Feed the birds £20 a bag?

HappyMJ

SallyG wrote: »

Thanks .....I've always bought in bulk from Haiths - I don't like to buy too much at once in case the peanuts develop that mould that harms birds and I don't know how to store peanuts to prevent it
..... I know RSPB say don't feed fat from cooked meat but I wondered if suet from the local butcher would be safe - I've no idea what it would cost though.
I've noticed wilkinsons do fairly cheap sunflower seed but a bag doesnt last two minutes - roll on some sunshine........

Suet is very cheap and can easily be rendered down and made into your own fat balls. You have to cook it to melt it. The advice is the left over cooking fats are usually mixed wih salt and meat juices and if not properly separated aren't quite so good. I keep that fat for other things. RSPB suggests a one third melted fat and two thirds seed mixture. http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/whatfood/index.aspx

fizzlebottom

I make my own fat balls. I purchase the cheapest sultanas, lard and porridge I can find and save all apple and pear cores. I soak half cup of sultanas in hot water to plump them up then drain, and add them with three handfuls of porridge oats and the chopped fruit cores to the melted lard and then pack into used yogurt pots. The birds love them.

Tinks32

http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/farmer-phil-s-british-mix.html
I always buy this http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/wiggly-softbill-mix.html and this http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/sunflower-hearts.html . My husband jokes the birds are better fed than us

Leif

fizzlebottom wrote: »

I make my own fat balls. I purchase the cheapest sultanas, lard and porridge I can find and save all apple and pear cores. I soak half cup of sultanas in hot water to plump them up then drain, and add them with three handfuls of porridge oats and the chopped fruit cores to the melted lard and then pack into used yogurt pots. The birds love them.

I wonder if there is a vegetarian option?

ScratchandSniff-->[X]

SallyG wrote: »

For years I've fed the birds in our garden on peanuts but lately times is ard and I wondered if there was a cheaper way to give em a good quality safe feed ... any suggestions gratefully received.

Poultry layers pellets are £7.40 for a 20 kg sack around here, poultry wheat £7 for 25kg.

paulineb_2

Poundstretcher also sell fatballs and seeds. I feed my birds whatever I have at the time, Ive been feeding them bulgar wheat as I had loads and I discovered I didnt really like it much. My mum has also bought stuff online for her birds, I'll ask her what the link is and shove it up

My mum also collects the sandwiches that kids fling in the bin, shes a teacher, she says it would surprise you how much kids dont eat of their packed lunches, so her seagulls and pigeons and crows get well fed on their leftovers.

Id also like a fat ball veggie option if there were one.

ALIBOBSY

You can get veggie suet which is palm oil mixed with rice flour I think-would this work in place of lard?

Ali x

adouglasmhor

Leif wrote: »

I wonder if there is a vegetarian option?

If you are serious you can make them from coconut oil. if you were joking you caught me :rotfl:

cherie1122

A few weeks ago I bought mealworms from Poundland. They were in 100g bags and a real bargain

Suzy_M

"You can get veggie suet which is palm oil"

"If you are serious you can make them from coconut oil."

No vegetable oils - has to be meat derived otherwise you'll do a heck of a lot more harm than good.