Do you have any suggestions on how to stop messy eaters ?

[Steve_In_Cheshire]

I have a ground feeder which is the same as this.



The problem i have is that Starlings are tossing out the stuff they don`t fancy all over the lawn and it leaves a right mess thats almost impossible to clear up, i don`t have any concrete or paved areas where i could put the feeder as the areas i do have that are flagged are too close to the house where they wouldn`t feed.

The only thing i can think of is putting a square piece of plastic tarpaulin sheet underneath which would be thick enough not to harm the birds plus i could roll it up of a night and clean it, the only down side to that is it may leave a yellowish patch on the grass where sunlight can`t get through to let the grass grow.

Ive watched the Starlings through the binoculars and you can see them pick stuff up they don`t fancy and toss it onto the grass, the little critters

[Gill Catton]

I'd leave it myself I'm sure other birds will hover it up or worms even and it may lead to a more interesting lawn!! Tarpulin is likely to flap about and scare the birds not to mention kill any grass beneath?

[Steve_In_Cheshire]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I'd leave it myself I'm sure other birds will hover it up or worms even and it may lead to a more interesting lawn!! Tarpulin is likely to flap about and scare the birds not to mention kill any grass beneath?

This is the point, the other birds are only mopping so much of the tossed out mess and a lot of it is being left on the lawn. Its mainly the crushed peanuts that get left on the lawn yet the feeder is empty at the end of the day which includes a lot of crushed peanuts have been eaten yet some have been tossed out ?

[Pam_M]

Do you put mixed seed etc on the tray? If yes then buy a seed without the crushed peanuts! Problem solved!

[Steve_In_Cheshire]

Originally Posted by Pam_M

Do you put mixed seed etc on the tray? If yes then buy a seed without the crushed peanuts! Problem solved!

I put the crushed peanuts in myself, its my own mix that i make up which contains sunflower hearts, crushed peanuts, dried mealworms, fat cake broken up into small pieces, sultanas and occasionaly a bit of cheese. That way their is something for everyone in the garden, its just Starlings have no manners whatsoever and i`m sure they enjoy tossing stuff onto the lawn just for the sake of it.

To have so much food on the lawn is not good as mould could grow on it, its so difficult to try and get small particles of food out the lawn.

[sunnydale]

Originally Posted by Steve_In_Cheshire

its just Starlings have no manners whatsoever and i`m sure they enjoy tossing stuff onto the lawn just for the sake of it.

Of course they do!!! Yes, I can just hear them now........

"C'mon guys, lets wind Steve up again and throw peanuts on his lawn!"

You're never going to stop Starlings being messy...or other birds for that matter. It's par for the course when feeding them.
The only way to keep your lawn 'mess-free' is to stop feeding them on it altogether
What's more important though? A happy, healthy population of birds in your garden.....or a pristine looking lawn?

[Steve_In_Cheshire]

Originally Posted by sunnydale

What's more important though? A happy, healthy population of birds in your garden.....or a pristine looking lawn?

Its not the mess or a pristine looking lawn that i`m bothered about, its the fact that mould and bacteria could form on the food particles that you can`t get out of the lawn which could harm birds like chaffinches and other birds that like to feed on the ground and we get an awful lot of finches on the lawn as well as the usual ground feeders like blackbirds and thrushes etc.

I take it you don`t get many Starlings in your garden ? Try and watch how 20 - 30 of them feed at one time, its a free for all and a right messy free for all. We have a large Starling roost at the end of the garden in some big trees.

[sunnydale]

Originally Posted by Steve_In_Cheshire

I take it you don`t get many Starlings in your garden ?

Erm, yes I do get Starlings in my garden......but I don't put a ground feeding tray on the lawn! It's on a hard surface where I can sweep stuff up that doesn't get eaten!

You may just have to cut a section of lawn out and replace it with a few paving slabs.

Just a thought.....

[jaykay]

Hi Steve, I've had the same problem and have now moved the bird station onto a patio base (purpose built for it) and put it on 4 slabs so they can be cleaned easier. so far so good

[Pam_M]

Originally Posted by sunnydale

Erm, yes I do get Starlings in my garden......but I don't put a ground feeding tray on the lawn! It's on a hard surface where I can sweep stuff up that doesn't get eaten!

You may just have to cut a section of lawn out and replace it with a few paving slabs.

Just a thought.....

The best idea or alternatively just move your feeder around your lawn...the rain will wash the bits away!