Feeders and Nest Boxes at Lidl!

[Phoebe]

I picked up a Lidl leaflet yesterday and they have hanging seed and nut feeders for £1.65 each, nest boxes for Tits and for Robin/Wren for £4.88 and they have an 'Urban Bird Table' for £3.49! The table is green plastic with hooks under and fixes on a fence/wall.

The nest boxes I am not sure about because of the size of the holes. The Tit nesting box is open half way at the front? Is that right?

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by Phoebe

The nest boxes I am not sure about because of the size of the holes. The Tit nesting box is open half way at the front? Is that right?

Those sound more like Robin nest boxes. It's worth spending a little bit more on nest boxes both to get the right size holes and to make sure chicks aren't vulnerable to predators etc. eg. GS woodies will predate tit boxes but some come with a metal plate surrounding the hole to prevent certain further 'investigative drilling'!

Feeders and tables need to be easily dismountable to ensure regular cleaning but that sounds very reasonable!

[Phoebe]

Thanks for your reply Picidae, it sounds like they have the pictures mixed up then because the 'Robin' nest box has a small hole. I should have guessed that because I know robins will nest in a flowerpot! The boxes have a side which is removeable for cleaning and they do look quite good. If the hole is too large I suppose a metal plate could be put on with the right size hole in it. I will certainly go in and have a look at them.

BTW they are on sale from 15th Jan 2009.

[Hedgehoggy]

I agree with Picidae on the nest boxes. With regards to the green plastic table, I have one of those (but paid a lot more for it via one of the 'bird' online shops a few years ago ), fixed to my fence and the blackbirds, mistle thrushes, starlings and occasional visits from song thrushes and jays all feed on the sultanas and peanuts I only offer on this table [I have hanging feeders and another roofed table for the other birdies, as well as regularly ground feeding too!]

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by Hedgehoggy

With regards to the green plastic table, I have one of those (but paid a lot more for it via one of the 'bird' online shops a few years ago ), fixed to my fence and the blackbirds, mistle thrushes, starlings and occasional visits from song thrushes and jays all feed on the sultanas and peanuts I only offer on this table [I have hanging feeders and another roofed table for the other birdies, as well as regularly ground feeding too!]

I so wish I could do that - everytime I put anything at all on a hanging/normal birdtable or on the ground, the pigeons flock in from everywhere and scoff the lot within a few minutes

Ideally what I need is a cage guard for a bird table or hanging table but I can't find anything suitable - the ground ones are too large to put on my tables and if I leave them on the ground the rather persistent cats will have a field day - it slows up escape time significantly if birds have to negotiate the bars of a cage to escape.

Any ideas .... Phoebe ... anyone?? I've thought of chicken wire but the holes are too small I think.

[Phoebe]

I have a similar problem Picidae, not with Pigeons but with my chickens. They wait under the tables and hangers for the seed to scatter, I think I have got over this by putting seed on the top of my heating oil tank and anything else the chickens can't reach. I was thinking of making a larger wire cage to go over the ground food, if it was large enough the birds would be safe inside without having to fly off. It would need to be square mesh of about 3" to stop Pigeons getting in. I only have one Collared Dove who seems to have lost her mate so I don't get that problem.

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by Picidae

....Ideally what I need is a cage guard for a bird table or hanging table but I can't find anything suitable - the ground ones are too large to put on my tables and if I leave them on the ground the rather persistent cats will have a field day - it slows up escape time significantly if birds have to negotiate the bars of a cage to escape.
Any ideas .... Phoebe ... anyone?? I've thought of chicken wire but the holes are too small I think.

I've had some success by stapling to my bird tables some of the thick green plastic fencing mesh available from garden centres. It's large enough to let birds as big as Starlings through but keeps the pigeons out.

Jeff

[Phoebe]

Originally Posted by JeffH

I've had some success by stapling to my bird tables some of the thick green plastic fencing mesh available from garden centres. It's large enough to let birds as big as Starlings through but keeps the pigeons out.

Jeff

Yes that would work and about the size mesh I was considering. Good idea Jeff!

[Picidae]

Excellent idea Jeff, I'll try that, and it would certainly look better than wire mesh - I'd have to remember to leave one side unstapled so I could clean the bird table!

er ... do you know the size of the holes on the mesh you bought offhand?

[Phoebe]

I would think it is 45mm square Picidae, it comes on a roll but it very sturdy and hard-wearing.