Any keen bird feeders out there?

rceebear

Bread isn't a great food for birds as it has little nutritional value. Definitely avoid white bread as some argue it does more harm than good. The birds feel full but aren't getting much from it. Something with seeds in would be preferable if you do decide to feed it. There is some advice here:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/makeahomeforwildlife/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/whatfood/scraps.aspx
http://birding.about.com/od/Foods/a/Good-Bread-For-Birds.htm
http://www.bto.org/news-events/press-releases/food-thought-feed-birds

KxMx

Thank you for the advice but I am happy with what I provide for the birds in my garden

I only feed bread when there are scraps or in the winter when they are very hungry.

I do not feed bread exclusively by any means so I do not personally see the need to change

SallyG

http://www.rspb.org.uk/makeahomeforwildlife/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/whatfood/scraps.aspx
RSPB says
"Bread
All types of bread are acceptable to birds, but ideally it should only be just one component in a varied diet. Bread does not contain the necessary protein and fat birds need from their diet, and so it can act as an empty filler. Although bread isn't harmful to birds, try not to offer it in large quantities, since its nutritional value is relatively low. A bird that is on a diet of predominantly, or only bread, can suffer from serious vitamin deficiencies, or starve.
Only put out an amount of bread that birds will eat in a day. Food left on the ground overnight can attract rats. Soaked bread is more easily ingested than stale dry bread, and brown bread is better than white. Crumbled bread is suitable in small quantities, but moisten if it is very dry. During the breeding season, crumble the bread into tiny pieces so that it is only eaten by the adult birds. Dry chunks of bread will choke baby birds, and a chick on a diet of bread may not develop into a healthy fledgling."

Never thought of putting out leftover potatoes ................

Oldbiggles

Reen wrote: »

Our rowan has been very popular with blackbirds and starlings for some weeks now. It's the yellow berried one, seems to be less popular at first than neighbour's red berried one but extends the season.

We have two red berried thorn bushes, or should I say "We had" because the blackbirds have already eaten all the berries.

:rotfl:

Albertfalcor

Poppy_Golightly wrote: »

I reuse old chipped china cups as bird feeders on top of my fence posts, but as you can see other species also like to dip in

Such a great photo! Lovely idea too

KxMx

Started feeding the birds some value museli another household member didn't like so as not to waste it and they went mad for it So much so I will be buying it specifically to feed them throughout the winter. £1.30 per kg it's not beyond my budget. I researched and as long as there is no added salt or sugar it should be fine for them.

Gers

After reading about muesli I thought I'd try it...now got two lots of soggy unwanted mess on the lawn. :eek:

So it's back to sunflower hearts, sunflower seeds and peanuts. Chaffinches still being fairly aggressive and possessive. Saw one yesterday actually holding down a tiny blue tit whilst besting it up, well pecking it a lot. A bang on the window from me ended that bout.

Lots of rain here so birds are munching from the feeders a lot. My big yew tree sometimes has loads and loads of birds perched on the ends of branches and looks like a Christmas tree with baubles everywhere.

Oldbiggles

Gers wrote: »

After reading about muesli I thought I'd try it...now got two lots of soggy unwanted mess on the lawn. :eek:

So it's back to sunflower hearts, sunflower seeds and peanuts. Chaffinches still being fairly aggressive and possessive. Saw one yesterday actually holding down a tiny blue tit whilst besting it up, well pecking it a lot. A bang on the window from me ended that bout.

Lots of rain here so birds are munching from the feeders a lot. My big yew tree sometimes has loads and loads of birds perched on the ends of branches and looks like a Christmas tree with baubles everywhere.

The only trouble with putting out seeds is that birds being messy eaters scatter the seeds into flower beds and on lawns where they take root.
That is why we put peanuts in the bird feeder and also mix things like kitchen scraps, muesli and ground up peanuts on the bird table and patio. The reason we grind the peanuts is so that the small birds get a tuck-in and it stops the squirrels from carrying the whole peanuts away and bury them in the lawn, and who wants a peanut plant growing in your lawn?


:rotfl:

Gers

Oldbiggles wrote: »

The only trouble with putting out seeds is that birds being messy eaters scatter the seeds into flower beds and on lawns where they take root.
That is why we put peanuts in the bird feeder and also mix things like kitchen scraps, muesli and ground up peanuts on the bird table and patio. The reason we grind the peanuts is so that the small birds get a tuck-in and it stops the squirrels from carrying the whole peanuts away and bury them in the lawn, and who wants a peanut plant growing in your lawn?


:rotfl:

Sunflower feeders are not overhanging any flower beds or lawn, well not any lawn to talk about! The peanuts are in proper feeders away the others and if the squirrels can get them then they are welcome.

I scatter mealworms around for the ground feeders and a sprinkling of bashed up nuts too - the siskins like to ground feed too.

At the moment the birds are being brave and clinging to the feeders as they sway around, sometimes almost going horizontal, in the high winds. Great fun to watch.

Happygreen

to my joy I discovered a Goldcrest dancing about in the weeds outside my kitchen window nibbling on seeds. It is better for wildlife not being an overly tidy gardener, lol.