Feed the Birds Day

StuartDH · #1 (**permalink**) 27-10-2005, 08:42 AM

It's feed the birds day this Saturday, so if you haven't already done it, pop down the shops and buy you feathered friends something extra special.

We also need some good photos of feeders/food to brighten up the reference section - http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/wi...g_garden_birds - so if you've could take a pic and send it in then it would be a big help.

Cheers

Stuart

nightshade · #2 (**permalink**) 27-10-2005, 07:20 PM

I am looking for the ultimate recipe for my birds,it seems to pay dividends to feed them regularly

Helen · #3 (**permalink**) 27-10-2005, 09:38 PM

You want photos of just feeders? Or birds on feeders?

Helen · #4 (**permalink**) 27-10-2005, 09:42 PM

I also have some amusing photos of birds in the birdbath, if you want them for the "water" section.

StuartDH · #5 (**permalink**) 28-10-2005, 08:37 AM

Hi Helen,

We need pretty much one of everything - from different types of seed and feeders, to birds on feeders, bird tables and anything else related to feeding birds.

At the moment the bird feeding pages are just full of text, so anything to help brighten up the pages will be a big help. The pics will only be about 400x300 and probably even smaller, but you can send me any size and I'll cropped them down to fit.

Cheers

Stuart

henrya · #6 (**permalink**) 28-10-2005, 08:43 AM

Stuart,

I''ll try and take some pictures of my bird feeding area at the weekend. Can't guarantee any birds, though.

henrya

StuartDH · #7 (**permalink**) 28-10-2005, 09:05 AM

Cheers henrya, the more the merrier and if you can think of anythign else that we can put in the bird feeding pages - pictures or text - then let me know and we'll add it in as well.

Cheers

Stuart

Helen · #8 (**permalink**) 28-10-2005, 09:58 AM

Wasn't sure where to post these pics, so I'll put them here for you to pick up.

Helen · #9 (**permalink**) 28-10-2005, 10:09 AM

Few more

Apples and other fruit are always a good thing to give to the birds, especially in winter, when the ground is hard.

StuartDH · #10 (**permalink**) 28-10-2005, 11:38 AM

Excellent photos Helen, I'll add them to the pages this afternoon.

nightshade · #11 (**permalink**) 29-10-2005, 05:07 PM

WOW, these pictures are so good I won't bother

Pat · #12 (**permalink**) 29-10-2005, 06:19 PM

I always put down some currants, there's a blackbird that is always sitting on a branch at the edge of the wood where I feed the birds at lunchtime. As soon as I put the food down he swoops down and picks up as many currants as he can. Don't put down raisins though as they are poisoness to dogs and foxes.

Helen · #13 (**permalink**) 29-10-2005, 08:06 PM

Few more. Please remember that mealworms are ALWAYS a good food to put out for the birds, especially in the breeding season, and also in winter, when the ground is hard, and insect feeding birds find it difficult to search for insects.

a. Juvenile GSW b. Coal tit with mealworm c. Coal tit feeding its young.

Helen · #14 (**permalink**) 29-10-2005, 10:13 PM

A few more at the feeder.

3 photos of Greenfinches and one of a juvenile Goldfinch with Great tit.

nightshade · #15 (**permalink**) 30-10-2005, 08:35 AM

I made some insect cakes to celebrate, dried insects (terrible smell),dried mealworms and lard when I can get them out of the moulds I will see what the birds think,should have lined the moulds with cling film first!

Pat · #16 (**permalink**) 30-10-2005, 09:00 AM

Where do you get the dried insects from Nightshade?

nightshade · #17 (**permalink**) 30-10-2005, 02:08 PM

general search, google dried insects,gave me www.petfoodstore.co.uk
I hope this helps,my local shop denied the existence of dried insects but will stock them in future

Helen · #18 (**permalink**) 30-10-2005, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pat

Where do you get the dried insects from Nightshade?

Most good petshops will stock them, if not ask them to.

You can also buy them on all the major bird food supplier websites.

nightshade · #19 (**permalink**) 30-10-2005, 02:23 PM

I am watching dunnock searching around under the pot I put dried mealworms and insects in for the coaltits they are picking up the spilled dried insects

nightshade · #20 (**permalink**) 30-10-2005, 02:46 PM

Pat,why are raisins poisonous to dogs/foxes? do you know. I once fed calf nuts to goats and made them ill, are there other combinations good for some animals not for others

Pat · #21 (**permalink**) 30-10-2005, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightshade

general search, google dried insects,gave me www.petfoodstore.co.uk
I hope this helps,my local shop denied the existence of dried insects but will stock them in future

Thanks Helen and Nightshade, I'll get on to it.

Pat · #22 (**permalink**) 30-10-2005, 02:49 PM

Another thing I've just thought about, do they have to be soaked or are they given dry?

Helen · #23 (**permalink**) 30-10-2005, 03:37 PM

You could, of course, just put out the normal mealworms, I do that all year round, with most of them being taken during winter and the breeding season.

When I get time, I'll write up a little guide to buying/keeping them.

nightshade · #24 (**permalink**) 30-10-2005, 03:46 PM

I find they blow away but Ifeed them dry(with water on offer) or in cake form
with lard

Pat · #25 (**permalink**) 30-10-2005, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightshade

Pat,why are raisins poisonous to dogs/foxes? do you know. I once fed calf nuts to goats and made them ill, are there other combinations good for some animals not for others

If you go to google and put in "are raisins and grapes toxic to dogs " you will come up with a lot of sites telling you about it, I've got an idea that it could be the seeds in them, I knew a dog who ate nearly 2lb of grapes and it died, the owner didn't know they were toxic to dogs and didn't take her to the vet until she was really ill but by that time it was too late. The same happened to another dog who ate a 1lb bar of chocolate. The problem with this is that the symptoms don't show until about 16 hrs later and by then it's too late so if your dog eats any chocolate get them to the vet prompto. Chocolate contains theobromine which is similar to caffien and a dogs system can't take it. They usually have convulsions and end up having heart failure. I presume these things would have the same effect on foxes being of the same family, but anyway I don't take any chances, I will have a look on some sites and try and find out if other animals are affected ( when I have time ) Pat