Cheap bird seed??

Honey_Bear

We found a small independent market trader in Plymouth Market who was considerably cheaper than the local garden centre for meal worms - which blackbirds and robins adore. I love hearing them sing before dawn so I go out of my way to encourage them every year.

*zippy*

I've been getting a 4kg one from tesco, full price it works out at £1.15 a kilo, which is near enough the price to the cheap shops and is alot easier for me to get, it is often on offer too.

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id=257944629

Thanks for the link mishmogs, looks like good prices

Seakay

don't forget if feeding birds dried mealworms to hydrate them first - put them in an old dish and pour on some boiling water then put a lid or the saucer on the dish you do it in as they do become a little smelly and leave until cool or if you remember use cold water and leave overnight - as they are a source of liquid as well as protein. This is especially important in Spring as chicks have all nutrition brought to them and most birds can't carry liquid so mealworms and other lavae are vital to prevent them dehydrating. Dried mealworms are easier for us to store and transport, but live ones have the juice as well as the fat and protein so we do need to replace it!

torbrex

Cheap birdseed can be cheap for a reason sometimes.

Last year I got a bag of cheap seed from a local shop and filled the feeders as normal with it but by the end of the bag, I realised that the birds were rejecting about half the seeds, just spitting them out, I spent most of the spring/summer removing grasses of unknown origin from below the feeding station.

suki1964

Seakay wrote: »

don't forget if feeding birds dried mealworms to hydrate them first - put them in an old dish and pour on some boiling water then put a lid or the saucer on the dish you do it in as they do become a little smelly and leave until cool or if you remember use cold water and leave overnight - as they are a source of liquid as well as protein. This is especially important in Spring as chicks have all nutrition brought to them and most birds can't carry liquid so mealworms and other lavae are vital to prevent them dehydrating. Dried mealworms are easier for us to store and transport, but live ones have the juice as well as the fat and protein so we do need to replace it!

Well you learn something new every day

As to cheap seed, there's cheap and there's cheap.. If you are wanting to feed songbirds then they like tiny seeds and a lot of the cheaper mixes are filled with larger grains that are only fit for the pigeons and doves

Pound land have bags of seed by the rspb

B&M do fat balls 50 for 5.99
Sunflower seeds for around 70p
Suet pieces around the same
And mealworms about the same

I mix the seed mix with a packet of everything else and half fill a seed feeder every day

I also fill 2 peanut feeders (lidl 2.49 a bag) and 2 fat ball feeders

I also throw a hand full or two of seed about the area for the ground feeders


Cost me around £15 a month to feed the birds:eek:

I have just found the local farm supply shop is selling a great seed mix for £2 a kilo so hopefully the bill will decrease

TravellingAbuela

During the summer months we do lots of foraging of berries for jams, chutney etc. We keep all the berries in large tubs in the spare freezer and I donate a small handful to the birds each day in winter. The blackbirds especially love them. What could be nicer for them than elderberries and blackberries in the depths of winter!

My bird seed I get at Jollyes pet supermarket by the sack. Fat balls from B & M and fat squares from Home Bargains at £1.79 for 3.

My DH says the birds get fed better than him!

torbrex

TravellingAbuela wrote: »

fat squares from Home Bargains at £1.79 for 3.

My DH says the birds get fed better than him!

These are available in Poundstretcher @ £1.69

laurel7172

I recommend this place, which delivers big bags of fresh, locally grown seed (no delivery charge):

http://www.vinehousefarm.co.uk/our-shop/Bird-Seed-Mixes

In the summer, I usually buy the basic mixed seed (£28 for 25kg) and not a scrap goes to waste. However, in the winter, especially if it's very cold, they do tend to pick out the higher energy seeds and leave the cheaper ones behind, so I either buy the high energy mix, or a half sack of sunflower seeds and mix them in.

TravellingAbuela

torbrex wrote: »

These are available in Poundstretcher @ £1.69

Thanks but we don't have a Poundstretcher at the moment!! It burnt down nearly two years ago and the slowest builders in the world are putting up the new building! I do miss it though as always a bargain of some sort to be had!

joedenise

torbrex wrote: »

Cheap birdseed can be cheap for a reason sometimes.

Last year I got a bag of cheap seed from a local shop and filled the feeders as normal with it but by the end of the bag, I realised that the birds were rejecting about half the seeds, just spitting them out, I spent most of the spring/summer removing grasses of unknown origin from below the feeding station.

That's why I buy the non-growing seed.

Denise