Feeding the Birds

beautiful_ravens

valk_scot wrote: »

Some birds eat other birds you know. Tthey're not all dainty little vegetarians and seed nibblers!

Birds = velociraptors

Birds are related to dinosaurs folks, thats why the crows eat roadkill! Seriously, chickens will peck at mice and love a bit of meat. But they also like greens, my chickens are having some greens tomorrow. I wonder if that applies to wild birds too?

cooking-mama

Ive been feeding the birds most houseold scraps....even some wrinkled tangerines 1/2;d got a pecking at.
im now wondering-my potato and leek soup(make with gammon shank)is ready to be flushed down the loo...family "forgot"to eat it last 3 days when i was at work,anyway instead of flushing it,could i strain it and put the solids out for the birds?..potato/leek/carrot/shredded ham shank..anything there harmful?

Kimitatsu

redruby wrote: »

Not teaching you how to suck eggs honest , but the RSPB tell you not to put cooked porridge out, as it can cause the birds beaks to stick together and so they are then unable to eat, dry porridge oats are fine, hope you don't mind me saying :o

Thanks for that up until a couple of days ago I was putting out just dry oats so I will go back to that today - no need to apologise, we are all here to learn :T

Kimitatsu

Lip_Stick wrote: »

I know, it makes me feel so sad wondering how they cope overnight in this cold. I live in a pretty industrial area close to the city centre, and would hate it if I didn't see any wildllife. I'm wondering if I should put out food for the fox that wanders by? Should I? and what?

I have to be honest in the winter I feed everything - the foxes may be ok as they will live on rabbits and roadkill this time of year. I tend to chuck out the bones the dogs have finished with into the woods (we live in the middle of the country) and the vixen trots along and takes them off with her. I get the bones for nothing for the butchers so the dogs get them for 24 hours then the fox gets them. Mr K thinks I am mad as we have chooks but they are still a beautiful creature and I love hearing the cubs play in the autumn!

He really thought I had lost the plot this week though when I put the chestnuts out for the squirrels! They were just on the turn so were past their best for roasting, and they looked frozen this week. We have a couple that bury their stash in the garden but as it is currently under 6 inches of snow and the ground is rock solid, I am worried that they wont survive............

Just waiting for it to thaw a bit so I can check on the hedgehogs, although I think of all of them they will be the safest as they are well tucked up at this time of year :T However I think my snowdrops may be late this year :rotfl:

luxor4t

If I put out anything for the birds I get the neighbours (very well fed) cat looking hopeful

conradmum

beautiful_ravens wrote: »

Birds = velociraptors

Birds are related to dinosaurs folks, thats why the crows eat roadkill! Seriously, chickens will peck at mice and love a bit of meat. But they also like greens, my chickens are having some greens tomorrow. I wonder if that applies to wild birds too?

A friend of mine keeps chickens. One time a pigeon got trapped in their run and she couldn't get it out. When she came back there were only bones left. :eek:

scotrae

I know that some birds go crazy for mealworms. Would it be OK to offer them some worms from my compost bin?

5dogs

I have been whizzing bread up in my mini chopper and then frying it in (about half a pack ) of butter. When it's cool I sprinkle it along the top of the garden wall, and 'my' birdies love it

They have also had Christmas cake/pudding, shortbread, teacakes, wild birdseed, fatballs and peanuts in a bag.

My mum puts out food for birds and squirrels. She also feeds a family of foxes every night (she gives them butchers tripe, and if they arrive before she has put it out, they make a right old noise :rotfl:).

sistercas

after reading this I feel very guilty as the bird table in the garden has 6 inches of snow on it

I have now cleared it and put some apple , seeds and guinea pig food out and some fresh water :A

tracyk

I have chooks & ducks & have noticed the little birdies joining in when I feed them, the chooks & ducks don't seem to mind...

They also take the feathers for their nests so I like to think I'm doing my bit to help keep them warm too - I bet they have 5* nests around here, especially if they are lucky enough to nab the Silkie feathers, they're lovely & soft....

Last year I put out the 'fluff' from the tumble dryer for the birdies to line their nests with, I'd forgotten about that till now so I think I'll do it again....