her home recently, the Squirrel Buster Plus stayed with the house and went to the new owners. So it’s about time to buy another.
Our verdict is the Squirrel Buster Plus is an amazing bird feeder that is truly squirrel-proof. Go ahead and buy the last squirrel-proof bird feeder you’ll ever need. If you want a squirrel-proof feeder that’s a bit smaller and costs less, keep on reading.
Squirrel Buster Legacy
Next up is the Squirrel Buster Legacy model. It holds about half as much seed as the Plus and is about 7 inches shorter. It has all of the core features that the Plus has, aside from a few that only come with the Plus like the cardinal ring. Not having a cardinal ring doesn’t mean that it won’t attract cardinals, because it certainly will. The Legacy, Standard, and Mini are really just smaller versions of the Plus, minus a few bells and whistles.
Features
- Holds 2.6 pounds of seed
- 4 metal perches
- Uses Brome’s squirrel-proof technology
- Made of chew-proof materials
- Weight adjustable for selective feeding
- Seed ventilation system keeps seeds fresh
- Negative grip tube
- Easy to set-up and install
- Smaller and less expensive than the Plus
- Truly squirrel-proof
- Easy to take apart and clean
- Metal cage around seed tube
- No cardinal ring
- Holds less seed than the Plus
For many people this feeder is just the right size with a 2.6 pound capacity. Sure you don’t get the cardinal ring and you’re missing 2 feeding ports, but you can still enjoy all of the main features of a SB for close to half the price. Once you see how popular these feeders are with the local birds you may want to add other models to your feeding station anyway.
Birds this feeder attracts
This bird feeder attracts most common feeder birds such as cardinals, chickadees, wrens, and titmice. Birds that visit your feeder can greatly vary by your location.
Seeds to use in this feeder
- Sunflower
- Safflower
- Mixed seeds
Squirrel Buster Legacy verdict
Another great option from Brome. Same great quality, same squirrel-proof technology, different size and price. Fair warning, we recommend all Brome bird feeders and this one is no different. Just choose the size that’s best for you.
Squirrel Buster Classic
You can tell from the picture below that the Squirrel Buster Classic looks a bit different than the previous models on this list. For one, the feeding ports aren’t all located at the bottom of the feeder. Depending on your taste this may provide a better opportunity for photos and better access for multiple birds. However this does come with a drawback, no adjustable weight setting.
- 2.4 lbs seed capacity
- Uses Brome’s squirrel proof technology
- Made of chew-proof materials
- Lifetime care from Brome
- Seed ventilation system
- Has a negative grip tube
- Easy to fill and clean
- Staggered feeding ports at varying heights
- Truly squirrel proof
- Not weight adjustable for selective feeding
- Holds less seed than the Plus and Legacy
- Smaller perches may not accommodate larger birds as well as other models
You may have also noticed that the Classic also has a negative grip tube. According to Brome “it prevents squirrels from grabbing the wire hanger with their hind legs, hanging down alongside the feeder, and defeating the closing mechanism“. In the end though you still need to have the standard 18” of clearance around the feeder and everything else should still apply when setting up your feeder.
Aside from the differences mentioned you get the same quality of bird feeder you’d expect from Brome.
Birds this feeder attracts
This bird feeder attracts most common feeder birds such as cardinals, chickadees, wrens, and titmice. Birds that visit your feeder can greatly vary by your location.
Seeds to use in this feeder
- Black sunflower
- Safflower
- Mixed seeds
Verdict
If the weight adjustable feeding option is important to you then this isn’t the feeder for you. Just so we’re clear, that feature allows you to select what size birds trigger the closing mechanism. So you can basically say no birds larger than a cardinal shall enter. This doesn’t have that.
Aside from that missing feature which you may not even need, this is a great feeder. Additionally, if you like the feeding ports not being all on the bottom this is the perfect choice.
Squirrel Buster Standard
As the sizes of SB’s get even smaller we come to the Squirrel Buster Standard. It’s nice and compact, has all the features of the Legacy model but holds about half as much seed. I am personally using this model at home right now. It’s a great bird feeder for people just getting into the hobby. Not too expensive, not too big and bulky, yet still beautifully squirrel-proof. Oh and the weight adjustable setting is back with this model so you can block out some of the bully birds that may visit your feeder.
Features
- 1.3 lbs seed capacity
- 4 metal perches
- Weight adjustable for selective feeding
- Uses Brome’s squirrel-proof technology
- Includes Brome’s lifetime care
- Seed ventilation system keeps seed fresh
- Made of chew-proof materials
- Negative grip tube
- Great size for beginners
- Weight adjustable feeding
- A bit on the small side
I won’t lie, birds can drain this sucker fast! It holds just 1.3 pounds if you fill it up and if you have a lot of birds in your yard they’ll make short work of that. That aside, it’s a great little feeder and I love mine. It’s in-between the size of the Legacy and the Mini.
