I had an upside down suet feeder and several Starlings learned to hang from it for several seconds at a time. I gave up on that. If there is a far enough distance between the suet and the cage so that the Starlings can't stretch to reach the suet then it will work.

I had my dh build me a very large hanging feeder with with 1 1/2" wire sides openings to keep out larger birds so I could put out several different food items for "good" birds. This will be the third year it has been in use and so far the Grackels and Starlings have been defeated.

Renee, you're lucky your hubby is handy. That sounds like a great solution! How far from the food source is the outer wire? I'm not sure how to determine how far the startlings could reach.

I have the upside down kind because I have Hairy and Red Bellied Woodpeckers who can't fit through the 1 1/2" holes. Every once in a while a starling will fly up and maybe steal a piece of suet that is hanging in the late winter when there is no food but around that is all. Once food is plentiful again they don't even look at it.
Cathy

I've used such a feeder for the last two years. It does keep the Starlings out,...and the downies,chickadees,titmouse, etc...just love it. I do miss my redbellies however.

Is there any way you can post a pic or give details on that feeder that your hubby built Renee? That sounds interesting? :)

Lucky for me starlings are only an occasional problem in my yard. Hordes fly in, stay a week or so and vanish. When they come I use a recycled recycled plastic upside-down feeder like this:

{{!gwi}}

(from Suet Bird Feeders) I am loving the recycled plastic over wood, it's so easy to clean and you can even use bleach against mold. Don't think I haven't done a load of bird feeders in my dishwasher. BUT it's not perfectly starling proof - one starling will always figure it out. As an alternative I have a ground table feeder for starlings like this one:

{{!gwi}}

from Ground Table Bird Feeders. I use super cheap chicken feed cracked corn (was about $6 for a 50lb bag) and a super cheap millet/milo seed blend ($6 a 25lb bah) that I buy at a local feed store. The ground feeder is a lot easier for the starlings to use, plus they seem to prefer the corn food, so it at least keeps them busy and out of my other bird feeders to a great extent. They don't go through my pricey seed as fast. I've found offering starlings and grackle sort of birds alternative food works pretty well since they are going to be there no matter what I do. Jays also like the ground table.

I have the exact feeder that Laylaa has. The starlings have learned to hang from it. The squirrels love it too (which is why I am here at this forum... searching for a solution. :-) I don't want to do anything that prevents larger birds from eating.. since I have Pileateds that visit frequently.

I put a regular small suet cage with suet in it INSIDE THIS $9.00 SUET SAVER feeder, so double cage to keep starlings from so easily taking chunks...Minutes after install a beautiful Red Belly was enjoying the feeder and then I watched 2 starlings try unsuccessfully to take big bites. Hopeful....

I'm not understanding this concept, char. Does this only leave the bottom portion of the suet exposed? And if so, why wouldn't the starlings be able to get to it?

when this regular small suet holder

starlings couldn't grab BIG chunks and knock other BIG chunks to the ground, so the suet has lasted much longer, and the Red Belly can still participate. YAY

We had huge flocks of starlings who would clean out suet within minutes. Home Depot or Lowes sells wire mesh (about 1/4 inch holes) that I cut in one piece the width & length of my suet feeders (which are the wood style). I slipped the mesh inside the feeder and then just drop the suet cake(s) in. We have families of Pileated along with other small to large woodpeckers who are fine with the setup but the starlings get tired of trying to get the suet out and it didn't take long for them to leave. It's the only thing that worked for me. Caution, be careful cutting the wire mesh, the edges are sharp.