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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2008 21:38:37 GMT
I put out some 'Fruit & Fibre' cereal today, it had been left open and was near date. The birds loved it ;D, but so did the squirrel.  |
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Post by Chuckles on Dec 10, 2008 23:07:36 GMT
I put out some 'Fruit & Fibre' cereal today, it had been left open and was near date. The birds loved it ;D, but so did the squirrel. Oh yes I've put out old cereal for the birds too Cherry, one's I've bought and didn't like too ;D I bought a couple of these today www.wilkinsonplus.com/invt/0193722 they look ideal for slices of bread etc. I put uncut bread out on cane tops sometimes and slices of bread on top of pots and in hanging baskets too, bits get dropped everywhere and then the dog or the chickens get it so these should be a help. I'll put them out in the morning and see how they go  Oh and welcome to the board Cherry, hope to see you about some more |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2008 23:19:31 GMT
Thanks for the welcome Chuckles I bought it for myself but it had Banana in it , one of the few foods I don't like. They enjoyed it though ;D |
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Post by madonplants on Dec 11, 2008 11:23:22 GMT
I put out some 'Fruit & Fibre' cereal today, it had been left open and was near date. The birds loved it ;D, but so did the squirrel. So, he or she has to eat as well!  How would that work out price wise, compared to the bird food you buy in the g/c's, Cherry? |
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Post by Chuckles on Dec 11, 2008 20:19:57 GMT
I put some slices of bread in the new feeders I mentioned yesterday, birds haven't touched them yet maybe a case of them being different to what they normally see, I did use Warbartons bread  We'll see what happens tomorrow |
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Post by 4pygmies on Dec 11, 2008 21:56:59 GMT
I've tried brown/granarybread in a fat tray holder but the birds didn't touch it, until I emptied some bacon fat on a crust and they soon disappeared that! The ground feeding birds seem to prefer the bread crusts though, which I think is strange. Actually when it's as cold as it has been lately they just devour everything I put out - poor old Hilda the chook has to be quick atm!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2008 22:11:20 GMT
I put out some 'Fruit & Fibre' cereal today, it had been left open and was near date. The birds loved it ;D, but so did the squirrel. So, he or she has to eat as well! How would that work out price wise, compared to the bird food you buy in the g/c's, Cherry? I think cereal would be more expensive. Our local GC sells mixed seed at a very reasonable price. I just throw the bread on the lawn and it disappears very quickly. I have a lot of Starlings that swoop down as soon as it's out, then the other birds move in. ;D |
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Post by madonplants on Dec 11, 2008 22:22:31 GMT
The trouble with bread is that, although it fills birds up, it doesn't have much nutritional value, which at this time of the year, they desperately need.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2008 22:25:49 GMT
The trouble with bread is that, although it fills birds up, it doesn't have much nutritional value, which at this time of the year, they desperately need. I just throw out the old bread every now and again - I have nuts and seed feeders, fat balls. The bread can't do them any harm surely  |
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Post by madonplants on Dec 11, 2008 22:29:49 GMT
The trouble with bread is that, although it fills birds up, it doesn't have much nutritional value, which at this time of the year, they desperately need. I just throw out the old bread every now and again - I have nuts and seed feeders, fat balls. The bread can't do them any harm surely No, not too bad and we've all done it, me included in the past. A bit like us really, as long as they have a proper balanced diet and oh, fresh water handy, they shouldn't come to harm, unless they are quite young birds, when it might affect their growth rates! |
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Post by Tig on Dec 11, 2008 23:30:15 GMT
I found a packet of stoned dates in the cupboard which had started to go sugary - if you know what I mean. I scattered them on the lawn thinking something might eat them and they all disappeared pretty quickly. I also put out any scraps of chicken skin, cooked meat fat and mouldy cheese - the robins love the latter Has anyone else noticed that if you throw out white and wholemeal bread at the same time, the white gets eaten first? The birds around here obviously don't go in for healthy eating ;D x Tig |
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Post by Ladygardener on Dec 12, 2008 7:45:47 GMT
