do these bird feeders work?

londonTiger

I got one from bnm bargians, i have it hanging off a T frame about 3 meters off the ground (I have a cat). But no birds have touched it yet.

I wonder if this is impossible for birds to eat from as it has nowhere to land easily. Or are most birds dexterous enough to cling on vertically and take pecs at the fatball?

ljonski

They work providing something tasty is visible and it is in a secluded place where the birds feel safe,

REEN

Try pushing a sturdy twig through it for them to land on. Robins and blackbirds can't get a grip on the wire.

londonTiger

ljonski wrote: »

They work providing something tasty is visible and it is in a secluded place where the birds feel safe,

i just put it up so I guess it will take a while for birds to register this food source, they'd be used to their usual food sources.

Probably doesnt help that there is a great big giant cherry tree next door which is good for sugar eating birds.

Mojisola

londonTiger wrote: »

i just put it up so I guess it will take a while for birds to register this food source, they'd be used to their usual food sources.

It takes the birds a while to accept that something new is safe.

Also, ours have spells when they change what they eat. The fat balls will be more in demand in the cold weather.

londonTiger

Mojisola wrote: »

It takes the birds a while to accept that something new is safe.

Also, ours have spells when they change what they eat. The fat balls will be more in demand in the cold weather.

ive got a mix of different stuff.

1) seed mix feeder (has a stick for birds to pirch and pick up seeds).
2) fatballs as OP
3) a suet "candle" on a hook.

The only one missing is the peanut feeder and after that I guess I will have everything covered.

SailorSam

It was funny when i went out to feed the birds this morning.
I've got a couple of pidgeons come in the garden and they were wolfing all the food before the little ones had a chance. So i week or so back i made a sort of cage out of small branches and twigs and left it sitting in the middle of the lawn. The small birds could easily get in and out but the bigger ones were locked out.
I've been putting food inside the cage and scattering some around the lawn. Then went out this morning there was one of the pidgeons inside the cage, some how he'd managed to squeeze through the twigs, but he couldn't get out. I had to lift it while he flew off, probably to tell his mate .........'I'm not doing that again'

Horseygirl123

I've got exactly the same fat ball feeder. The sparrows love it and I've spotted jackdaws on it also. It did take a couple of weeks before I had to refill but now it's daily so they certainly do get used to it.

Waterlily24

We also had one like that and it was fine except that the jackdaws could get to it and demolish the food in a few minutes. We replaced it with a small feeder with a cage round it, the little birds use it well, the blackbird sized birds find it a bit harder and the jackdaws and pigeons usually stand underneath it and the seed feeder to get anything that drops. Ours are hanging underneath the bird table

londonTiger

the seut candle melted and fell to the floor, the seed mix and fatballs haven't been touched, but at least the fatball hasn't melted.

Braithwaite1000

Where did you get the fat balls from? Some of the cheaper places sell fat balls that are no better than if you filled the feeder with golf balls, the birds simply won't eat them.
The same could be said for the mix too, if it's very high in wheat you are not likely to attract any small birds as they don't eat it. It's great fodder for pigeons and crows though!