I recently moved and don’t yet have a pole that provides the 18″ of clearance, so I’m just letting the squirrels have a field day on it. That certainly doesn’t help my cause. So they aren’t kidding, the anti-squirrel mechanism won’t work as intended if you don’t have that clearance. See some pole options at the bottom of this article.
Birds this feeder attracts
This bird feeder attracts most common feeder birds such as cardinals, chickadees, wrens, and titmice. Birds that visit your feeder can greatly vary by your location.
Seeds to use in this feeder
- Black sunflower
- Safflower
- Mixed seeds
Verdict
I would definitely buy this feeder again and I recommend it to people all the time. The main drawback I see is that it is a bit small for me, but that’s why they offer so many sizes! If you have a small yard or want it for an apartment balcony where you won’t have a ton of activity, it might be just right for you. Another great feeder from Brome!
Squirrel Buster Mini
The Mini is the smallest feeder in the SB lineup, however it’s actually not THAT much smaller than the previous feeder on this list. Aside from the facts that it isn’t weight adjustable and holds a bit less seed, you’re looking at a slightly smaller SB Standard.
Features
- 1 pound (.98 lbs) seed capacity
- Uses Brome’s squirrel proof technology
- Made of chew proof materials
- Has 4 metal perches
- Negative grip tube
- Low price
- Small and compact if that’s what you’re after
- Squirrel proof
- It’s pretty small, still holds almost a pound of seed though
- Not weight adjustable/no selective feeding
I’m not knocking the mini, I’m sure it’s a great feeder like all of the others on this list, however I don’t see any reason not to shell out a few more dollars and get the Standard. You can hold more seed and get the selective feeding option.
Birds this feeder attracts
This bird feeder attracts most common feeder birds such as cardinals, chickadees, wrens, and titmice. Birds that visit your feeder can greatly vary by your location.
Seeds to use in this feeder
- Black sunflower
- Safflower
- Mixed seeds
Verdict
If size is an issue and you want an extra small squirrel-proof feeder, then the Mini might be the choice for you. Most importantly, it’s still squirrel proof and the factory setting for the closing mechanism is likely fine for most people.
Squirrel Buster Finch
The last 3 models are all different from the others, and up first is the SB Finch which is designed specifically to attract finches. Even though this is another quality feeder from Brome, I don’t quite understand why this is in the Squirrel Buster lineup since squirrels don’t typically eat thistle seed and that’s the only type of seed this feeder takes.
Features
- Holds 2.4 pounds of thistle/nyjer seed only
- Has 8 feeding ports
- Squirrel proof and chew proof
- Brome’s lifetime care
- Negative grip tube
- Seed ventilation system
- Squirrels won’t typically eat the thistle seed to begin with
- Easy to clean and fill
- Not weight adjustable
- Only feed finches
You could save little money and try something cheaper to start with as you’ll likely find that the squirrels won’t bother your finch food even if you put it on a silver platter. I have this finch feeder from Droll Yankees at home for about half the price and haven’t seen one squirrel on it to date.
Birds this feeder attracts
This bird feeder attracts birds in the finch family such as the House Finch, American Goldfinch, Purple Finch, and Pine Siskin. Birds that visit your feeder can greatly vary by your location.
Seeds to use in this feeder
- Nyjer/thistle seed only
Verdict
If you are wanting to attract finches to your yard and really love Brome then this will certainly work in doing that. You’ll get Brome’s high quality construction, lifetime care, and unparalleled customer service along with your purchase.
Squirrel Buster Suet
Up next is Brome’s newest addition to the Squirrel Buster lineup, the Squirrel Buster Suet. While squirrels don’t typically go straight for suet like they do sunflower or mixed seeds, they will indeed eat your suet if nothing else is available. I have yet to hold one of these feeders in my hand but you can tell by looking at the image below that a lot of thought was put into the design and construction of this feeder.
Features
- Holds 2 5×5 suet cakes
- Weight adjustable for selective feeding
- Grease-free handling
- Squirrel proof and chew proof
- Lifetime care from Brome
- Crumb port ensures no suet is wasted
- Grease free handling feature
- Truly squirrel proof and chew proof
- Some claim it’s difficult for birds to feed from
- High price at up to 10x that of a basic suet cage
- Highly complex for a suet feeder
This is basically the most premium suet feeder on the market today. I was curious about the “grease-free handling” feature so I watched a video on the Brome website and it looks like you basically just lay the feeder on a flat surface and plop the suet cake in it before you fully take it out of the package.
Birds this feeder attracts
Some of the birds this feeder attracts are Wrens, Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Titmice, Chickadees, Jays, Orioles, and Warblers. Birds that visit your feeder can greatly vary by your location.
