Feeding the Birds

Snowy_Owl

We've bee putting food out for the birds for about a year now since we moved- mainly when weather bad. Best bit - watching the cats being tormented when they decide not to go out!!!!!! :rotfl:

Emuchops

I went to buy some peanuts from Wilkinsons today-£2.28 per kg-sunflower seed hearts were £2.25!!! I love to FTB, and buy a 25kg sack of seed from a local producer for about £10.00, but I like to supplement it with peanuts (perhaps this isnt necessary?). We do not waste food and also have 4 dogs so there really isnt any leftover bread/fat etc. Does anyone get peanuts cheaper? or know what I can enrich the birds diet with, cheaply? many thanks.

ExTrolly101

Hi I'm not sure if they are cheaper but I use cj wildbird foods. I share a delivery with my next door neighbour we also make fat balls coming up to winter in old yogurt pots. I know costco do large sacks of peanuts but not sure of price and you need a card. Sorry csn't be much more help.

Lorian

I use maltbystores on ebay (I'm just a satisifed customer) for mealworms, peanuts and sunflower hearts, but all prices are up this year, especially peanuts that now need some new testing and certification.

Buddingblonde

TBH I would have thought that there is little demand for food for the birds at this time of the year - it is winter they really need it. There should be loads of food for them with all the good weather - things are fruiting a lot quicker and in the autumn they will have an abundance of seeds etc.
My birds just get stale bread at this time of year. I dont like to encourage them to come to our house as we have cats so I tend to feed them in the park.
In the winter I buy value lard and put that out with the bread.

soupdragon10

Have you thought about growing plants that have seed heads to attract birds? Goldfinches for example visit my garden at certain times of year to feed on the seed heads.

At this time of year there is so much natural food around in the way of fruit/insects etc that I don't feed, but make sure that there are plenty of sources of water around for them.

kibblerok

Try not to feed birds peanuts at this time of year especially loose, young birds can choke on them - stick to seed and perhaps some mealworms as a treat.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/whentofeed.aspx

Seakay

Buddingblonde wrote: »

TBH I would have thought that there is little demand for food for the birds at this time of the year - it is winter they really need it. There should be loads of food for them with all the good weather - things are fruiting a lot quicker and in the autumn they will have an abundance of seeds etc.
My birds just get stale bread at this time of year. I dont like to encourage them to come to our house as we have cats so I tend to feed them in the park.
In the winter I buy value lard and put that out with the bread.

Actually young birds rely on fruit etc to remain hydrated, so if no wild fruit etc available then very important for birdtables to provide it. High protein food very important in summer, high fat in winter. Any bread put out should be soaked in water and wholemeal for preference

Seakay

Emuchops wrote: »

I went to buy some peanuts from Wilkinsons today-£2.28 per kg-sunflower seed hearts were £2.25!!! I love to FTB, and buy a 25kg sack of seed from a local producer for about £10.00, but I like to supplement it with peanuts (perhaps this isnt necessary?). We do not waste food and also have 4 dogs so there really isnt any leftover bread/fat etc. Does anyone get peanuts cheaper? or know what I can enrich the birds diet with, cheaply? many thanks.

You could breed your own mealworms - they are vegetarian and live in bran with a bit of salad etc. You only need a few worms to develop to beetles to start producing quite a lot, and they are a good source of protein and hydration.
I got a free tub from Wigly Wigglers the other day and now they are in an old fishtank with a bit of net curtain held on with an elastic band on top, bran and a few shreds of lettuce inside; as soon as some beetles appear I know that breeding will begin and I can start feeding the other worms to the birds. Put them out in a shallow but straight sided plastic pot on the bird table so that they cannot crawl away before the birds find them.

patchwork_cat

Also in same vein as above why not grow your own sunflowers for seeds for next winter.