Any keen bird feeders out there?

Happygreen

silverwhistle wrote: »

Can anybody suggest a supplier of bird tables at reasonable cost?

I could try and make one, I suppose, and I cobbled together my own wood store, but I'm not a particularly handy lass when it comes to making things. Thanks if you have any ideas.

I would ask for one on the local freegle and freecycle groups first, maybe you can get one for free? Then check gumtree and last the local DIY stores which are probably cheaper than garden centres.

silverwhistle

Thanks to those who commented about bird tables: just ordered one and some nesting boxes from greenfingers.com. Under ten quid in their sale so worth a punt. They've got some cheap nesting boxes with little pots of paint to decorate, ideal little kids' presents, so a couple bought for the next-door neighbour's children.

REEN

I got one of those bird boxes. It's very small, ok to occupy kids painting it but doubt it's big enough for even a wren to raise a family! Might make a snug winter roost though.

UnluckyT

in the bargain buys locally to me, you can get a tub of 50 netted fat balls for £4.99.
will be getting one soon and see how i get on.
ive a resident robin and wondering if 'robin' will need the food on a ground feeder or be okay with the food hanging up?

Ken68

Mostly ground feeders I think Unlucky. On the platform should be OK.
Have had one on the spade when winter digging.

Happygreen

Just bought a large bag of mixed seeds at B & M, still £ 4.99.

KxMx

I have fat ball feeders and my robin often clears up the crumbs underneath that have dropped to the ground.

You could crumble the balls and feed wholly on the ground instead of putting them in a feeder.

cyclonebri1

UnluckyT wrote: »

in the bargain buys locally to me, you can get a tub of 50 netted fat balls for £4.99.
will be getting one soon and see how i get on.
ive a resident robin and wondering if 'robin' will need the food on a ground feeder or be okay with the food hanging up?

best on the ground for him right now, but, put it up and he will find it,;);)

Fay

Hi everyone, we have a few bird feeders in the garden and have blue tits, great tits, long tailed ones, robins and sparrows. Lots of blackbirds too that nest in our hedges every year. We have also had a couple of greenfinchs visit this year, but they have met their end sadly....lots of cats in the neighbourhood. Last weekend I also saw a nuthatch sitting on top of the feeding station and I was sooooo excited. I love it when a new bird visits. We had black caps last year but they haven't returned this year. We also have woodpeckers that visit but they hide from us mainly!
We bought two new bird feeders two weeks ago though as our others were looking worn-moved them to less visible areas; but since putting the new feeders out we haven't had any birds on them...is this quite usual?

ljonski

I would probably put one of them back in the original position. Before a feeder becomes used, birds will do reckies on how safe it is and whether there is an escape route if attacked. They need somewhere high up to observe the feeder, so hanging from branches is a good place for it to be situated.