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Post by Rosefriend on Nov 6, 2013 7:06:35 GMT
How about butter tubs Rosefriend. The RSPB show how to make them with an upside down plastic coke or water or lemonade or milk bottle and seeds. Few holes in the bottom to let water out. Dut a hole in the side for the birds to get at the seed, hang onto the washing line or a tree. I'll have a look at the RSPB site as I can easily make some but if the weather isn't freezing the fat will melt, won't it...better to have something around the fat.. I was thinking of using a beaker, adding the mixture, and a piece of string and then cutting the plastic off but again if the weather is warmer... We don't have butter tubs here really, - well not like the UK - only margarine but that would work... Mmmmh - a bit of research methinks!! RF |
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Post by Ladygardener on Nov 6, 2013 8:00:35 GMT
Yes there are lots of different ways of doing it Rosefriend. |
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Post by Jilly on Nov 6, 2013 8:25:44 GMT
From previous experience  , you're right about the lard melting if it's not freezing Rosefriend. You should be OK with your freezing weather, but with our mild Winters the couple of times I tried it, I just ended up with lard all over the patio  |
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Post by Chuckles on Nov 6, 2013 9:29:34 GMT
I rather like the idea of those except for one thing - when it rains all the water collects in the tray doesn't it?? One reason that I have avoided buying anything like that here. Not that I have seen those here yet.. RF They have drainage holes in the tray to cope with the rain Rosefriend although they do need cleaning out as they can get blocked with the bits the birds leave. I found them to be great for less mess on the ground, and more birds are able to feed as some eat from the tray while others are at the port holes. This is the best one I have, I also like the fact it has a hook so you can hang another feeder underneath it www.naturesfeast.co.uk/products/feeders/all-seasons/all-seasons-feeder-trayI've also utilised a hanging basket that I no longer use and its made a wonderful feeder, I'm putting out odd bits of bread, cake and even a few fat balls in it and its become quite popular even the blue tits are using it. In the background on the right you can see the feeder with the tray and hook.  |
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Post by Rosefriend on Nov 6, 2013 14:07:08 GMT
I rather like the idea of those except for one thing - when it rains all the water collects in the tray doesn't it?? One reason that I have avoided buying anything like that here. Not that I have seen those here yet.. RF They have drainage holes in the tray to cope with the rain Rosefriend although they do need cleaning out as they can get blocked with the bits the birds leave. I found them to be great for less mess on the ground, and more birds are able to feed as some eat from the tray while others are at the port holes. This is the best one I have, I also like the fact it has a hook so you can hang another feeder underneath it www.naturesfeast.co.uk/products/feeders/all-seasons/all-seasons-feeder-trayI've also utilised a hanging basket that I no longer use and its made a wonderful feeder, I'm putting out odd bits of bread, cake and even a few fat balls in it and its become quite popular even the blue tits are using it. In the background on the right you can see the feeder with the tray and hook. Thanks for the info Chuckles - the birds here in Germany are not used to anything much in the way of bread etc. My dear old Mum used to throw rest fish and chips and bones from a lamb roast etc out for the birds and they went mad - the birds here turn their noses up at such things. However I have been giving the Jackdaws, Pigeons, Jays etc stale bread now and again, under the trees across the road, and they are easting it happily - possibly because they pinch it from the compost piles and are used to it. The smaller birds will not touch it and I have stopped trying. I never feed in summer as there is more than enough to keep them going and I won't start until it gets colder. We were out today and I looked around for some feeders and found one that was very similar to the ones that you have been showing but 27 Euro+ is not in my league, just for birds. I have come back with 2 coconuts and will start making my own fat pots again - that is after OH has sawn them through and bored holes for some wire... Not sure why I am making such a fuss this year but we do enjoy watching the birds feeding from the lounge window. Do love that hanging basket that you have utilized, marvellous idea... RF |
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totp
Assistant Gardener
Posts: 128
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Post by totp on Nov 6, 2013 22:50:47 GMT
I have a couple of trees and bushes with branches that provide a natural angle for me to wedge the fat balls into. I also wedge it into where fence posts meet or I use plant saucers on the ground as some birds don't like feeding off the ground.
As for lard melting - I can't remember how cold it gets in England in the winter but lard is pretty solid in the fridge which is what, 2 or 3 degrees? so I can't imagine it can get that runny and slimy. I would have thought at night it would solidify again.
