Bird feeding station advice please

[joeted]

Hey all
Im just about to order a bird feeding station, here it is by the way Gardman A01131D Wild Bird Feed Station P: Amazon.co.uk: Longacres
Just wondering if anyone knows or anything better for the price ?
Oh and also I know nothing about bird food so can anyone point me in the right direction of the best way to get finchs and tits into the garden please ?
I'll get the 3 feeders to go on each hook but I dont know what food to put in them
Thanks alot in advance
Joe

[Elizabeth B]

Sunflower hearts are the most popular food in my hanging feeders, but black sunflower seeds are next. Niger seed is more or less ignored, but this is what brought goldfinches into the garden first of all. I make my own fat blocks, as I like to know what's in them - I was told by a pet shop owner that the cheap "special offer" fat balls have very little food value in them.

[rossy]

go to bms if you have one near you, got one similar for 7 .99, as for food, suet blocks with mealworm are being eaten daily by starlings, tits, its like a nursery in the garden at the moment with young starlings, house sparrows, all day long, rossy.

[greenace233]

Hi

I have a bird feeder station. I put it right in the middle of the garden and nothing, i then put it nearer to the trees and bingo. I have slowly moved it into an open space coz of cats etc. I make my own fat balls and the tits love them. I mix dried vegetable suet with hot water, i add currents, peas, finely chopped apple, meal worms, bird seed, crushed cereal, bit of fat from left overs, grated cheese, and a little grated carot. they absolutely love them. in the other feeders i have peanuts and the other black seeds. water in the dish and in the other dish (quite high up on the pole) i put mixture of meal worms, currents and crushed cereal and apple (for the blackbirds and robins). This seem to be working apart from the greedy starlings who seem to eat everything. Good luck. Debbie

[feathered-friend]

Guardman also do another feeding station with 2 extra hooks plus a detachable hook thing to hang fat balls on. This is sold by longacres too for 17.99 via amazon; Its a bit more fancy and the basket and water holder are a bit bigger and better.

I have both feeding stations, if I was you I would pay the extra 3 pound, its definitely worth it!

[joeted]

Thanks alot everyone great info
I was going to order last night but Im just about to go up the pet shop coz I want it right now lol but if they havnt got anything I'll be on amazon in a bit

[joeted]

I got one from pets at home and its up in the garden , Im constantly looking at it and waiting now lol.Only problem I see is its a bit lopsided so the water is uneven but Ive just shoved a bit of card between the bowl and the ring so hopefully that holds it.
Oh and Im putting a sign on it saying "no big birds"

[dean young]

Hi,
got a really cool way of making you're bird feeding station.Most bird feeders come with hooks or handles of some kind.Make some twine out of hazel or willow bark and rope style it to your feeders to hang from a tree or pergola.No need for expensive feed stations!! More of a natural way as well.
Hope this works ands enjoy your birds,
By the way dont forget Springwatch on Monday the 31st!!

[Tringa]

Feeding station looks OK to me.

In our garden there is a definite order for food

Number 1, by a lightyear - live mealworms (soaked dad ones are not far behind)

Number 2 - sunflower hearts/fat cakes

Number 3 - whole sunflower seeds

[ricwine]

I made a bird feeder from some recycled materials. We have a large pine tree in the garden. With a wood and country park behind. I walked throught his wood and found a small pine log lying on the ground. It was perfect and the bark was exactley the same shade of colour as out big tree. So I cut it to about 7 and a half feet , oiled and slapped on a coat of clear varnish. This matched the pine tree already in situ to a tee'.

I got an old bird feeder table top and nailed that on top. So it is two pieces of old wood nailed together. But boy it looks good. Planted a load of flowers around the base, even 3 giant sunflowers which should hopefully provide some seeds in a few months for the birds. The food already mentioned in this post is all good. But remember that birds also like to forage on the ground or from a flat surface. But if you have squirrels who are attracted to the feeders. THATS !! another story.

Good luck Richard

Oh and also I know nothing about bird food so can anyone point me in the right direction of the best way to get finchs and tits into the garden please ?