Bird feeder/tables

[Jasmine]

I thought something like that LG. I think some birds feel safer off the ground. I don't want such a huge table this time - although it was lovely and rustic looking and fitted in with the rustic garden! ;D Will have to have a look about.

[Ladygardener]

The one I have is not big and has a lovely slate roof, it's really strong. There are some good ones around Jasmine. Just a matter of personal preference. (sp)

[Jasmine]

I'm going to have a trip to the GC this morning as I've got to drop something off at one of my schools.

[carolann]

You will have to watch the feeder all the time for the LTT's LG they are very quick and only stay for a minute or so I was told that they have to eat almost 24/7 with them being so small and active dont know if its true but they are always moving, I have not seen any resting in my trees the first one arrives them another couple then the rest all come in but before they all get eating the first ones are off again, not seen any on my feeders yet I think I shall get another couple of fatball feeders to hang in the Holly tree as they do like a lot of cover very close by.

[Ladygardener]

Thanks for that info Carol. I'll be keeping an eye out to see when I'm on days off I think I'll move my fat ball feeder over where it's a bit more sheltered then.

[Louisa]

I've tried the birds on safflower seeds this week and they seem as popular as the sunflower hearts, so i'll incorporate some of these from now on

It's quite an expensive hobby, buying sunflower hearts, and i discovered an online company this year that sell in bulk for very reasonable prices, they are Kennedy Wild Bird Foods in Peterborough.

[Ladygardener]

I moved my fat ball feeder and bought another seed feeder and the birds are all over them. I'm well pleased and I've put mesh trays underneath to catch the seeds and bits of fat balls that fall off and the blackbird is in there eating them every day now too. I've seen the robin there as well. I've loads of everything for them at the moment Louisa but I'll look out for them next time I'm buying.

[Louisa]

Yes, do, Lg i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/smiley.gif
When you buy a lot of the seed it pays to shop around, when someone told me about the place i compared prices of the hearts and they're the cheapest i've found.
They also stock normal sunflower seeds etc and they're well priced too.

I'm pleased that your birds are happy i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/grin.gif

[Barbara]

I buy mine on the market, it's half the price of the stores.

[Louisa]

Barbara, would you do a bit of investigating please

Next time you're there, would you look at the price of sunflower hearts - it must be them and not regular sunflower seeds with their black or stripey husks on ...... i'm very interested to know the prices that are out there.

The hearts are the same type of sunflower seeds you get in health shops etc, next to the sesame seeds usually !!!!!

I'm doing a bit of a study in the cost of the hearts and am getting costs from various people, in various parts of the country

[Jasmine]

I can't keep up with the amount of black sunflower seeds the birds get through.
I could fill it up every day!

[Missredhead]

I buy mine from Wilkos.......I think they were £1.79

[Juliet]

I buy mine here: www.dailybread.co.uk/

I get organic ones which are suitable for humans to eat & they are still cheaper than buying them from bird food companies, especially as I'd have to pay postage if I got them delivered. Can't remember how much they cost now, but about £14 or £15 for 5kg, I think.

[Louisa]

That's expensive Juliet, thanks for the link though, just had a quick scan through it and it's interesting
The bird feed company i mentioned charge £37 for a 25k bag and that includes postage.

I too used to buy the Wilkos hearts and they charge £1.99 as a regular price with £1.79 being their special price - this seems to be the best price out there - however, the amount i get through each month mean lugging those bags home from the town centre each week/month and they create a very heavy bag to carry back to the car.
Buying in bulk as i do means a delivery to the door aswell as a better buy.

As i work it out the 25k sack equates to £1.48 for a kilo bag.
I'm still wanting to find out more so please keep the info coming

[carolann]

Yesterday I was looking through the living room window watching the Woodpecker doing his balancing act on the fatball feeder he was throwing more on the floor for the smaller birds I wonder just what he was eating from it? I shall have to have a google and see what he likes best. I have not had a visit from the LTT mafia yet but I'm still on the lookout for them so I can see just how many we have this year.

[Louisa]

That's interesting, Carolann, i'd love to know what he was prioritising too - my friend has them in her garden but i've not seen them here
As for LTTs - only seen them once, 2 winters ago when we had a couple of days of extremely cold weather
I'm envious of yours !

[Chuckles]

I gave up buying the smaller bags of various seeds, it was getting costly. I now now get this mix from here www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk/pws/ProductDetails.ice?ProductID=2448 we have a branch in our local town so OH picks it up for me. I can manage a 20kg bag from the house to the shed ;D 2 bags fit nicely into a plastic dustbin with lid so it keeps ok.