Well I was off yesterday and did'nt see a single visitor to the garden. I've seeds all over the place in saucers or containers of some kind and fat balls in 2 different places and they just seem to be sitting there. I wonder if it's because there are cats up the street or because the birds are going elsewhere.? Maybe things will improve when I get my feeding table/station for christmas. I think as well it could be because I don't have any trees in the garden. Will have to rethink this coming year. |
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Post by Chuckles on Dec 12, 2008 12:33:58 GMT
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Post by Barbara on Dec 12, 2008 12:36:17 GMT
I think it takes a while for the birds to find new feeding places LNG, I don't have trees and they come to my garden, but I put a new feeder at the top of the garden and they didn't go near that for about 2 weeks. they are using it now though, so you will have to be patient |
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Post by Ladygardener on Dec 12, 2008 12:41:14 GMT
I'm delighted they like your new feeders Chuckles. I have one of the fat balls hanging on the remains of the clematis and the other on the Salix. They may just be coming when I'm not looking. Barbara you're right as with all things patience is needed. |
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Post by Chuckles on Dec 12, 2008 12:52:21 GMT
I'm finding the birds are about more in the first and last couple of hours of day light, dawn and dusk. It's as if they wake up hungry and want to go to roost full ;D Hope they soon find you LNG |
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Post by Chuckles on Dec 14, 2008 11:03:39 GMT
Yesterday I got OH to get a bucket of fat balls, I usually buy the 4 packs from Wilco's. The bucket has 75 in it but unfortunately they don't have nets on them some men just don't think do they ;D I've managed to find a small veg net that I'd saved and have put 5 in it, tied the top with some garden twine and yesterday I hung it in one of my usual fat ball feeding places outside the back door. You wouldn't believe it but they are ignoring it so far  all thats different is the net is orange instead of green. They are flying in and looking and also eating from the feeders on the other side of the path. It must be the net colour |
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Post by Dutchy on Dec 14, 2008 11:16:11 GMT
Could be the amount in there. They are used to seeing one ball dangling and now there are 5 yikes that is scary.....
Have they started on it yet?
It only takes one to be the first lamb over the fence...
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Post by Ladygardener on Dec 14, 2008 11:17:15 GMT
I hope they soon come to their senses Tig, you would'nt think they would care what colour it is would you.  |
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Post by Barbara on Dec 14, 2008 12:26:06 GMT
some colours in nature are a warning of poision, I read some where, don't know if orange would be, some berrys are orange, arent they?.
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Post by Ladygardener on Dec 14, 2008 12:29:01 GMT
I hope they soon come to their senses Tig, you would'nt think they would care what colour it is would you. OOps I ment Chuckles, not Tig. I seem to be having a lot of blonde moments must be all these cold/flu medicaitons I'm taking. Barbara some berries are orange, you're right and the birds do go for them. |
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Post by Dr Bill on Dec 14, 2008 14:38:22 GMT
I seem to remenber reading somewhere that the nets can be hazardous to small birds. You can get feeders to take fat balls, although I must say the birds don't seem to be as interested in them as in the balls hung in their nets. Perhaps because they can't cling onto the fatball itself
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Post by Juliet on Dec 17, 2008 23:20:10 GMT
The RSPB ask people not to put fat balls out in nets - as Dr Bill says, they can harm the birds - scroll down to the bottom of this page for more info: www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/how.aspBread should be soaked first if you put it out, because otherwise it's liable to swell up inside the birds (I don't think it's dangerous, just not very comfortable for them!). I had an email today from Garden Bird Supplies, which I thought had some useful info. - will see if I can copy the relevant bit over here ... " Do FeedMince pies and Christmas cake Both are full of fat, fruit and energy - the perfect meal for all types of birds Christmas pudding Again, fruit, fat and energy rich, there's probably no better leftover for your birds! Cooked potatoes Roast potatoes are particularly good as they'll be high in fat. Cut into bite sized chunks, and watch your blackbirds and thrushes gobble it up. Cheese Cheese is high in fat and energy so will be particularly welcome. Mild cheese is