Seeds to use in this feeder
- 5×5 suet cakes only
Verdict
I appreciate the design and the features that Brome is providing with this feeder, but in the end it’s just a little too intense for me. There is too much going on, it has too many moving parts, and I just can’t get over that premium price tag. There are tons of suet feeder options at a fraction of the price on Amazon. However if even hot pepper suet isn’t keeping squirrels from eating your whole suet block, this might be the solution for you.
I admit that I have not used this feeder so I can’t accurately judge it, I’m just going by the reviews and looking at what’s on the surface. If you want the most extreme suet feeder in existence then look no further!
Squirrel Buster Nut Feeder
Last but not least is the Squirrel Buster Nut Feeder. Many different birds love peanuts and this is a dedicated peanut feeder. It’s true that some of the other feeders on this list like the Plus, Legacy, Classic, Standard, and Mini can probably hold shelled peanuts. However there is the possibility of the feeding ports getting jammed up because of the size of the peanuts. This feeder is specifically designed for shelled peanuts and has a few other features for the types of birds that love peanuts.
Features
- Holds 1.3 lbs shelled peanuts
- Woodpecker tail-prop
- Squirrel proof and chew proof
- Weight adjustable for selective feeding
- Lifetime care from Brome
- Tail-prop for woodpeckers
- 100% squirrel proof and chew proof
- Weight adjustable
- Not rain proof, peanuts can get moldy
- Not starling/ grackle proof for some
What I like about this feeder is the tail-prop for woodpeckers and of course the fact that it dispenses shelled peanuts with ease. Some of my favorite birds to see at feeders are woodpeckers so any feeder that attracts them is great. A peanut feeder is a great option if you want to see more woodpeckers and just add a little variety to your offerings.
Birds this feeder attracts
This bird feeder attracts birds like the Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, jays, chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice. Birds that visit your feeder can greatly vary by your location.
Seeds to use in this feeder
- shelled peanuts
Verdict
This is another great model with great customer reviews. It will attract many of the same birds that the Plus and its child models will, but you can target a few species a bit more. We think this would make a great feeder for anyone wanting to see some more woodpecker action in your backyard.
Recommended poles and accessories
Bird feeder poles
Brome does sell the pole adapter so that you can bottom mount your feeder to a 1″ pole such as this one on Amazon.
However if you are wanting to use a shepherd hook style pole and hang your SB then keep in mind that it needs to be at least 18″ from the pole. Sadly none on Amazon seem to have this distance from the pole. A custom solution is likely your best bet here, if you find something else let us know in the comments.
This shepherd hook style bird feeder pole from Kettle Moraine has a squirrel baffle built in so it would work great for other non-squirrel proof feeders as well. But we realize this kind of defeats the purpose of a squirrel-proof feeder.
Other things you might need
- Tray feeder and seed catcher – for use with 1″ pole
- Sunflower seed, safflower seed, suet cakes, thistle/nyjer seed, shelled peanuts
The following are only compatible with the Squirrel Buster Plus:
How to clean a Brome Squirrel Buster
Directly from the manufacturer (Brome):
Washing by Hand
Dismantle and discard any accumulation of wild bird food. Wash in a solution of dish detergent and warm water. Rinse with a 20% solution of white vinegar and water. Vinegar, a mild, natural disinfectant, will not harm your feeder or the birds. Make sure all components are completely dry before assembling.
Washing in the Dishwasher
Dismantle and discard any accumulation of wild bird food. Place the components of the feeder on the top rack of the dishwasher. Fill both the pre-wash and the main-wash sections of the detergent dispenser with your regular dishwasher detergent. Select either high temperature drying or an air-dry option. Use your regular washing cycle. Upon completion, your feeder will be sanitized and look like new
How to adjust the tension on a Squirrel Buster
*The way you adjust the tension may differ slightly from model to model, but it’s about the same.
You may have noticed we mentioned the weight adjustable feature for selective feeding several times in this article. Essentially this allows you to change the amount of weight needed to trigger the closing mechanism that makes these feeders squirrel-proof.
First, remove the hanger from the feeder itself and then the metal cage protecting the seed tube. At this point the spring in the middle will be revealed and you should see plus/minus signs on the side of the seed compartment tube. From here you simply twist the spring left or right to tighten or loosen the tension. See the video below for more a visual tutorial.
The factory setting is at 4oz which is fine for most people. Brome recommends that you leave it at this factory setting at first, until you have a better idea of the birds and other critters that visit your feeder. This way you’ll know if you even need to adjust it.
Jesse has been feeding birds in his backyard and bird watching across the country for years. He loves learning about the different species and sharing his knowledge and experiences on this website.