Feeding the Birds

Liney_2

I saw on a program last night (The F Word) that it can be spread by droppings so I would maybe remove any shoes before going indoors that have trod in any birdy poop and like you say wash your hands. Other than that I have no idea what to do, I am inclined to think it is being hyped-up in the press and that nothing too major will actually come of it.

darthpaul

I have just purchased a bird feeder but have 2 cats. I want to give the birds some food. I hung it on a hook at the top of an old metal washing line pole thats way above where the cats can get and they cant climb metal poles but had to take it down the last 2 days as the gale winds were blowing it around so much that all the seed is now on the floor

Does anybody else with cats feed birds and if so where do you put feeders?

SnowyOwl_2

I've got cats and feed the birds too. I put the bird feeder into the hedgerow behind my fence but a little bratty 12 year old came along and smashed it :mad: - saw him do it, got "the finger" when I told him off. Anyway, I digress...the cats can't really jump through the hedge v.well, so the birds seemed safer. However I am loathe to replace the bird feeder (brat's parents not interested in making him buy me a new one and don't trust him not to smash it again) so I've been putting food on the ground in the hedgerow but behind the fence. The birds have definitely found it, I can see them perched and looking down, then moving in for a feed. This is of course better for the ground feeding birds, as not all of them can/will eat from feeders. The birds seem to come along at certain times of the day - so I keep the cats in during these times, Actually my cats are in most of the time, also avoids them pooping in the neighbours' gardens. Wish I could train them to poop on the bratty 12 year old's head.

I've hung a home made feeder from a fence post within my garden, but so far the birds haven't seen it. My reasoning is that cats crawl along on the ground then pounce...have yet to see one crawl skywards and then pounce. The feeder hangs a bit down from the top of the fence so I think it should be ok, but will monitor progress next time it's not raining, whenever that will be...

Alison_B

Not sure whereabouts to post this.

I bought some half coconuts that was filled with fat and seeds for the birds. Now that they have eaten the contents, I bought some cheap lard and some seeds and thought I would have a go at making my own. I melted the lard and then when it was cool, put it into the coconut cases and put plenty of seeds into the fat but the birds won't touch it.

Anyone know what to put into them to make the birds eat.

Thanks and Merry Christmas . :xmassmile

zar

I don't see any reason why they won't eat it - perhaps they just don't need to at the moment as its quite mild. Leave the coconuts out and if they aren't touched after the next cold snap then you might want to try something else.

You might like to put one of them on the ground (the right way up) and the blackbirds and robins etc. might eat some of it then.

:xmassign:

thriftlady_2

I've done this as well and the birds never touch it either- ungrateful little so and so's.In my experience they just like bread although bacon rind goes down quite well.

Alison_B

Unfortunately we can't put bread and bacon rind down anymore as it attracts rats from the linear park that runs along the end of our garden.

thriftlady_2

Gosh, hadn't thought of that,now I'm worried about rats.Mind you, the crows and jackdaws polish it off pretty quick.

Apples are supposed to attract thrushes,fieldfares and redwings but I've never had any luck with this either -they just go mouldy.

cattie

I'm finding the birds aren't too interested in the food I put out for them at the moment either. I buy them fat balls & last put some out 2 weeks ago & they have still not finished them.

One of the things I've found that they do still flock to eat though is the bread I soak up the juices with from the sardines in tomato sauce that I buy for my cat.

Perhaps they are just not hungry enough to be greatly interested in their run of the mill feeds at the moment. Once the cold weather gets under way they will be more than happy to eat your offerings I imagine.

scuzz

We made one of these in a yogurt pot a couple of weeks ago, and the cheeky birds knocked it off the tree and flew off with it!!!


We used old fat from a roast, and some crumbs and seeds