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| 1 | 2 |  » Stats |
Members: 50,126
Threads: 82,270
Posts: 852,649
Top Poster: glsammy (15,069)
| | Welcome to our newest member, Kathy P | |  | | 
25-01-2009, 12:58 PM
|  | Moderator | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Belvedere, Kent
Posts: 10,025
| | | Ground feeding
I've been mucking about in the garage again and built this out of scrap wood and recycled screws and brackets. It's a copy of one in the RSPB catalogue... 
Thats a combination of mixed seed, peanuts, dried mealworms and sultanas sitting on it at the moment.
I've never had a ground feeding table before and have a very naive question, namely should I leave it out when it rains? Or will everything just turn into a horrible soggy mess?
Dave P.
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(a.k.a. "Horizontal Dave")
"A good man is hard to find, especially if he's hiding. In a field. With combat fatigues and a false beard." - Wilson Dixon |
25-01-2009, 01:03 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Onchan, Isle of Man
Posts: 147
| | | Re: Ground feeding
The RSPB one I have has a removable plastic tray which has the corners cut out to allow drainage so it's OK if it rains, the water just runs away.
As long as there's some way for the water to drain, it should be fine! 
Best wishes,
Matt. |
25-01-2009, 01:08 PM
| | Moderator | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Belvedere, Kent
Posts: 10,025
| | | Re: Ground feeding
Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt_IOM  The RSPB one I have has a removable plastic tray which has the corners cut out to allow drainage so it's OK if it rains, the water just runs away. | Yeah I noticed that. Although my home made effort doesn't have the plastic tray I did leave a gap at each corner for that very reason.
It's only been out about thirty minutes (in the rain!) and I've just had a magpie feeding from it while two wood pigeons studiously avoided it.
Dave P.
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(a.k.a. "Horizontal Dave")
"A good man is hard to find, especially if he's hiding. In a field. With combat fatigues and a false beard." - Wilson Dixon |
25-01-2009, 01:25 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,089
| | | Re: Ground feeding
I was going to do this but we thought it would attract the rats that are oh so often around 
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Leif |
25-01-2009, 02:01 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Durham
Posts: 1,481
| | | Re: Ground feeding
My bottom feeder is mesh so the water runs straight through.I do use a bird table for feeding but only in dry weather.I suppose it depends on how quickly the food is eaten.  |
25-01-2009, 02:20 PM
|  | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 9,724
| | | Re: Ground feeding
Just don't over-load it. Just enough for the day and give it a scrub off every now and then. The dunnocks, chaffinches and blackbirds will be pleased with you.
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The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
25-01-2009, 02:23 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Durham
Posts: 1,481
| | | Re: Ground feeding
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wild-Woman Just don't over-load it. Just enough for the day and give it a scrub off every now and then. The dunnocks, chaffinches and blackbirds will be pleased with you. |
I so agree |
25-01-2009, 02:44 PM
| | Moderator | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Belvedere, Kent
Posts: 10,025
| | | Re: Ground feeding
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wild-Woman Just don't over-load it. Just enough for the day and give it a scrub off every now and then. The dunnocks, chaffinches and blackbirds will be pleased with you. | Good advice there Jules, I'm a bit inclined to pile it high but will reign myself in! And I'll give it a good clean at least once a week.
Chaffinches would be good! I've seen one on a neighbour's TV ariel but have never seen one in my garden. I'm hoping it might turn our occasional Jay and even more occasional green woodpecker into regular visitors too.
Dave P.
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(a.k.a. "Horizontal Dave")
"A good man is hard to find, especially if he's hiding. In a field. With combat fatigues and a false beard." - Wilson Dixon |
06-02-2009, 10:16 PM
| | Moderator | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Belvedere, Kent
Posts: 10,025
| | | Re: Ground feeding
Okay, I think maybe it needs a roof when I have a spare evening! 
Been meaning to ask - someone mentioned in another thread that they soak the sultanas before putting them out. Is that necessary? I've just been adding half a handful straight from the packet. They've been getting eaten along with everything else but I hope I'm not doing more harm than good.
Dave P.
__________________
(a.k.a. "Horizontal Dave")
"A good man is hard to find, especially if he's hiding. In a field. With combat fatigues and a false beard." - Wilson Dixon |
07-02-2009, 01:13 AM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 327
| | | Re: Ground feeding
Quote:
Originally Posted by pressld2 Been meaning to ask - someone mentioned in another thread that they soak the sultanas before putting them out. Is that necessary? I've just been adding half a handful straight from the packet. They've been getting eaten along with everything else but I hope I'm not doing more harm than good. |
On your point about soaking sultanas, that is something i do all the time. I soak my dried sultanas for about 12 hours and the difference is amazing, they fluff up and are a lot easier for the birds to digest and they will be a lot more tasty as well than the dried stuff.
The problem with giving anything dried to the birds is they will fluff up in their stomachs and it will bloat them, i always soak any dried food.
On the point about ground feeding trays, i always bring mine in overnight and put them in the garden shed. This does a few things, firstly it stops things like rats knowing their is a regular overnight food source and secondly it stops the food freezing in these low temperatures.
If any food was left from the previous day i freshen it up the next morning and mix in some fresh new food, the blackbirds like a few scattered sultanas on the lawn as it probably feels natural to them as they would find fruit that way in the wild, they look really happy when they are foraging and get a nice reward of a sultana.  | | | |
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