log feeders

trickytree · #1 (**permalink**) 20-01-2008, 09:27 PM

I have just made a couple from a log I picked up last Sunday in a local park, but was wondering about the best place to put it, and how to attach it (i.e. drill right through it and use rope, screw in a eye and hook arrangement or use chicken wire to wrap it around tree trunk etc.)

Hope this makes sense!!

I'll post pics of the fleet of woodpeckers that will soon be arriving, with the aid of your advice!!

Lincs Yellowbelly · #2 (**permalink**) 20-01-2008, 09:41 PM

I drilled a hole in the top through to the first hole, and threaded a loop of thick string through

trickytree · #3 (**permalink**) 20-01-2008, 09:45 PM

Did you then hang it from a tree??

Mine is about 3 ft long, I think I may half it before I attempt to hang it up!!

trampas45 · #4 (**permalink**) 20-01-2008, 09:58 PM

i have 4. 2 have large holes for my homemade lard feed and 2 have small holes for peanuts. i hang all of them from wall brakets on my fence posts(6 foot high) using nylon cord.they are the most visited feeders in my garden.

trickytree · #5 (**permalink**) 20-01-2008, 10:02 PM

Thanks for that, just the kind of answers I was after!!

So do they spin at all?? If so, have you ever had a GSW?? I read somewhere that they prefer stationary things as they are more natural.

trampas45 · #6 (**permalink**) 20-01-2008, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickytree

Thanks for that, just the kind of answers I was after!!

So do they spin at all?? If so, have you ever had a GSW?? I read somewhere that they prefer stationary things as they are more natural.

plastic bird feeders move in the wind so dothe branches that they land on. i have seen them fighting to feed at them. the more they fight the more it swings. as one bird flys off another jumps on. no problems.

Lincs Yellowbelly · #7 (**permalink**) 20-01-2008, 10:37 PM

I hang mine from a tree, and the GSW do use it

trickytree · #8 (**permalink**) 20-01-2008, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trampas45

plastic bird feeders move in the wind so dothe branches that they land on. i have seen them fighting to feed at them. the more they fight the more it swings. as one bird flys off another jumps on. no problems.

I dont think you understood what I was asking - I was talking about would a GSW use the log feeder if it was swinging about, but it sounds like they do from Yellowbelly.

Cheers all!!

MagpieMick · #9 (**permalink**) 21-01-2008, 06:38 AM

Drill a hole up through the base with a flat butterfly bit 25mm to a depth of the bit ....Then a length of copper tube 22mm as per plumbing say 4 to 6 feet long drive this into the ground about a foot deep .... Then lift the log and slot together with the pre-drilled hole..

Most of my feeders are this way with a small bin inverted .....Squirrell proof !!!

Mick...

nightshade · #10 (**permalink**) 21-01-2008, 06:58 AM

My first logs were just laid on the lawn for a Green Woodpecker,later
I fitted a large screw in eye and hung it from a Rowan,clear of the ivy,
for a Nuthatch that appeared in the garden for a short while.A lot of birds liked this including Greater and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers.
The ground logs also attract insects which in turn attract allsorts of birds
a small heap of baited bark mulch gives Blackbirds a field day

trickytree · #11 (**permalink**) 21-01-2008, 10:20 PM

Thanks guys, they sound like good ideas - i WILL be posting pics shortly!!

trickytree · #12 (**permalink**) 22-01-2008, 10:01 PM

OK, I got an old log I found in a local park, showed it the saw across the top, bored a few 32mm holes into it (as far as I could anyway - the centre of the wood was like Titanium - any ideas??), drilled into the top and screwed in a large plastic coated hook, filled holes with suet and blacksunflower seeds, smeared a load of Tesco value(!) peanut butter into cracks on the bark and hung it onto the tree as high as i could reach!!

trampas45 · #13 (**permalink**) 22-01-2008, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickytree

I dont think you understood what I was asking - I was talking about would a GSW use the log feeder if it was swinging about, but it sounds like they do from Yellowbelly.

Cheers all!!

