WE made a Cage out of field fencing wire. This has rectangles 1x2" and is
quite stiff, unlike chicken wire. The cage is held together to clips that you
close with pliers - we call them hog clips for some reason.
the cage is about 12"x6" and a double suet block holder fits inside.
then in a couple of places, I cut out holes by removing a vertical wire and the
attached cross pieces, since there are a few approved birds that cannot
squeeze through the 1x2. I put a thick piece of plastic over the suet to keep
it from getting rain soaked, and I think it makes it last longer.

Bushtits and chickadees get right in. The downey woodpecker usually feeds
by hanging on the bottom.
I have it tethered to a honeysuckle vine so it won't swing about in the wind,
and this makes it possible for some normally ground feeding birds to get in -
a few juncos and the notorious song sparrow "Tonya". It also makes it
possible for the extremely motivated starling to get in, or feed through the
opening by sticking their heads in. but it sure slows them down

Clarice Clark
Puyallup, WA. 98371
mailto:jbroadus at seanet.com