Bird feeding

[dc2009]

Hi everyone! Just wanted to get some opinions...

Currently have a bird table with mixed bird seed and suet on which attracts magpies, wood pigeons, starlings, squirrels etc.

Have seen a couple of smaller birds around and am wondering if a feeding station with a square cage suet feeder, sunflower heart feeder & peanut feeder may b beneficial for the smaller birds?

To prevent peanuts and suet going damp am I right in thinking the square cages with holes in the bottom and all round would be best to allow drainage? Also how big a seed feeder would you reccommend, was thinking of just a small one with two ports but didn't know whether to add a seed tray to help attract other birds also?

Any advice?

Thanks!

[Hedge Witch]

I have the smaller seed feeders with two ports (I don't tend to spend a lot on them - some of the smaller cheaper ones seem to do the job). They seem fine, although I don't get lots of birds due to the area I live in. I would imagine that if you anticipate whole flocks of finches or tits, a larger feeder will be more suitable.

Personally I wouldn't add an extra seed tray if you already have a table (unless it's in a different area). It will be swamped with the larger birds you already attract, and this will tend to put the smaller birds off feeding.

If you have squirrels, I'd make sure all my feeders were squirrel proof, and feed these animals somewhere separately, if you intend to carry on feeding them.

The cages sound fine.

All the best.

[snapewoodclayts]

As soon as you stick up feeders with peanuts in, the squizzas will be all over them like a rash.

I adopt a distraction feeding regime for the squirrels which seems to work well - squirrels have access all areas, but I deliberately overstock certain areas of the garden with food they love - my lot are addicted to sunflower seeds and sunflower hearts, as well as the obligatory monkey nuts (peanuts in shells) - I hide monkey nuts all around the garden every morning, and this keeps my furry visitors occupied for most of the day. I also stick down two huge piles of sunflower seeds, which also keeps them happy.

It's well worth buying cheap and cheerful 2 port plastic feeders for sunflower hearts and sunflower seeds for your tits (if you have any) - the squirrels will still use these if they are not protected, but not as much if you use distraction feeding. Definitely use a metal peanut feeder (although that doesn't stop my squirrels biting through them - it does, however, slow them down a lot !).

The square cages for fat cakes are good, although my tits prefer the proper fat ball feeders (try Wilko's - they do a decent metalish one for a couple of quid)

[HanDiiMaNz]

Originally Posted by snapewoodclayts

As soon as you stick up feeders with peanuts in, the squizzas will be all over them like a rash.

I adopt a distraction feeding regime for the squirrels which seems to work well - squirrels have access all areas, but I deliberately overstock certain areas of the garden with food they love - my lot are addicted to sunflower seeds and sunflower hearts, as well as the obligatory monkey nuts (peanuts in shells) - I hide monkey nuts all around the garden every morning, and this keeps my furry visitors occupied for most of the day. I also stick down two huge piles of sunflower seeds, which also keeps them happy.

It's well worth buying cheap and cheerful 2 port plastic feeders for sunflower hearts and sunflower seeds for your tits (if you have any) - the squirrels will still use these if they are not protected, but not as much if you use distraction feeding. Definitely use a metal peanut feeder (although that doesn't stop my squirrels biting through them - it does, however, slow them down a lot !).

The square cages for fat cakes are good, although my tits prefer the proper fat ball feeders (try Wilko's - they do a decent metalish one for a couple of quid)

50 balls for £6.99.. Pretty good.

[smartie]

As I've said on another thread, I don't find that the peanut feeder gets much traffic. I'm going to give them up when I finish the current bag as they mostly go mouldy and get wasted. If the tits are offered sunflower hearts they seem to prefer those.

If you get a lot of squirrels it is worth investing in some sort of protection for your hanging feeders - either a squirrel-proof cage or a baffle that they can't get past. Otherwise they can chew through the plastic of the cheaper feeders quite quickly, and the feeders then don't seem quite such good value! I've tried distraction feeding but it doesn't seem to work for me. I found the stuff sold as squirrel food was useless. They wouldn't eat it at all.

I find the hanging fat block feeders are popular with all the birds, and do also use suet balls. If you use those remember to take off any netting from the balls so that the birds don't get tangled in them. The more responsible suppliers are now packing them without netting.

[dc2009]

thank you for your replies everyone!

was just wondering with the trays that attach to the feeders does anyone know what species these are intended to attract specifically as online shops say it will attract other species but doesn't specify which?

think am going to go for a small seed, peanut and suet feeder on a pole/station in addition to the table although not sure whether to get one now or wait until autumn when the food's needed more...

[Hedge Witch]

I'd get one sooner rather than later, they will feed at all times of the year. My little tray attracts all sorts, robins, sparrows, tits, Collared Doves. Even the Wood Pigeons will have a go, but they are a bit too big, it has to be said

[smartie]

Two reasons to get one now. Birds sometimes take a while to come to a new feeder, so if you put it up now they will have time to get used to it before the autumn. Also many birds are flat out feeding young at present, and they will appreciate a bit of an easy meal for themselves. I find we get a lot of harrassed-looking birds coming down for a quick snack at this time of year. One female blackbird with a nest in the garden seems to give herself a lunch break most days by the pond. She arrives about 12.30, takes some seed from the table, has a quick bath and then gets going again.

[Hedera]

I think the small two-hole feeders are best: you can gauge the amount the birds take and replace as and when. Smash up your peanuts very small and put in seed feeders or on table, they eat them then.
The food does not get damp and go mouldy this way.

[bobbarber]

Hello Hedera, I have always run my peanuts through one of those old fashioned hand- operated mincers before putting them on the bird table, I find I get far less wastage. It is also more convenient to mix in with seed and lard and suet to make fat balls. There is also less possibility of any nestlings being choked. The birds seem to like it that way and there is less chance of the larger ones clearing the table in a few minutes...Bob