Warning! - Feeding Peanuts to Birds

[wildone]

Hello All Birdfeeding Members

I have noticed some photographs with Whole Peanuts on a flat surface, during the past few days. We are now coming to the time of year when early breeders will be hatching eggs and feeding young, so please be aware that BABY BIRDS CAN CHOKE ON WHOLE PEANUTS, OR EVEN LARGE PIECES OF THEM. Please make sure that ALL peanuts are in a mesh feeder or are not fed during the breeding season. Probably until late September/early October just to make sure.

Thank you, as I'm sure that you wish no harm to the birds you feed.

wildone

[Alan]

And also if you put bread out, wet it first as it can swell up inside the chicks!

[cherrybee]

Originally Posted by wildone

Please make sure that ALL peanuts are in a mesh feeder or are not fed during the breeding season. Probably late September/early October to make sure.

Oh dear I am guilty as charged. It is only recently I have been putting seed and nuts out so I can attract the birds close to my back door to take photos.I didnt realise.I am sorry I will get a feeder tomorrow.

[wildone]

Cherrybee, the other seed is fine to be scattered, it is just that peanuts are a particular hazard. Because they are large and hard and don't melt or soften, baby birds get them caught in their throats and they can no longer breathe. This is a reminder to all members that they can cause harm if they continue to feed loose peanuts.

wildone

[digi]

This should be made a sticky if any moderator reads this.

[Grantus]

Just a question. Is there any evidence that chicks will choke on peanuts?

[wildone]

Originally Posted by Grantus

Just a question. Is there any evidence that chicks will choke on peanuts?

I have just downloaded this from the RSPB site:

<If food shortage occurs whilst birds have young in the nest they may be tempted by easy food put on birdtables to make up the shortfall in natural food, initially to feed themselves, but if the situation gets bad enough, they will also take the food to the nest. If the food offered on bird tables is not suitable for the young chicks, it can do more harm than good, and can even be lethal to the chicks as they can choke on the food. It can be difficult for a human to gauge when food shortage in the wild occurs, and hence it is best not to put out food that is likely to create problems during the breeding season. Therefore, never put out loose peanuts, dry hard foods, large chunks of bread, or fats during the spring or summer months.>

I think that to go along with what an organisation like the RSPB is certainly not going to do harm and may save some from being done.

wildone

[John]

Absolutely spot on regarding the nuts and bread. I never put loose nuts out at any time of the year.

I have several peanut feeders spread around the garden plus a couple of feeders full of Kibbled Nuts and I find that just about covers all those birds that want to feed off peanuts.

John

[Tragus]

Hi Grantus
Yep, we have had birds in with nuts, peas and even whole caterpillars stuffed in their throats and crops. Some can be removed with careful tweezering (don't know if that is acrtually a word!!) It's okay to crush up your peanuts too using a food processor and scatter them about, but make sure the pieces are small. Or just buy peanut granules instead of whole ones!

Bread is a killer and should never really be put out,unless as digi says, wet, but this can dry out and I would advise avoiding feeding bread anyway. It fills the bird up but has little nutritional value for growing birds. Breadcrumbs are okay, but even giving it to ducks is not the best. Better to take a bag full of mixed corn and feed them that instead. We even have a pet shop selling small bags of corn to feed to the swans and ducks near to the River Severn.

Good thread Widlone
Jo

[paulinemiller10]

I always chop my peanuts up in the mixer , but watching a nest of blackbirds last year on live cam, they were fed only worms and insects for the first two weeks even though their favourite sultanas were just below them in the feeder, the worms they brought were sometime s huge, and it would take them ages to push it down their throats, and I did think they were going to choke them lol, but I think the birds know what they are doing and what to feed their young, but no harm in being careful. Pauline

[Fritillary]

But is it not better stop of feeding birds in this period of the year?
Seeds are for winter, chicks need to eat more insects because they are growing and need more proteins than fat. It is better to stop of using insecticides

[Zeb]

I've been feeding the birds during the cold times using a wire mesh feeder containing peanuts and a smaller plastic feeder containing smaller seeds and dried grubs. I'd also been putting bread out on the bird table but wasn't aware of wetting them first - is this just during the "chick" season or is this for all through the year?

[MalcolmX]

i have been putting out feeders but they are mobbed by jackdaws and small birds are not getting near the feeders how can i overcome this?

i have put out fat balls and as yet i have never seen a bird near them do they work or is it just me?

[Zeb]

I first put out about 4 fat balls and 1 bag of peanuts hanging around the garden but I had to relocate the peanuts as we found they were being stolen. It was a clean-out of the shed that we found a field mouse had taken refuge in there during the winter and had found the peanuts.

It seemed like a very long time for the birds to find the fat bals and I started to wonder whether they were of any use but all of a sudden it seemed that they were being eaten - by birds of all sizes.

The most popular feeder was the small plastic one containing small seeds and dried grubs - had to refill it every two or three days.

[nightshade]

If it is possible do as I do and feed the jackdaws seperatley ours arrive early then move
after they have eaten they are fed away from the feeders to give the small birds a chance alternately put your feeders in an area that restricts the approach of the larger bird

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Fritillary

But is it not better stop of feeding birds in this period of the year?

In a word, No.

advice from the RSPB indicates that garden birds are considerably above the natural carrying capacity and thus they recomend feeding all year . a sudden stop in feeding could be catastrophic. Although you are partially correct about the need for protein for young birds, the adults are working extremleyhard feeding the young and need the high energy conentrate offered by seeds, and peanut fragments (although whole nuts should not be fed loose as discussed above). If you have a low level of insect live in the garden mealworms and robin mix (which includes dried insects) can be fed in addition to normal seed and fat based food.

[Zeb]

Ooooo! I'm going to refill all the feeders before I go out later then!

[cherrybee]

There are so many juveniles about at the moment I am having to refill every day

[Barbara]

I used to hang fat balls out in the mesh bags which is how they are sold, until a woodpecker in my garden got his feet trapped in one, luckily I was able to free him and no harm came to him, but, if I had been at work, I dread to think what I would have found when I came home. Ever since that happened, I always take the fat balls out of the mesh bags and put them into fat ball feeders which are sold especially for their use. I think I purchased mine for under two pounds and I have peice of mind that no bird in my garden, will ever get trapped in the netting of a fat ball again.
Barbara

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Barbara

I used to hang fat balls out in the mesh bags which is how they are sold, until a woodpecker in my garden got his feet trapped in one, luckily I was able to free him and no harm came to him, but, if I had been at work, I dread to think what I would have found when I came home. Ever since that happened, I always take the fat balls out of the mesh bags and put them into fat ball feeders which are sold especially for their use. I think I purchased mine for under two pounds and I have peice of mind that no bird in my garden, will ever get trapped in the netting of a fat ball again.
Barbara

a very good point barbara - another thing to be aware of is any thread or net anyone might have over fruit bushes etc - we once had a goldfinch get caught up by the feet in our fruit cage - I have now replaced the mesh with wire netting to stop this happening again.

[maxi]

Thanks for all the advice - I knew about the peanuts, but not soaking the bread - I'll make sure I do that in future!

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by maxi

Thanks for all the advice - I knew about the peanuts, but not soaking the bread - I'll make sure I do that in future!

With the bread it is probably better not to feed it at all, as it is fairly low in nutrition but takes up a lot of room in their stomachs (particularly true of white processed bread)