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Post by Rosefriend on Nov 7, 2013 5:51:27 GMT
I have a couple of trees and bushes with branches that provide a natural angle for me to wedge the fat balls into. I also wedge it into where fence posts meet or I use plant saucers on the ground as some birds don't like feeding off the ground. As for lard melting - I can't remember how cold it gets in England in the winter but lard is pretty solid in the fridge which is what, 2 or 3 degrees? so I can't imagine it can get that runny and slimy. I would have thought at night it would solidify again. Never thought about wedging them between branches etc totp - here in Germany, unless we get a really mild winter, I have similar problems as you in Poland - more snow and ice than anything else.. Never thought that of course the fat stays hard in the fridge and I have now got two coconuts to saw through and make into little hanging fat balls and then will prepare the fat and when it turns cold(er) do the fat balls in beakers so that I can wedge them somewhere - good idea!! RF |
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 3, 2014 7:55:27 GMT
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 3, 2014 8:53:06 GMT
How fab Chuckles. As I'm watching it, is it live or recorded earlier? They do stay for ages don't they. I have a few who have been coming to my garden for a while now, they love the sunflower hearts. |
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 3, 2014 10:39:10 GMT
Its says its live LG, I've just looked in and there where a few GF's and a little Blue Tit joined them. They stay around longer than mine do I do find the camera pic is slow to load on occasions and you have to refresh the page every now and again, usual internet speed issues I guess. I thought it would be nice for those members who don't have feeders or who don't get a mix of birds in there garden for whatever reason. |
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 4, 2014 9:02:35 GMT
www.gardenature.co.uk/cams/ just watched a couple of goldfinches and greenfinches having a late breakfast, a blue tit also popped in to say hello Made a nice change to the 6 sparrows on my feeders atm and the big fat pidgeon thats walking up and down the path like he's in charge or maybe its a she
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 4, 2014 9:06:22 GMT
I keep clicking on your link Chuckles, it's so lovely to see them is'nt it. The Goldfinches are so colourful.  |
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 4, 2014 9:46:17 GMT
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 8, 2014 9:26:50 GMT
Found another fab live webcam with 2 cams and you can view them side by side on the screen. Earlier this morning I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker it was amazing and on the other the antics of a grey squirrel nearly made me choke on my breakfast. I've now got myself a HDMI cable so I can link the pc upto the tv. www.wildlifekate.co.uk/#/my-live-cameras/4581339415 |
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Post by Chuckles on Apr 5, 2014 10:46:52 GMT
Don't forget the blackbirds will most likely be feeding young now so any extra bits will help them along. Mummy and Daddy in my garden have been making the best of a bit of last nights left over fish cake and cauli cheese, they eat a bit themselves then cram thier beak and fly off to feed babies.
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Post by Ladygardener on Apr 6, 2014 12:20:52 GMT
I must throw out some extra mealyworms now I'm back home. I have noticed one of the 2 Magpie who have nested over in the elderberry tree are very protective. They're swooping down on the starlings and have even come into my garden!
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Post by Ladygardener on Jun 29, 2014 8:06:10 GMT
I've never seen so many birds and little fledglings visiting my garden. I have families of Starlings with their babies, Goldfinch with their babies, Sparrows with their babies and Chaffinch with their babies. It's a full time job filling up the sunflower hearts suet balls and suet blocks, I'm refilling every couple of days!!!!! I also sprinkle some suet pellets and mealyworms on the ground early in the morning.  |
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Post by Chuckles on Jul 8, 2014 7:39:10 GMT
We've had a bumper year on the feeders this year and its been a real pleasure to watch the young, such funny characters. The other day a friend and I watched a young female sparrow in one of the plant saucers I have with water in for them, it seemed like it was her first attempt at bathing, she walked about in it for a while then had a drink then the head was dunked and eventualy she was really brave and had a right good splash about, took about 10 mins in total and it was so funny to watch.
