Anything wrong with this feeder?

[eurythmic]

Nature's Garden Dual Purpose Feeder in Tesco | mySupermarket

I bought this feeder from Tesco as it was cheap and I just wanted to see how much interest there was in it. If it proves popular I am planning to buy something more sturdy. I already have a peanut feeder and suet ball feeder in my garden which are used daily.

The seed feeder's now been up nearly a week which I realise isn't that long, and its lack of use could be due to its newness - but I am also wondering whether it's something to do with the design. The first day I put it up I saw a robin trying to use it by hovering (hilarious to watch but don't think he got any!), then I was at work all week so couldn't see if birds were landing on it but didn't notice the seed level go down any. This morning I saw a blue tit land on one side, have a quick go, fly round to the other side, have another quick go, and then fly off. Since he didn't stay long I am wondering whether the perches aren't easy for the birds to sit on, or something like that. Any ideas? I have put a new lot of seed in there today, including lots of black sunflower, so will see if that makes a difference.

What do you think? Should I splash out on a better feeder or persevere with this one?

[thunder]

Welcome eurhythmic. I should persevere with this feeder for a while. It may well be the newness that is causing slow take-up. Tits are pretty agile, and the design of the perches shouldn't give them any problems.

henrya

[artdemole]

I have a similar one but has a longer perch.Try attaching a twig.

[thebeard]

i got a similar one from wilkos and nothing has been on it in months. don't really have many 'perching' birds in the area though which is probably more the reason. the only thing i've seen on (in) it was a bee which was there for a few days

[RobinP]

You could try sunflower hearts, most garden birds seem to like them.

[eurythmic]

Hi RobinP,

I do have some sunflower heart chips, but was told to put black sunflower seeds out first as these were the most universal - maybe this was bad info!

PS I notice you are in Harpenden - small world, I am in Wheathampstead!

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by eurythmic

PS I notice you are in Harpenden - small world, I am in Wheathampstead!

Was it not said by Eccles "everybody got to be somewhere"?

[LRM]

I have found that feeders have variable popularity. At one time they were eating alot from them, but then they preferred to take from the trays and the feeders kept going mouldy so I gave up. But in the recent bad weather I put up a new seed feeder and a new peanut feeder ( as the tray in front garden, suspended in the tree had broken and had to be put down near the ground on a box). They have a go at the peanuts but not alot. But the seed feeder is emptied every day. It does have little plastic perches each side, but I put it so that it is close to a branch. When I put it a little way away from the branch, it didn't empty so fast and I saw the birds stretching and fluttering trying to reach it from the branch. So I moved it back to the branch and it emptied fast again.

I don't know who is eating it all, as they fly away quickly. But the other trays in the small hawthorn tree outside the kitchen window are more easily watched, provided you keep still. I noticed when I had the feeders there that they would chuck out the bits they didn't like until they found something they liked. So I put out plant saucers instead (with crushed up peanuts) and everyone seems happy. (The peanut feeder went mouldy). The tits can grab and fly, the Robins and Blackbirds prefer them and the sparrows can crowd in. But they do need regular cleaning.

Though the occasional visit from the Long Tailed Tits may be disappointing for them as they did seem to prefer the peanut feeder and the fat balls. I did see one land on the saucer last week but it flew off. The other birds don't seem keen on the fat balls either and I keep throwing them away. The last batch are so hard the birds that did try gave up.

A few years ago I bought an expensive feeder with ceramic top and bottom and metal body with round holes in it. Apart from being very difficult to open and fill, I noticed that the birds seemed to be having more diffilcult eating from it, so it went in the cupboard and I went back to the cheap wire mesh ones. I tried a plastic one once, but the birds seemed to have more trouble with it, but the squirrel demolished it.

[RobinP]

Originally Posted by eurythmic

Hi RobinP,

I do have some sunflower heart chips, but was told to put black sunflower seeds out first as these were the most universal - maybe this was bad info!

PS I notice you are in Harpenden - small world, I am in Wheathampstead!

Hi eurythmic

GW Titmuss - on the way to Gustard Wood - sell large sacks of sunflower hearts at a very good price, I have tried putting out mixed bird food and all that is left is the black sunflower seeds, even the squirrels don't eat them.

Good luck

Robin

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by eurythmic

Nature's Garden Dual Purpose Feeder in Tesco | mySupermarket


What do you think? Should I splash out on a better feeder or persevere with this one?

I'm not sure about those perches, they look a bit small and awkward to me, and won't allow the birds to see well around them. Those with horizontal circular perches are supposed to be the best as the birds can choose how they want to face, and indeed shuffle around as they want. Like these ones.
CJ WildBird Foods - Bird Feeders

Though the ones I use have sticking out perches, which don't seem to put off my birds. Wildlife Products, Norfolk, UK - Bird Ventures - Gardman Four Port Metal Seed Feeder