Feeding garden birds

[rlchew]

I do not have a garden so unfortunately feeding birds is something that I miss out on.

For those of you that do, the BTO are advising that summer feeding can help birds through the winter period.

http://www.bto.org/news/news2008/jul...irdfeeders.htm

Go and top those bird feeders and bird tables up ....

Richard

[Pete Collins]

There are so many young birds in our garden, especially Blue Tits and Great Tits, that the seeds, nuts and lard balls are disappearing at a tremendous rate! We're putting far more food out now than we did in the winter months.

[Dae]

So are we, that's why we feed through the summer. Obviously taking care not to leave whole nuts out. We're going through it so fast that we had to buy bigger feeders !

[big bill]

My feeding station is the same but its mainly Sparrows and Starlings with the occasional Chaffinch at the moment none of the Tits have appeared that normaly visit during winter and Spring

[Les E]

HI There,
My birdfeeding stations are always busy summer and winter.Im particularly proud of my Tree Sparrows(who only appeared about three years ago )and at least three Woodpeckers.
Regards Les.

[tameblackbirds]

The same with me I have changed to no mess food as we did see a rat that was eventually moved on by a group of maggpies. I only put food on the ground now in the morning and with the no mess it is all gone by the end of the day. Have to top up the feeders everyday and have fed birds throughout the year always. getting expensive but they're worth it.

[shei111]

Yes we got loads of birds here to , I bought longer feeders last week because the smaller ones empty very quick the long ones are 18 iches long I also bought the screw on tray for the bottom of the feeders thats saves a lot of food laying on the ground. sunflower hearts have gone up. for a 48 pound bag its £37.00,so its just under a pound a pound, what sort of price are you paying for your sunflower hearts, anyone? shei

[tameblackbirds]

Originally Posted by shei111

Yes we got loads of birds here to , I bought longer feeders last week because the smaller ones empty very quick the long ones are 18 iches long I also bought the screw on tray for the bottom of the feeders thats saves a lot of food laying on the ground. sunflower hearts have gone up. for a 48 pound bag its £37.00,so its just under a pound a pound, what sort of price are you paying for your sunflower hearts, anyone? shei

thats a lot of money I don't by on that scale but I'm probably paying more for the smaller bags will checkout average £3 for a 2kilo bag

[jennyb]

Yes, my feeders are very busy too. Costs a fortune. There are lots of baby tits this year mostly great tits and blue tits. Great Spotted Woodpeckers have also done well. The youngsters queue up to get on the nut feeder.

In the front garden where I don't have any feeders or put out food, there were 8 blackbirds on the lawn the other day, so it must be a good year for those too.

Jenny

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by shei111

Yes we got loads of birds here to , I bought longer feeders last week because the smaller ones empty very quick the long ones are 18 iches long I also bought the screw on tray for the bottom of the feeders thats saves a lot of food laying on the ground. sunflower hearts have gone up. for a 48 pound bag its £37.00,so its just under a pound a pound, what sort of price are you paying for your sunflower hearts, anyone? shei

shei111

I buy diect from mill / importers at Framlingham, though have to buy ten
bags of something. This isnt hard as someone on WAB wanted three bags at
Thursley
I also have a friend with horses, chickens and a parrott, and a dry garage
to store it all i n.

3 weeks ago

Peanuts 25 Kg £20.5
No Waste Bird Seed mix 20 KG ££9,90
Sunflwoer Hearts 22.7 kg £25.5 (= 50 lbs)
Box of 100 small
fat balls £9.50 (but that needs VAT added
. others are VAT free)
I have some spare at the moment of the three top items
if you give me a shout.

[Tobyh]

Those are pretty good prices. Does that company have a web address / deliver?

My feeders are filled every day and the cost really adds up - it is worth it though. Lovely waking up and looking out to see the garden filled with birds (or maybe that was before I woke up )

TobyH

[shei111]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

shei111

I buy diect from mill / importers at Framlingham, though have to buy ten
bags of something. This isnt hard as someone on WAB wanted three bags at
Thursley
I also have a friend with horses, chickens and a parrott, and a dry garage
to store it all i n.

3 weeks ago

Peanuts 25 Kg £20.5
No Waste Bird Seed mix 20 KG ££9,90
Sunflwoer Hearts 22.7 kg £25.5 (= 50 lbs)
Box of 100 small
fat balls £9.50 (but that needs VAT added
. others are VAT free)
I have some spare at the moment of the three top items
if you give me a shout.

Hello hobjob, thanks for the offer its very kind of you to offer people help, Ive actually picked up 2 2kgs bags this morning instead of 48 pound for £37.00 because it does seem a lot to fork out in one go, I would like to take you up on your offer when Ive finished these 2 bags off, I will get in touch with you later, thanks very much I appreciate it. shei

[hurricanhoney]

I've been feeding throughout the summer and they seem to be eating more than they do in the winter it is costing a fortune but its worth it. I have loads of sparrows and dunnocks in the front garden, the same together with about 30 starlings, blackbirds, chaffinches, a pair of green finches and an occasional robin and of course pigeons and doves. I don't seem to be able to attract any blue tits at the mo though.

[Blackdogjnr]

My garden tends to have the same bird groups as yours, hmmm... I haven't even seen a tit since the start of the year! Strange...

[shirl]

We always feed through the summer too, however this year for the last month especially it's very quiet, even the jackdaws who can get through a large fat square in minutes have gone elsewhere. Be glad when they all come back.

Shirl

[Toad]

To the Op Rlchew you said you missed out on feeding the garden birds. I was wondering have you tried the window feeders that are on the market? I haven't tried them myself yet but I saw a few different types on ebay the other night and was considering adding a couple to my collection of feeders.
I quite often get blue tits picking insects off my kitchen window so I am hoping they will be a success