best, grated or crumbled onto bird tables Nuts and other finger foods Any unsalted nuts are ideal, make sure they are crushed or chopped first. Other savoury finger foods will also be appreciated as long as they are not salted. Fat from the roasting tin Pour off any unused animal fat from the roasting tin and mix with lard, scraps and bird seed to create your own treat cake! Fruit Chopped apples will be particularly loved by blackbirds Don't FeedLeftover cooked meat This is liable to attract vermin and cats which will scare your birds away Salted peanuts and other salted savouries Salt is very bad for birds and salted products should never be put out for them. If you do have salted peanuts leftover you could wash and soak them first to remove the salt. Chocolate (including biscuits) Chocolate and chocolaty snacks are a definite no. Chocolate contains theobromine, which is highly toxic to birds. Crisps Crisps have a very high salt content so should not be fed to your garden birds Turkey stuffing Shop bought stuffing often contains artificial ingredients that can dehydrate your birds Bread Bread is not very high in calories and will quickly fill up little stomachs. It won't hurt your birds but offers very little energy benefit to them Leftover cooked veg Whilst this won't do any harm to your birds, its unlikely to be eaten and will quickly rot. Make sure that there is fresh water available at all times for your garden birds." Having previewed - well, lost most of the formatting, but the info. is there |
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Post by madonplants on Dec 22, 2008 11:31:25 GMT
I seem to remenber reading somewhere that the nets can be hazardous to small birds. You can get feeders to take fat balls, although I must say the birds don't seem to be as interested in them as in the balls hung in their nets. Perhaps because they can't cling onto the fatball itself Don't tell my birds then, as my fours fatballs in my feeder, get demolished pretty quickly, mainly by Starlings, mind! ;D |
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Post by Chuckles on Dec 22, 2008 14:45:14 GMT
Well I've disposed of the orange net and purchased 2 fat ball feeders from a local GC. Also bought a 12.5kg bag of wild bird seed for £11.99 which I thought was good value. CPB if you see this it was Gates's at Cold Overton hehehe. Have to say although a lot of their stuff is expensive the feeders and food were very good value. These are the fat ball holders www.birdcareuk.com/GardmanA01112Fatsnaxfeederwith4freefatballs.htm love the way your cursur turns into a bird on this site Birds seem to be using the bread holders a little more now, but with seed, nuts and fat balls about the bread is last on the menu ;D |
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Post by Dr Bill on Dec 27, 2008 11:42:12 GMT
A goldfinch came to look at our feeders today!!! First ever. What a beautiful bird. Only stayed about 5 seconds and didn't actually feed but maybe now he's found us he will be back 3 goldfinches fed happily from our niger feeder for several minutes on Christmas Eve - marvellous! Perhaps they do prefer a green feeder after all |
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Post by Amo on Dec 28, 2008 7:17:01 GMT
May I advise not using the holders that are like an open spiral. We found a young starling trapped upsidedown in one. Not nice.
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Post by Pip on Dec 28, 2008 8:48:11 GMT
I have been making my own fat balls for a few years now. I put wild bird seed into a pan with vegetable fat and add raisins, nuts and porridge oats. I then spoon it into coconut shell halves. My OH drilled some holes through the shells so that I could hang them up. The birds seem to like them.
Pip
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Post by 4pygmies on Dec 28, 2008 9:17:09 GMT
It's much cheaper isn't it, Pip? I've found that my home made fat balls tend to fall apart once pecked so now I re use the trays of bought ones and use one of those tray hangers, which seems to work better. And I have used small clay pots too suspended upside down which gives the smaller birds a chance. |
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Post by Ladygardener on Dec 28, 2008 11:26:52 GMT
My daughter Ruth bought me a lovely bird table from Tom Chambers and a box of stabilisers to make sure it stays put. It's got a lovely roof on it, lots of room for putting things on and hanging things on ;D I'm delighted with it. I had to leave it behind in my daughter Jenny's house where we spent Christmas but hope to have it up here soon. |
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How would that work out price wise, compared to the bird food you buy in the g/c's, Cherry?
We'll see what happens tomorrow 
all thats different is the net is orange instead of green. They are flying in and looking and also eating from the feeders on the other side of the path. It must be the net colour 
