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Brome Squirrel Buster Plus Review: What Expert Testers Found
The Brome Squirrel Buster Plus is the feeder most squirrel-proof roundups put first. This page pulls together what Bob Vila, On The Feeder, Bird Feeder Hub and Birds & Blooms report about it, and flags where they disagree.
By The Bird Feeder Guide Editorial Team · Specs verified October 2026 · Updated October 2026
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon links below are search links and we show no prices because they change.
How this guide was made: research-based from the cited expert sources, compiled with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team. We did not hands-on test this feeder. The test results below are the sources’ own.
Quick answer
Bob Vila (April 2026) and On The Feeder (January 2026) both rank the Plus Best Overall among squirrel-resistant feeders, and all four sources say it keeps squirrels out. Its listed cons are price (three sources) and size or weight (Bird Feeder Hub). Bird Feeder Hub says it needs at least 18 inches of clearance on all sides, or squirrels can reach seed without triggering the weight mechanism.
The Plus and its siblings at a glance
| Product | Best for | Key specs (as stated by sources) | Who should skip it | Check on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brome Squirrel Buster Plus | Yards with heavy squirrel traffic and small to medium songbirds | Capacity: 5.1 lb or 3 quarts. Ports: 6. Size: 6.5 x 6.5 x 23.75 in and 3.7 lb (On The Feeder only). Material: metal and plastic, polycarbonate tube. Warranty: lifetime care | Anyone who cannot give it 18 in of clearance, wants a small or light feeder, or objects to the price | Check on Amazon |
| Brome Squirrel Buster Standard | Smaller spaces, such as balconies, per Bird Feeder Hub | Capacity: 1.3 lb. Perches: 4 metal (Bird Feeder Hub). Other specs: Not stated | Anyone who wants the Plus’s higher capacity or cardinal ring | Check on Amazon |
| Brome Squirrel Buster Mini | Buyers who want a smaller option; Bird Feeder Hub points to the Standard or Mini | Not stated in the pages we read | Anyone who needs specs before buying | Check on Amazon |
Prices: not shown. Specs verified October 2026.
What the sources report
How it works
Bob Vila describes a tension spring: if an animal over the adjustable weight lands on it, the feeding ports close. It lists six ports, suited to chickadees, nuthatches and finches, and says the setting can keep big birds such as crows away. On The Feeder says heavier animals such as squirrels and raccoons close the ports, and that it tested with a raccoon.
Setup and the factory setting
On The Feeder says no assembly was required. Birds & Blooms reports no birds for over two weeks at the factory setting, then rotated the interior cartridge to the least sensitive level and saw no squirrels while birds returned. Bird Feeder Hub says to start at the factory setting.
Cleaning and warranty
Bird Feeder Hub and On The Feeder both say it comes apart easily and report Brome’s guidance that parts can go in a dishwasher. On The Feeder says lifetime care covers squirrel damage and manufacturing defects. Bird Feeder Hub says Brome services purchased products for your lifetime.
Birds seen
Bird Feeder Hub lists cardinals, chickadees, wrens and titmice. On The Feeder shows red-bellied and downy woodpeckers. Birds & Blooms reports house finches and pine siskins at a relative’s Plus.
Who it is for and who should skip it
Who it is for: yards where squirrels beat other feeders, buyers who want a large seed capacity and fewer refills, and anyone who values a lifetime-care warranty. Who should skip it: anyone mounting it where squirrels can jump from a pole, tree or hook within 18 inches (Bird Feeder Hub), buyers who find a roughly 2-foot feeder too big or heavy, and buyers who object to the price, which Bob Vila, On The Feeder and Bird Feeder Hub list as a con. For poles and baffles see best squirrel-proof feeder poles and best squirrel baffles.
Where the sources disagree
The cardinal ring is the main conflict: Bird Feeder Hub calls it free with the Plus, while Bob Vila calls it optional and not preinstalled. Bob Vila and Birds & Blooms both call attaching it tricky. Capacity is consistent in pounds (5.1 lb), but only Bob Vila and On The Feeder give quarts (3). Only On The Feeder gives dimensions and weight. Bird Feeder Hub’s page was last modified in January 2023, so its details may predate newer versions. More options: best squirrel-proof bird feeders, how to keep squirrels off feeders and best bird feeders for cardinals.
Limits and what the sources do not say
No source reports seed spillage, long-term durability data or reader failure rates. Only Bob Vila (eight feeders, one week, six tests) describes a structured test. On The Feeder says it has yet to capture a squirrel trying the Plus, so its squirrel result is partly inferred. Birds & Blooms shows no date. We did not test the feeder and confirmed no Amazon product codes.
Questions about the Squirrel Buster Plus
Is the Squirrel Buster Plus really squirrel-proof?
All four sources say it deters squirrels. Bird Feeder Hub calls it truly squirrel-proof but adds that it needs 18 inches of clearance on all sides.
Does it come with a cardinal ring?
Sources conflict: Bird Feeder Hub says a free ring comes with the Plus, while Bob Vila says the ring is optional and not preinstalled.
Is it dishwasher safe?
On The Feeder and Bird Feeder Hub both report Brome’s guidance that it can go in a dishwasher; Bird Feeder Hub gives the top rack and an air-dry option.
How much seed does it hold?
5.1 pounds, or 3 quarts, according to Bird Feeder Hub, On The Feeder and Bob Vila.
Related guides
Best Squirrel-Proof Feeders
Keep Squirrels Off Feeders
Squirrel-Proof Poles
Best Squirrel Baffles
Sources and method
Specs verified October 2026. This guide is research-based from the sources below, compiled with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team, with no hands-on testing.
Bob Vila, The Best Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders of 2026 (April 20, 2026)
On The Feeder, The Best Squirrel-Resistant Bird Feeders of 2026 (updated January 22, 2026)
Bird Feeder Hub, Brome Squirrel Buster Review (modified January 17, 2023)
Birds & Blooms, Squirrel-Buster Plus Bird Feeder: Does It Work? (no date shown)