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Post by Amo on Dec 28, 2008 11:35:59 GMT
That sound fab Lng! Hope to see the pictures of it insitu.  ;D |
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Post by Missredhead on Dec 28, 2008 20:54:04 GMT
I tried making my own fat balls and putting them into the coconut halves but the squirrels used to pinch them.They would work the fat out of them then run off with it!!
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Post by Rosefriend on Dec 29, 2008 14:04:08 GMT
Well that has got me laughing MRH - I would have loved to have seen that.
Here in Germany they are trying, as usual, to stop or shall we say curtail people feeding birds.
To start with we can only buy bird seed from around September until Feb or thereabouts. You are advised to only feed birds when there is thick snow and temperatures that exceed minus 5 at night. You are not supposed to have a bird table as it is unhygienic and can give the birds illness such as salmonella. If you do have one then it is to be totally clean. The best way is to hang things up - so they say here. No food, other than proper bird seed should be used etc etc. Birds may only be fed during the winter time and if birds get used to taking seed from a bird table and give it to their young, it could kill the young birds as their stomachs cannot cope with such food at an early age.
I do understand the reasoning behind all of this but it does rather take the joy out of it all doesn't it. Mind you, our birds will not eat bread, meat or anything fit for human consumption.
RF
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Post by Jasmine on Dec 29, 2008 14:58:24 GMT
Gosh, that's a long list of 'rules' RF but they are all things that make sense. I feel really sorry for the birds in winter but would be even sorrier if I was doing more harm than good. Just been to buy more fat balls and always cut them out of the little green net bags now after reading about birds getting caught up in them.
Actually, having said I feel sorry for them the birds that come to our bird table pick out all the 'good' bits from the mixed seed and leave the rest so they can't be going too hungry.
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Post by Rosefriend on Dec 30, 2008 10:01:05 GMT
It is a long list of rules Jasmine and I can't say that I obey them all tbh. I do think that birds should be made to find their own food during the spring and summer months - it certainly helps keep my aphid and caterpillar population down anyway.
I have just fed the birds this morning, as the squirrel decided to come for a visit and eat most of what was there. There was one Greenfinch on the table, just one, normally they come in a flock. I started adding food and tying other things up and then I noticed that the greenfinch was still happily eating - I hadn't disturbed it in the least. We had quite a one sided conversation before I came back inside.
RF
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Post by Barbara on Dec 30, 2008 10:34:18 GMT
lovely RF obviously a bird who knows you  |
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Post by Ladygardener on Dec 30, 2008 17:09:21 GMT
Goodness RF he was very tame and sees you as a friend rather than a threat, lucky you. ;D I think the birds around here must have read your rules MRH and are fending for themselves, I've not seen one for weeks. I've had to take some of the seeds away as they've started sprouting.  Amo for sure I'll post a pic when my Daughter brings up my birdtable.  |
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Post by JennyWrenn on Dec 31, 2008 15:56:24 GMT
My bird table in situ and have been having fun watching a large blackbird, who is too big to land on it really, and a robin Blackbird lands on large table and takes a titbit, with difficulty Robin watches, dives in onto table no probs and also takes a titbit Blackbird chases robin off - this has been going on nearly all day now Will post a piccy 2moro bit dark at the mo Oh it has also a planter and a solar tiffany light - lovely pressie from GH - bespoke |
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Post by Ladygardener on Jan 4, 2009 9:35:44 GMT
I am so pleased. ;D Just nowI had a visit from the little robin and a brown bird which could be a blackbird? I had the camera to hand but did'nt dare take a pic in case I scared them off. The brown bird sat on the fence looking around for ages and ages before he came down into the garden.
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 6, 2009 19:16:56 GMT
I crushed up a couple of fat balls and mixed it with bird seed to put out as the black birds are having trouble feeding from the fat ball hanging thingy.
I also put out some cold roast tattys and they went in about 10 mins! I have bacon fat for tomorrows treat.
I have had so many birds today that the food goes as quickly as I can put it out......
any tips on how to keep the water bowl from freezing up?
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Post by Dr Bill on Jan 6, 2009 22:08:01 GMT
Immersion heater?
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Post by purplejulia on Jan 7, 2009 0:15:48 GMT
I crushed up a couple of fat balls and mixed it with bird seed to put out as the black birds are having trouble feeding from the fat ball hanging thingy. I also put out some cold roast tattys and they went in about 10 mins! I have bacon fat for tomorrows treat. I have had so many birds today that the food goes as quickly as I can put it out...... any tips on how to keep the water bowl from freezing up? Hello Missy I heard that if you put a ball in a birdbath it stops the water freezing. As I don't have any balls  I have used large stones instead. The containers still freeze but tend to thaw more quickly when I pour boiling water in them - if that makes sense? I don't think.  |
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 7, 2009 8:27:35 GMT
I top up several water trays 3 times a days so as they have access to water for most of the day. Don't think you can do anything to keep it from freezing up but it is important for them to have water. I have a couple of plant pot saucers and seed trays dotted about and my stone bird bath. Just been out with the kettle to top all mine up Once a week I totally empty them though as it can get stagnent very quickly Mashed potato goes down well too MRH, although if you use salt it's not so good for them  we use that low salt which I hope is ok for them  Before it was even properly light this morning the Thrushes and Blackbirds were about for an early breakfast closely followed by Sparrows. |
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 7, 2009 20:52:29 GMT
 I tried a ping pong ball but it keeps blowing away The bacon fat was gone almost immediately....black birds. I have had a little wrenn in the garden today, every time I tried to get a picture it would disappear behind the plants.
