Feeding the Birds

KatieKins

Trishh wrote:

I'm afraid to encourage the birds coming to my garden as I have a cat. She has a bell on her collar, but I'd hate the birds to get caught, so I don't put any food out. Any ideas on feeding them safely?

It's a shame but I don't think any ways safe. We hang fat balls out which are high up on a bit of rope, but lots of birds tend to wait underneath as well for the bits and also around the garden whilst waiting for other birds to go.

dannahaz

Trishh wrote:

I'm afraid to encourage the birds coming to my garden as I have a cat. She has a bell on her collar, but I'd hate the birds to get caught, so I don't put any food out. Any ideas on feeding them safely?

I have the same problem Trishh. I have two cats who are expert hunters, and one of them climbs to the top of the trees and lies in wait for birds. He's up there now, just waiting, so I can't even put the food up high. Both cats where a bell, makes no difference.

I'd love to feed the birds, and even have a load of birdfood in the garage, but I just don't think it's safe.

As I trype, I'm just wondering what the balance point is. I mean, would the number of birds that are saved by being fed outweigh the number that my cats catch because they are feeding?

Does anyone have any ideas on that?

Trishh_2

Looks like no bird feeding here then

Trish

Thistle-down

Am I the only one humming

"tuppence a bag... tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag....." :whistle:

but don't feed them too much bread, esp. if it's white store bread!! See Here

wendym

I think if your cats are really efficient hunters you'd spend your life finding half-dead birds.
My cat was a bit gormless, but still put birds off.

When he died (aged 19) I decided to try a catless life, and the bird population in my garden has gone up about 10-fold.
I currently have sparrows, green and gold finches, chaffinches, a robin, bluetits and coaltits, blackbirds, thrushes, all merrily stuffing their little faces.

But I do miss my cat.

Trishh_2

I haven't seen any evidence of my cat having caught birds ... the only thing she ever brought me was butterflies, during summer, and she hadn't hurt them,she seemed to have just wet their wings so they couldn't fly I had to keep picking them up and putting them up where the cat couldn't reach them. Once their wings were dry, they flew off :T
Sorry to hear you lost your cat, Wendy


Trish

squeaky

Hi everyone

I've merged this new thread with an older one from last year. There are some handy tips in it and you'll need to read from the beginning again.

HTH

dannahaz

wendym wrote:

But I do miss my cat.

Wendy - {HUG}

wendym

Thank you Trish and dannahaz.

I have had 3 cats live to ripe old ages, and once they get to 17ish you start to think they'll go on for ever.

hazzie123

Well I must say you lot have changed my mind about feeding the birds even those horried sh*tehawks.So any leftover fruit,nuts,meat fat will be going out for them.

I have some peanuts still in the shell in a glass bowl in the front room as a nice looking thingy.The nuts will be about 2 years old by now,would it be safe to use them for the birds? I broke one up and the nuts look ok not shriveled up.