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Post by Ladygardener on Jul 8, 2014 13:13:46 GMT
I'm sure that was lovely to watch Chuckles. |
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Post by Ladygardener on Jul 14, 2014 11:23:05 GMT
I have a query Chuckles and/or anyone else who knows about such things. The other day one of the young starlings got trapped inside one of my oblisk. By the time I'd cut a huge hole out of the sweetpea it had somehow managed to make it's way out under the oblisk and did'nt use my exit anyhow. I noticed it about the garden but not flying and have been putting down some of the fat balls that it had been eating at the bird table. This morning I saw that some of the fat ball had gone and just caught it peeking out from down at the bottom of the GH. I've also left some water out in case it is thirsty. Sometimes I see it and at other times, even when looking for it, it's not around. I'm not sure if it can fly but there does seem to be 1 young starling hanging around the bird table. It could be the same one but I have no way of knowing. They have half furry feathers and half their proper ones. Is there anything else I can do? I'm so worried about a cat getting to it although there's only one way the cat could get to it and if it can fly at all it could escape.  |
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Post by Chuckles on Jul 16, 2014 6:31:27 GMT
Young birds don't usually leave a nest until they are ready to fly, leaving the nest is there 1st flight and there are some that are better at it than others, bit like children learning to walk. Not sure what to suggest really |
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Post by Ladygardener on Jul 16, 2014 11:07:27 GMT
Young birds don't usually leave a nest until they are ready to fly, leaving the nest is there 1st flight and there are some that are better at it than others, bit like children learning to walk. Not sure what to suggest really Thanks anyhow Chuckles, it all worked out well in the end. He hung around my garden for a few days, making small flights and then got the strength to fly off completly although I'm pretty sure he's one of the many young Starlings and Sparrows eating the fat balls and visiting several times a day. One of them always hangs around for ages after the others leave. |
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Post by Ladygardener on Dec 18, 2014 11:55:52 GMT
I've been out and filled the sunflower heart feeder for the birds at the bottom of the garden. That should keep them going for a couple of weeks, I've refilled the fat blocks x2 and the fat ball holders x2 are full now as well. I'll recheck those before I go at the weekend but they should do for a couple of weeks too. I'm sure they'll miss the mealyworms and the suet pellets I put out each day for them but they'll be fine I'm sure.  |
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Post by Rosefriend on Dec 18, 2014 12:30:02 GMT
The garden birds that are always here, blackbirds, tits, sparrows, robins, nuthatches, woodpeckers, chaffinches etc are really having a fight to get food as the greenfinches are coming in flocks to get food and just making it impossible for "my" birds to get anything so I am allowing them one load and then keep thumping on the windows to get rid of the greenfinches...
I have various balls, nuts etc hanging in the garden but they go mad...
OH says that I am being daft but after they ate a whole packet recently I have really called a halt...the most incredible thing is...I thump on the windows and the greenfinches fly off but the "resident birds" stay...a few sparrows sat on the fencing this morning and kept looking into the Lounge windows as if to say.."well, come on then, get rid of them, we're hungry"!!
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Post by Ladygardener on Dec 18, 2014 14:43:30 GMT
They're a joy to watch are'nt they.  |
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Post by Ladygardener on Jan 10, 2015 11:12:22 GMT
I've been outside and filled up the sunflower heart seeds for the little birds. There were about 12 Goldfinch waiting on the wires for me to finish. It's very gusty here but dry at the moment so I thought I'd get it done when the going is good. The feeder is surrounded by mesh that only the small birds can get through otherwise the pigeons and starlings would eat them all. |
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 19, 2015 9:26:44 GMT
I've noticed an increase in the number of small birds coming to the sunflower heart feeder this past week or so. Every year about this time I keep a watch on the old disused factory around dusk to see if I can spot the little Bat coming out of hibernation. Sure enough last friday, 13th March I spotted one, so glad he's made it through another winter. I checked my gardening book and last year I saw him on exactly the same date, 13th March. Coincidence..  |
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 21, 2015 15:18:16 GMT
I'm seeing my usual array of birds although the longtail, coal and great tits seem to be visiting less frequently, possibly busy nesting.
I've recently put a 12" plastic pot saucer under one of my feeders, a hanging basket chain clips lovely under the lip so you can then hang it. Great for bits of bread and cake etc and it catches any stray seeds that fall from the main feeders. I had to make some holes in it for rain to drain through though. Its working really well.
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 22, 2015 8:01:41 GMT
Chuckles, sounds like a good idea. I'm still leaving mealyworms and suet pellets out at night/in the evening when I think the pigeons have gone to bed. I have a Robin and a couple of Blackbirds that fly down and eat them. If they eat them all at night, I'll put some more out before I go to bed. Most mornings they manage to eat them before the pigeons come down. I do still have a suet block in a cage with a stick through it to have it upright for ground feeders but the pigeons are'nt that bothered about it. The fat balls I have in cages withing the bird table, I put some mealyworms out there too and the sunflower hearts are at the bottom of the garden with wire around them in the oblisk to keep the big birds away, it works.
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Post by Ladygardener on Jul 8, 2015 10:15:39 GMT
Is anyone else finding it a full time job filling up the feeders at the moment? Mine that the finches eat the sunflower hearts from are barely lasting 5 days. This is the 2nd or 3rd lot of baby Goldfinch to be coming to feed this year. I'm not complaining mind, I love watching them and they're there when I go out with my coffee at 5am most mornings.
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, you're right about the lard melting if it's not freezing 
