Last year I purchased two bird feeders that were on sale for $5. The first time it rained, I realized why they were so cheap. The bases filled with water and the food on the bottom absorbed the water and turned into sticky goo which I had to dig out. Gross! Sadly too, pretty useless unless you have a covered patio, which I don’t… you know… rain happens.
This year because of the earlier drought I know that the birds suffer and will continue to suffer unless there is food put out for them because not enough stuff germinated and created seeds. I had been thinking about buying a different feeder because I hate to throw the seeds out on the ground when we live so close to a feral colony here in Hamilton. A while back, my friend O and I were at a greenhouse where I was admiring the practicality of $90 bird feeders and telling her about my terrible feeders. She suggested that I buy a plastic bowl from the dollar store to cover them and drill a hole in the top (they have to be flexible plastic). Yesterday, I finally got around to buying and preparing them and I already have a hundred sparrows chattering happily outside. I am not sure if the bowls are large enough but rain is coming so, I guess I will know soon enough if their food will stay dry.
Tiny House Ontario 
If it still catches water, you could drill some drain holes in the bases (outside the cylinder, of course)
Thanks Winston. There are already four holes there, I wondered if I should drill more, or make the existing ones a bit larger. The base is shaped like a flat bottomed square bowl so the water is easily caught.
I love that idea. We have an open feeder that a neighbor built and put up. It too gets quite wet, but fortunately so far the birds have been emptying it before the rain does it’s damage. We have so many varieties, but today I caught two crows eating from the feeder so I think that’s why it goes down so fast.
I meant to say “bird” 😛
You know it is a word that I always mistype myself. Not sure why?
xo
L
LOL,my fingers get in a hurry sometimes…IDK why,they aren’t outrunning my hand 😛
We love having brid feeders too 🙂
The DC