As simple as it is, this has to be one of the best things ever invented...wish I'd thought of it! This has been hanging with the feeder now for almost a week. The girls can't sit on it because it's just hanging there loose - there's absolutely none of the usual droppings in the trough or the feed - and rain didn't get into the feed! Beats the heck out of the dinner plate I used to have sitting on top of the feeder! Highly recommend getting this for your feeders - definitely worth the "expense"!