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Post by Amo on Jan 8, 2009 6:04:21 GMT
Any luck yet LNG? One of our factories is a huge slab of grey industrialness with large expanses of glass. In one part it turns back towards the road and has the sub station. So two sides of glass building, substation wall with wire fencing and fourth side low brick wall and road. This creates a rectangle of about 8 foot by 20 foot. There are also 2 rather noisy air conditioning units that have fans going around on them. The ground is gravel. It is the most bland of places and the road is quite busy and with pedestrians too. The people whose offices over look this area put up a couple of feeders and now, after about a month, there is always something visiting them. It's usually sparrows but you would not have thought anything would have found them! Don't give up and be patient, they will find you and you will find the right place. Orange. I believe orange is black/dark to birds. When they shoot pigeon around here they use the orange plastic fencing that workmen put up around holes in the road to make their hides. It's cheap and they can't see it apparently. (How do they work out what colours other creatures can see in?? ) Our builders have been away for the Christmas period and it took about a week for the big feeder to start being emptied again. It had been hanging just about full for about three months and was emptied by New Year, which is back to normal. It's one of those three foot tube ones. Builders are back now so the birds will stay away again. |
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Post by Ladygardener on Jan 8, 2009 6:46:09 GMT
Amo, yes it is amazing how birds will feed and come visit even really built up places. My bird feeder is made of wood so they should like that. My Daughter Jenny has'nt yet come to visit so I've not yet gotten it up here. We'd all spent Christmas with her but she lives about a 4 hour drive away. She will come up to Belfast some time this month and will be bringing it with her. ;D The funny thing is that I've started putting some little bits of white bread out and I was off on 4th Jan and saw the little robin and ?black/brown bird. I cut up some apples when I came in from work last night and stuck them onto sticks for the birds. We'll see if they go near them. I do have to be careful where I put stuff as there are always pigeons around and I don't want them in the garden. I find that by putting things near the beds as opposed to out in the open the pigeons stay away. It's all a learning curve to me.
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Post by JennyWrenn on Jan 8, 2009 7:49:52 GMT
Goodness you all go to a lot of trouble Roast tatties indeed Missy I think I will start serving up a New menu ;D |
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 8, 2009 12:50:45 GMT
My birdies love roast tatties,
I gave them a bit more bacon fat today and a bit of stale fruitcake. and I'm making dumpling tonight so if there are any over can I give them to the birds?
They are made from suet.
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Post by Juliet on Jan 8, 2009 13:50:16 GMT
They sound ideal so long as you don't put salt in them, MRH |
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 8, 2009 19:27:33 GMT
no salt April, I add that afterwards
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Post by purplejulia on Jan 8, 2009 20:58:29 GMT
Saw a jay yesterday morning drinking water from my birdbath. Rushed to get camera - jay flew away.  |
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Post by JennyWrenn on Jan 9, 2009 7:00:25 GMT
Oh what a pity PJ - Jay's are beautiful birds but normally very shy - think have only seen about 6 in my entire life - |
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 9, 2009 10:18:49 GMT
I've never seen one........ |
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Post by JennyWrenn on Jan 9, 2009 18:19:09 GMT
Here's a Jay for you Missy   |
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 9, 2009 18:41:08 GMT
How pretty..... I definitely not seen one of those. Thanks Jen  |
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Post by Jasmine on Jan 9, 2009 18:46:31 GMT
They used to steal the peas in our veggie garden when I was little!
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Post by farmersboy on Jan 9, 2009 18:56:19 GMT
Yes Jas you are right,they love peas
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Post by JennyWrenn on Jan 9, 2009 21:35:54 GMT
no salt April, I add that afterwards Does you mean Juliet, Missy - April not bin on this Thread I dont think |
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 9, 2009 21:37:49 GMT
oooh yes...sorry Juliet, ;D
and thanks for the advice....the birdies loved the dumplings...got some more for them tomoorow.
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Post by Juliet on Jan 9, 2009 22:48:18 GMT
I didn't like to mention the name change! Glad the birds liked the dumplings. I've just noticed the new smileys - where did they come from? Brilliant! |
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;D
I have used large stones instead. The containers still freeze but tend to thaw more quickly when I pour boiling water in them - if that makes sense? I don't think. 
we use that low salt which I hope is ok for them 
