Feeding the birds??

k4t3 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-02-2010, 05:09 PM

In the recent bad weather, I have been trying to keep the birds in my garden well fed, with a good mix of foods for all the different feeder types...in the bad snows, I put out well minced (still fresh) chicken meat. Was this a good move? It all seemed to vanish, and I think I even spotted a kestrel feeding from the bird table..but still not sure this was a good move, is this ok for birds? I don't want to be doing anything bad for them?

Tringa · #2 (**permalink**) 06-02-2010, 11:32 AM

Not sure it would do any harm to the birds - quite few are not averse to a bit of road kill.

The birds could have taken it, but so could cats or foxes.

artdemole · #3 (**permalink**) 06-02-2010, 11:47 AM

Hope the vermin can't get up the feeder,I had troubles, had to do away with table in the end.

bobbarber · #4 (**permalink**) 07-02-2010, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k4t3

In the recent bad weather, I have been trying to keep the birds in my garden well fed, with a good mix of foods for all the different feeder types...in the bad snows, I put out well minced (still fresh) chicken meat. Was this a good move? It all seemed to vanish, and I think I even spotted a kestrel feeding from the bird table..but still not sure this was a good move, is this ok for birds? I don't want to be doing anything bad for them?

Should be O.K. but smacks a bit of cannibalism .

...Bob

SusieBee · #5 (**permalink**) 07-02-2010, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbarber

Should be O.K. but smacks a bit of cannibalism .

...Bob

I always wondered about that, I've read here that it's ok? But doesn't seem right to me!

k4t3 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-02-2010, 09:30 AM

The cannibal thing was what worried me! Cats or foxes couldn't have taken it as was on a very rickety bird table that barely stands up to the weight of a woodpigeon, and despite careful monitoring, I have never seen any rats or mice in the garden in the year I have been here...
So I reckon the birds must have taken it....Hannibal the House Sparrow!

Paul mabbott · #7 (**permalink**) 10-02-2010, 12:05 PM

I don't suppose a bit of properly cooked meat will harm the birds - especially the carrion feeders.

I sometimes worry though - look what happened when the agricultural industry started feeding cow remains to other cows .....

SheffieldLass · #8 (**permalink**) 10-02-2010, 12:31 PM

If they were British chickens then at least if they have any bird diseases/parasites that could be passed on, then they would probably already in the British bird population anyway. Not so sure about foreign raised ones though, whether there would be any additional risk.

thebeard · #9 (**permalink**) 10-02-2010, 05:11 PM

its not cannibalism, the nearest thing wild birds and chickens have in common is that they're birds. its like saying us eating cows is cannibalism, on account of us both being mammals!

k4t3 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-02-2010, 08:40 PM

It was good quality, British raised chicken, thoroughly cooked...so why was I giving it to the birds??

For the joy of seeing a kestrel close hand, for all the wonderful birds that visit my garden and give me hours of pleasure- even the ubiquitous starlings with their gorgeous colours flashing in the sunlight...what can I say? Am an addict to the wildlife in my garden and hope to entice more in there this year- birds, mammals, insects and all...after years of living in a Chav-Ville flat, I am loving the wildlife!