BIRD FEEDING SUPPLIES
Compare open trays, platforms and seed catchers
Decide where the tray belongs
A tray may stand at ground level, hang from wires, sit on a rail or catch seed beneath another feeder. Those are different mounting jobs. The DutchCrafters cedar platform can be placed beneath a hanging feeder as a ground catch surface; that does not mean it clips to the feeder. The Kingsyard hanging platform includes wire and hook, while the folding ground models use legs.
Check rail shape before choosing a deck tray
The Mammoth tray explicitly fits standard six-inch-wide rails and excludes wider or narrower ones. Its four curved legs are not an adjustable universal clamp. WOWARE instead describes two elastic ropes without a confirmed rail-size range. A stretch ratio is not a load rating or a guarantee against slipping. Match the actual rail shape, width and fastening instructions before buying either design.
Separate roof, cage and open platform
The covered Kingsyard BF172 adds overhead shelter to an open tray. The caged BF171 surrounds the feeding area with 1.5-inch-square openings and a lift-off cage. These features serve different layout purposes: a cage is not a rain roof, and a roof does not verify animal exclusion. Choose according to the structure you want and retain access for lifting or opening it.
Read height and footprint by scope
A platform can have a four-inch floor elevation and a taller overall frame. DutchCrafters lists six-inch overall height with four-inch floor elevation; the covered BF172 is taller again because of its roof. Folding legs do not establish a known folded envelope. Where tray and overall dimensions disagree without a clear scope, confirm the current size instead of planning a tight installation from one field.
Compare material and floor
The catalog contains powder-coated steel, cedar with aluminum mesh, recycled poly lumber and WPC composite. WPC is a wood-fiber/plastic combination rather than solid cedar. A mesh floor provides a described drainage path but does not guarantee that all food stays dry. Exact cleaning methods remain model-specific; a no-maintenance or long-color-life claim is not a substitute for those instructions.
Keep the food and package clear
The green MIXXIDEA pair is open seed trays despite hummingbird wording in its title; no nectar reservoir is present in the reviewed design. Two trays, two corn nails and twoS-hooks are listed as separate components. Pounds or cups describe capacity, not supplied food or a recommended fill duration. Use the individual dossiers to compare those distinctions before ordering.