New birdfeeder - is it the wrong design?

[Lin Bee]

Hi everyone,

I have just joined this site today.

I bought a new bird feeder a week ago and the birds wont even go near it. I was wondering if it was the design that was at fault.

It has a shiny silver top and base with a perch on one side, the base is clear plastic and has two holes at the bottom either side to access seed.

It is hung from a branch of my apple tree.

After all the money I spent on the feeder and seed, nobody seems interested.

Has anyone got any ideas what's wrong?

[lol geoff]

Hello Lin Bee make the most of it 'cos when they eventually find it it'll cost you a fortune. (Worth it though)

[Hedge Witch]

I wouldn't blame the feeder, unless you have another close by that is popular compared with this one.

If you had an old one, can you put this back for a while near the old one? They might take a while to be persuaded to use a new one - they can be very wary of something new for a few weeks.

Or if this is your first feeder, they are maybe not used to coming into your garden to feed.

Correct siting of the feeder is also important. Near to cover such as a shrub is good so they can dive into this if they feel threatened.

Welcome to WAB BTW

[Blackdogjnr]

Yeah, I've got one very similar and indeed, when they find it, they'll be using it, believe me!

[Lin Bee]

Thanks for all your replies - I have not had a feeder in my garden before and was disappointed that nobody has visited yet, guess I'll just have to be patient!

[Ollie]

Hi Lin Bee and a warm welcome to the site.

It can take a fair old while for birds to discover a new food source. Also the birds need to feel safe when they are feeding, as Hedge Witch said cover in the form of shrubs, small trees is important so they have somewhere to hide in case any predators come along like a Sparrowhawk.

It took around six months for me to attract Goldfinches to my feeders using Niger and sunflower hearts but they are now regular visitors every day with up to twenty at a time coming.

Once the birds have found your feeders they will become regulars as well. Niger and Sunflower hearts will encourage Goldfinches and Siskins. mixed seed will attract Sparrows. Black sunflower seeds and sunflower hearts will attract Greenfinches and most of the Tits. Fat blocks or balls along with peanuts will also attract Tits including Long-tailed Tits.

Best of luck
Roger

[Kayleigh]

Hi and welcome to WAB Lin Bee...

Like the others have said give it time..

[Steve_In_Cheshire]

I put a peanut feeder up and nothing ever went near it yet the birds couldn`t get enough of the peanuts i put through a blender and presented them in a ground food tray, its probably a winter thing where they want to conseve more energy by taking the easier option..... Even the starlings snubbed the peanut feeder yet they demolish the fat ball feeder next to it.

[Lin Bee]

Still no visitors yet, but I will try to be patient. I wondered if the seed may be getting wet in the feeder and putting them off, although the plastic casing keeps most of it dry it would just be the holes where they can access it. The seed I am using is a mixture called Wild Bird Feed from Seapets.

Thanks for all your replies so far.

Lin

[nigel_b]

Hi Lin,

Maybe you could try a fat ball or half a coconut filled with fat and hung about 6 feet away? I've had most luck where a variety of food sources and types are present. Good luck and let us know how you get on.