Feeding the Birds

D&DD

I always put out my leftover scraps of pastry for our sparrows,it's never there long.My mum's friend who was a member of the RSPB told us they liked it

LizD_2

If you have a fruit tree, leave unwanted fruit on it for the birds.

We have an apple tree which is frequented by Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Coal Tits and squirrels, all having a go at the fruit.

Westywoodpecker

I've just bought some nuts and seed from Lidl today.

Not seen any birds in my garden for ages now though as we seem to have a sparrow hawk which has frightened them all off. :rolleyes:

full-time-mum

Westywoodpecker wrote: »

I've just bought some nuts and seed from Lidl today.

Not seen any birds in my garden for ages now though as we seem to have a sparrow hawk which has frightened them all off. :rolleyes:

It might take a while for the birds to come and feed - they need to be sure that its safe.

It took a month for the birds to start visiting my feeders.

pinkdrink

gemmaj wrote: »

Lard cakes sound good for winter but I read you aren't supposed to give them fats in summer, just seeds and nuts and things.

I too have just started feeding the birds (bought my house and moved in 2 weeks ago!) - so far my best idea for cheap feeding is to try and grow my own sunflower plants - if they flower they will feed the birds themselves or they could be harvested! (It all started by accident when some sunflower seeds got wet on the table and started sprouting!)

I'm with you on the Haithes/magazines postage - most places wont post to Guernsey and places that will want double figures!

The fat balls and suet pellets/cakes etc are GREAT for feeing in summer because they need the enrgy this gives them during the nesting season - lots of mouths to feed so the birds will really appreciate it. I put fat balls out an pellets - i've never seen so many birds eat o fast in my life!! They are back an forwar all day on these so i highly recommen them. The rspb has a free booklet which will help you know what to feed an also help identify the birds that visit your garden. They do love the sunflower seeds too so good luck with that!

foreversomeday

I have got a big bag of oven chips which have been out of the freezer and thawed. Someone said they would need to be cooked if I wanted to feed them to the birds or other wildlife so I'm thinking either they are a write off or that I might be able to bake a bird cake involving them in some form? Perhaps I could cook them in the normal way since they won't be for human consumption?

I'm not overly bothered but we haven't got a garden so don't have a compost bin, and our council collects green waste separately but they include things like meat so I don't see that degrading as well as compost would.

I should add that I've never made a bird cake before so will need instructions from scratch :rotfl:

Or any other ideas, thanks!

Pink.

Hi foreversomeday,

I have no idea on using oven chips to make a bird cake but you might find some tips on these threads to help:

Food for wild birds

Feed The Birds Day

Pink

hotcookie101

Does anyone know of heat/leakproof moulds I can get to make fat balls for the birds in the garden? Am thinking of when I pour off hot fat from the pan into a jar/bowl to bin. Don't eat small yoghurts to use their tubs, and really would like something I can pour hot fat straight into? Or should I just lay string in glass jar (want easier to use solution if poss!!)

champys

hotcookie - I use a (metal) muffin tray for this. I put some bird seeds at the bottom, then fill up with liquid fat and let it cool off to set.

Penelope_Penguin

hotcookie101 wrote: »

Does anyone know of heat/leakproof moulds I can get to make fat balls for the birds in the garden? Am thinking of when I pour off hot fat from the pan into a jar/bowl to bin. Don't eat small yoghurts to use their tubs, and really would like something I can pour hot fat straight into? Or should I just lay string in glass jar (want easier to use solution if poss!!)

Take a look at this older thread - Feeding the Birds. I'll merge this thread to it later

Penny. x