They do sunflowers seeds and hearts and peanuts in large bags www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk/pws/ProductCategoryAttributeLink.ice?productsPerPage=18&paId=wc_dept&value=GardenLeisureWildBirdFeed&layout=departmentprod.layout and you can shop online but I'm not sure on the postage other than it's free on orders over £50. They also have a store locator too.

[Louisa]

That's a nice site, Chuckles, will return there again i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/grin.gif
Their hearts are still dearer though

I noticed in Wilkos, this morning, that their hearts are up to £2.29 per kilo now.

Also, their suet feeder, square basket/cage thingies have gone up by about 20p from the wintertime too ..... i am SO glad i buy when the prices seem good !
Hey ho, nothing stays low for very long, does it i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/undecided.gif

[Ladygardener]

I'll check next time I'm at pets at home to see how much they charge for things Louisa. I bought the suet bags the last time they were 3 for the price of 2. I buy the big tub of fat balls and they last for ages in my garden.

[Juliet]

Nov 20, 2010 6:00:03 GMT Louisa said:

That's expensive Juliet, thanks for the link though, just had a quick scan through it and it's interesting

Compared with Wilkos etc, it looks as though it is - I was comparing with places like this though, which would be my alternatives - and which charge postage as well!

www.gardenbird.co.uk/Premium-Sunflower-Seed-Hearts/Bird-Food/1044-M,default,pd.html
www.birdfood.co.uk/product_details.php?area_id=2&group_id=16&nav_id=25&prd_id=282
www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/shop/product.html?product_id=25

[Juliet]

Just had a look at Chuckles' site - they're cheaper than Daily Bread but with postage would be more expensive unless I spent over £50 at a time
And I buy organic ones so I can eat them too ;D

[Louisa]

Nov 20, 2010 13:44:39 GMT Juliet said:

Nov 20, 2010 6:00:03 GMT Louisa said:

That's expensive Juliet, thanks for the link though, just had a quick scan through it and it's interesting

Compared with Wilkos etc, it looks as though it is - I was comparing with places like this though, which would be my alternatives - and which charge postage as well!

www.gardenbird.co.uk/Premium-Sunflower-Seed-Hearts/Bird-Food/1044-M,default,pd.html
www.birdfood.co.uk/product_details.php?area_id=2&group_id=16&nav_id=25&prd_id=282
www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/shop/product.html?product_id=25

Wow, they are dear i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/undecided.gif
It looks like the place i buy from is very competetively priced indeed, i hope they don't read this and raise their prices i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/wink.gif

[Barbara]

The next time I go to the local market I'll make a note of prices Lou.

[Chuckles]

It can work out quite expensive to feed the birds these days, thier worth it though. Tbo I was spending a ridiculous amount when I totted it all up and reverted to using just a mixed seed to help keep cost down. Crocus have fat balls and the block things on offer atm, not sure how they compare with other shops. £5.99 postage though if I recall www.crocus.co.uk/product/_/outdoor/birds-wildlife/suet-balls/classid.2000007281/ There are often voucher codes about for Crocus, anything from 10-20% off but I can't find any current ones.

Louisa, if I go into the store I find allsorts to buy ;D It's cheaper to let OH go when he's in town.

[Juliet]

Nov 20, 2010 14:23:46 GMT Louisa said:

It looks like the place i buy from is very competetively priced indeed, i hope they don't read this and raise their prices

I'd somehow missed your post saying where you get them, Louisa - have just googled & found a link in case anyone else is interested: www.wildbirdfood.uk.com/acatalog/Plain_Seeds_and_Peanuts.html - they are extremely cheap, aren't they? Maybe we should all stock up ...

[Louisa]

i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/wink.gif
They certainly appear to be competetive, Juliet i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/smiley.gif

[Ladygardener]

Some degenerate has pinched the fat ball feeder from my garden. I can't believe it.

[Louisa]

i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/angry.gif Human or four legged, Lg ?

Something visits my garden and pinches the suet blocks in their baskets ...... i sometimes find the basket, last time i didn't.
I think the culprit here is either a fox or cat.

It's annoying i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/angry.gif

[Ladygardener]

It was definately human, most likely someone on the way home from the pub last night. I've made a feeding station on the oblisk at the end of the garden. Someone obviously reached in and just lifted it off it's hook. I'm raging. The other feeders are tied onto it thankfully or maybe they'd be gone too.
At least with yours it's a little animal do the cats go for the suet blocks Louisa.? How wiley animals can be. I know the squirrels pinch Ruth's fat balls sometimes, holders and all.

[Chuckles]

Sorry to hear about your 2 or 4 legged theives girls

I rarely buy fat balls or suet blocks but had thought about getting some cheap own brand lard and making the odd few. They mention it on here www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/whatfood/index.aspx has /does anyone make their own ?