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The Estate Bird Feeder


Main Features


The Estate bird feeder consists of five major components that weigh a total of 150 lbs. Due to the size, your Estate bird feeder will arrive in 4 boxes. All that is required is to mate the main components, stand the feeder, and attach the perches. This is best done by two strong adults, and it takes about 2 hours to complete the task. A pair of sawhorses works well and hand tools are required.

Standing Seam Copper Roof
Like the roofs on old colonial homes, the standing seam construction of the Estate roof is designed to last 100 years. Because of its substantial overhang, the Estate does the best job possible of keeping seed fresh and healthful in stormy weather. These copper roofs and other copper pieces are custom made and fit by hand by our master craftsmen. Each feeder has over 30 lbs of copper plate that has been hand worked into a unique and beautiful piece of craftsmanship.

Copper Feed Barrel
The heart of the feeder. It contains four galvanized chambers with a 35 lb capacity, making for infrequent filling. Like the roof, the entire counterbalanced barrel is clad in copper. At the base of the barrel is the finger-operated brake that allows you to lower the feeder, and the built-in squirrel baffle. A sheet copper skirt protrudes below the copper barrel and provides the unique squirrel baffle.

The Stanchion
At 8 1/2 feet tall, the Estate is the first bird feeder appropriate for formal gardens and great landscapes. This steel stanchion is machined to hold the roof, counterweight, pulleys and the cable system that supports the feeder. It is thermally powder coated in a dark black bronze to compliment the feeder.

Cast Iron Counterweight
Roughly the size of a loaf of bread, the solid cast iron counterweight weighs 35 lbs. As it rises and descends in the stanchion, it supports the feed barrel to make filling the Estate very easy. This feature is an Estate exclusive.

Cast Iron Free Standing Base
Every Estate ships with this four-sided freestanding base, so there is no need to dig a hole. We have used this base for over a decade in installations around the country, and it has proved itself. In cases where the feeder is vulnerable to the rigors of public space use, the base can be cast in concrete for security. If you are going to install your feeder on a hillside, the base must be cast in concrete, or an adaptation with a custom ground socket can be used.

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Design Features



8 1/2 Feet Tall
Birds feel safe and secure at this height, out of harms way.

The Estate Bird Feeder is very unique and an heirloom quality piece of Garden Art. Not only is the feeder an artistic statement and conversation piece, but the birds that will frequent your feeder add a very special and unique dimension to your yard or garden. Each Estate Bird Feeder is individually numbered and signed by the craftsmen as a testament to their pride and workmanship.

Lower-To-Fill Seed Barrel
Our most popular feature. A finger's touch is all that is needed to release the brake and lower the counterbalanced barrel down to an easy-to-fill position where you can pour the seed right out of the bag into the four large openings at the top of the seed chambers. With a total capacity of approximately 35 lbs, the Estate can be filled with four different varieties of seed to attract your favorite birds. The bins are ventilated to keep seed fresh and healthful and the polycarbonate seed panels that hold the ports slide up and out for easy cleaning. Because of this large capacity, the Estate needs to be filled infrequently, typically offering over a week's worth of dependable seed supply.

Cast Iron Counterweight
Hidden inside the stanchion the counterweight glides up and down to assist in moving the feed barrel from a filling to feeding position. Supported by aircraft-quality stainless steel cables lopping over heavy-duty pulleys hidden under the roof.

Base Requires Little Prep Work
No need to dig a hole, and you can move the feeder around until you decide on a permanent spot in your landscape. The heavy- duty steel base has been proven in the field, withstanding all sorts of conditions, winds and weather. The Estate also works great on a deck or patio (in the case of mounting the feeder on a hillside, the base has to be cast into cement to assure stability).



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Parts & Details



Ornate Copper Finial
An ornate copper finial tops off the majestic 8 1/2 foot height.

Standing Seam Copper Roof
Classic octagonal form, hand clad in copper. Every exposed portion of the feeder is protected with copper.

12 Cast Brass Metal Seed Ports
With branch-like landing perches for the birds, our exclusive cast red brass ports match the feeder. The design of the ports and branch-like landing perches encourage even timid ground feeding birds like cardinals to feed because of the added space for landing. The port's lower lip design keeps spilled seed to a minimum and sheds driven rain and snow to keep the seed fresh and healthful.

Built-in Squirrel Baffle
Proven for years in the field, this squirrel guard really works. Experience has shown that squirrels give up trying to climb the Estate after a couple of frustrating days.

Heavy Duty Square Steel Stanchion
12 Gauge steel supports with stainless steel mounting hardware provides a secure, stable base. The base is often secured in place with stone to enhance both the look and stability of the feeder.

Finish
The Estate Bird Feeder comes with an attractive pure copper look. You can see how it will arrive from the images on our website. The copper will naturally begin to develop its blue-green patina over time. Some say to rush the process is a travesty. For those less patient, mix a solution of one part vinegar, one part ammonia, and one part non-iodized salt. Mix this well and put it in a sprayer bottle. Before applying to the feeder, take regular window cleaner and paper towel, and clean all of the grease and fingerprints off of the copper roof, sides, edges, etc. (if you don't follow this process, you will get a blotchy look). Once the feeder has dried, start at the top of the feeder and spray the solution on to all of the copper parts, trying to keep the spray off of the wood and plastic windows (a cardboard shield held in place works great). Do not rise off the solution. The rain will wash it off, humidity will change it's look, and within a day and then weeks to follow, your feeder will look as though it had been a fixture in your yard for years.




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