The rain shield prevents rain water from dribbling down the hanging wire and entering the feeder chamber. If water gets in there, the seed will get moldy and stick together.
The current design of the shield comes in three pieces:
First is a conical “roof” with a flat bottom. This “roof” has a slot in it which allows you to slide it onto the wire.
Second is a “wedge” that fits in the slot, completing the roof.
Third is a “drip ring” that is affixed to the underside of the “roof”
The user must assemble these pieces themselves, because they must be glued to the hanging wire.
First, drop the “drip ring” onto the bird feeder so the hanging wire comes up through the ring.
Then, determine the appropriate location on the hanging wire for the rain shield. Leave enough space for the top lid of the feeder to be lifted up for refilling the reservoir.
Mix up some good quality epoxy.
“Butter” the wire with epoxy, and “butter the inside of the slot in the “roof”. Slide the “roof” onto the wire. Insert the wedge filler, completing the roof assembly. It’s probably best to support these items while the epoxy cures.
Finally, mixing up a fresh batch of epoxy, affix the drip ring to the bottom of the shield.