EXCUSE MY IGNORANCE. I WAS UNAWARE OF WHAT GSW STOOD FOR. I DO NOW. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE NEW TO THIS SORT OF THING AND PATIENCE IS REQUIRED.

trickytree · #14 (**permalink**) 22-01-2008, 10:26 PM

Wow ....

eeyore · #15 (**permalink**) 22-01-2008, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickytree

OK, I got an old log I found in a local park, showed it the saw across the top, bored a few 32mm holes into it (as far as I could anyway - the centre of the wood was like Titanium - any ideas??)

what sort of drill bit are you using ? - those flat ones are really intended for working in dry wood so dont cut very well in natural logs - they are also intended for brace and bits and thus dont work too well in power drills

the way to go is to get a forstner or saw tooth bit (these are solid, round and have lots of little saw teeth on them - not to be confused with a hole saw bit which is round with teeth but hollow in the middle) - your local woodworking shop should have these or you can buy on line from places like screwfix and axminster power.

these bits are best used in a power drill and in a 18 or 24v drill can easily go straight through a 4" log

trickytree · #16 (**permalink**) 23-01-2008, 05:16 AM

Thats exactly where I was going wrong then - I'm as much of a novice at DIY as I am at birdspotting!!

I guy at work gave me a 'tank cutter' which sounds like the hole saw you described, but as it wouldn't go through, it just made a nice shape in the wood ... lol

When pay day shows it's long awaited head, I shall be looking into your suggestions.

Thanks a lot!!

trickytree · #17 (**permalink**) 23-01-2008, 06:48 AM

Hmmm, I posted 4 links last night to pics of the log feeder in situ and they've gone - am I not allowed to do that??

m1.carson · #18 (**permalink**) 23-01-2008, 06:49 AM

Cheers eeyore,

Now I've got to look up a forstnor saw to find out what it is.

Magpiemick suggested copper pipe, wouldn't the plastic conduit, Ega tube be an awfull lot cheaper.

Max.

m1.carson · #19 (**permalink**) 23-01-2008, 10:37 AM

Hi,

That's a fairly expensive way to make a few holes in a log, the cheapest set, can't buy them individually is £7-00, from Screwfix, but I can't think of an alternative at the moment, unless you can put a pilot hole right through and drill from both sides with a spade bit.

Max.

eeyore · #20 (**permalink**) 23-01-2008, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m1.carson

Cheers eeyore,

Now I've got to look up a forstnor saw to find out what it is.

Magpiemick suggested copper pipe, wouldn't the plastic conduit, Ega tube be an awfull lot cheaper.

Max.

see here for an explanation of all types of drill bit (well lts anyway) Drill bits - the different types explained

btw Toolstation on the interweb is selling 35mm forstner bits individually for £2.51 (Ive not put the link to stay inside wab rules but a quick google will find it) axminster power also sell the individually as do isaac lord and doubtless a host of other places.

alternatively you could drill a pilot hole and hack out a larger opening with a mallet and a sharp chisel the woodpecker wont complain if it isnt exactly round

eeyore · #21 (**permalink**) 23-01-2008, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickytree

Hmmm, I posted 4 links last night to pics of the log feeder in situ and they've gone - am I not allowed to do that??

not if they were external - you need to load your pic into the wab forum images gallery and link them from there

trickytree · #22 (**permalink**) 23-01-2008, 08:22 PM

Great, well looks like they weren't 'allowed' in ...

If anyone cares, you can PM me and i'll email the pics to you

glsammy · #23 (**permalink**) 23-01-2008, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickytree

Great, well looks like they weren't 'allowed' in ...

If anyone cares, you can PM me and i'll email the pics to you

You tried to load them into the moderated gallery, which is not where these types of shots should go. Load them into the Forum gallery, and they will be available immediately for inclusion in the thread.

trickytree · #24 (**permalink**) 23-01-2008, 09:01 PM

When you say Forum gallery, do you mean the archive gallery??

Trying now anyway ... !!

glsammy · #25 (**permalink**) 23-01-2008, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickytree

When you say Forum gallery, do you mean the archive gallery??

Trying now anyway ... !!

Yes. It's the only place there is a Forum gallery.