I bought a couple of the No mess Feeding stations and wanted to know if you just put the food straight in there or do you put it in dish first and then put it in the no mess feeding station?

I'm not sure what is best and the way your suppose to do it because it didn't come with any instructions. I'm also looking for a smaller dish for the station if that is the case. any help is greatly appreciated!

Are you talking about the plastic box they climb in to? If so, yes they will need small dishes inside. It will keep potty/poo out of their food.

About what size are the feeding stations?

I have several types of glass and ceramic dishes. I have gone to thrift stores and found small glass relish dishes, to antique salt wells, glass furniture cups (these go under furniture legs to keep from marking floor). They all have nice flat bottoms so they won't tip over. Or in pet stores, ceramic hamster size dishes. At the thrift store, I even found a small divided shallow relish dish.

Dawn is correct. That is a kitchen to keep in the mess, still need dishes for their food.

Drum are you referring to these

If so, it's most likely depending on the size of the feeding station and hole. If large enough just for the glider to reach through and take food, then no other dish should be required.

Many people use the "glider kitchen" or "glider diner" that are usually large enough for gliders to be inside the contained area and eat from dishes that are placed inside it. If you are talking about those, then yes a dish would be required.

Thanks for all the input everyone. yes those are the feeding stations I bought and they are 5 inches wide. right now I use little sauce dishes for the cut up fruits, and I'm using a 1.5oz ramekin kitchen cups for the diet food (it's one of those small cups to put ketchup in and such.) it seems to work well, but i see they tip it over to get to the bottom, so tonight i'm trying it with a small sauce saucer to see ho that works.