In-depth review
Perky-Pet Squirrel-Be-Gone 336 Bird Feeder Review (2027)
The Squirrel-Be-Gone 336 brings weight-activated resistance to a budget tier. Our research-based verdict for first feeders.
Perky-Pet Squirrel-Be-Gone 336 Bird Feeder
The affordable weight-activated feeder that makes squirrel resistance a budget buy.
Our verdict
The 336 is the right first feeder for a buyer who is not yet sure squirrel resistance is worth premium money: it blocks casual squirrels, costs little, and hangs anywhere. Its limits are equally clear: a determined squirrel beats it sooner than premium mechanisms, and the 2 lb capacity needs frequent refills in a busy garden. Buy it as a trial of the category, not as the final answer to a siege.
What we like
- Weight-activated perches close ports under squirrel weight while leaving them open for songbirds
- Metal mesh and leaf-shaped port covers give it a sturdier look than plain plastic tubes at this tier
- 2 lb capacity suits a small garden or a single busy window-side hook without becoming a heavy lift
- Simple hanging design fits a standard hook, branch or pole arm with no adaptor
What to watch out for
- Persistent squirrels learn its limits faster than they learn the premium mechanisms, owners report
- The 2 lb capacity means frequent refills once chickadees and finches discover it
- Chewable parts exist here that the all-metal premium tubes do not have
What owners report: Perky-Pet Squirrel-Be-Gone 336 Bird Feeder
Synthesized from recurring themes in long-term owner feedback.
Most praised
- It costs far less than the premium squirrel tubes yet still blocks casual squirrel visits
- Small birds take to it quickly, with chickadees and finches feeding within days of hanging
- The size is easy to take down, refill and rehang without a second pair of hands
Common complaints
- Determined squirrels defeat it sooner than they defeat heavier mechanisms
- The small capacity turns into a daily refill chore in a busy garden
- Some owners find the port covers fiddly to clean around after wet weather
Who it is for
First-time feeder buyers and small gardens testing squirrel resistance on a budget.
Budget resistance, honestly graded
Weight-activated perches close ports under squirrel weight, and for the casual squirrel that visits occasionally, that is enough. The mechanism is simpler and lighter-duty than the premium shrouds, which is exactly what the tier implies: it buys time and saves seed against ordinary visitors, not against an animal that treats the feeder as a daily job. Owners who grade it against premium tubes miss the point; owners who grade it against an open tube see the value.
Size for small gardens
Two pounds of seed on a light tube suits a small garden, a single hook or a balcony-adjacent branch, and the feeder comes down for refills without a struggle. The same small size becomes the complaint in a busy garden, where daily refills replace the weekly rhythm of a large tube. Small-garden buyers call it the right size; busy-garden buyers call it the first thing they outgrow.
Looks and longevity
Metal mesh and leaf-shaped port covers give the 336 more visual interest than a plain budget tube, and the design suits a cottage garden better than a utilitarian pole feeder. Chewable and lighter-duty parts exist here that premium all-metal tubes avoid, so longevity depends on how hard local squirrels work at it. As a first feeder it earns its tier; as a siege feeder it does not pretend to.
Key specifications
- Seed capacity
- 2 lb
- Mechanism
- Weight-activated perches
- Mounting
- Hanging
- Seed type
- Mixed seed, sunflower
- Model
- 336
- Brand
- Perky-Pet, Woodstream
Also consider
Brome Squirrel Buster Plus Bird Feeder
The big weight-adjustable tube with a cardinal ring, built for heavy sunflower traffic.
Why consider it: The premium step up, with more capacity, a cardinal ring and a tunable shroud
- Seed capacity: 5.1 lb black oil sunflower seed
- Feeding ports: 6, with cardinal ring
Perky-Pet Panorama 325S Bird Feeder
The two-tier Panorama with a wide roof and a perch ring for mixed flocks.
Why consider it: The non-resistant alternative, for gardens where squirrels are not the problem
- Design: Two-tier tube with circular perch rings
- Roof: Wide domed metal roof
Research-based assessment. TrueGear has not hands-on tested this product; this evaluation synthesizes manufacturer specifications, retailer documentation, and published expert reviews.
Questions, answered
Will the 336 stop all squirrels?
No, and no budget feeder will. It stops casual visitors and slows the rest, which is a real saving in many gardens. A daily siege needs a premium mechanism, good placement and a pole guard together, not a single budget purchase.
How often will I refill it?
In a quiet garden, weekly or so. In a busy garden with chickadees and finches, every day or two. The 2 lb capacity is the trade for the light weight and low tier, so buyers with a crowd should size up to a 5 lb tube from the start.
Is the 336 good for cardinals?
Moderately. Cardinals use it, but the perches are not the ring or curved design that cardinals prefer, so they visit less confidently than at the Plus or the Whipper. For a cardinal-first garden, those two are the better spend.
Every guide on Bird Feeders16 pages
- Topic hubBird Feeders
- Best ofThe Best Bird Feeders (2027)
- Cardinals feed differently from finches: they prefer to sit upright on a perch or tray rather than cling to a small peg, and they eat sunflower seed they can crack while seated. This ranking weights perch geometry and tray access above capacity and squirrel mechanisms, and it is honest about the trade: the cage that stops squirrels also stops cardinals, and the open tray cardinals love is the tray squirrels love too.The Best Bird Feeders for Cardinals (2027)
- This guide uses the word resistant on purpose. Makers describe several of these feeders as squirrel-proof, but no mechanism survives bad placement, and this ranking says so for each design. The honest comparison is mechanism plus placement plus cost in batteries, tuning or bulk, and the winner depends on whether your squirrels are casual visitors or a daily siege.The Best Squirrel-Resistant Bird Feeders (2027)
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