Food cages

Porkx · #1 (**permalink**) 11-10-2010, 12:14 PM

Hi,
I want to make a cage to cover some bird food (to try and keep starlings out and let tits, robin, dunnocks etc in) and was wondering if anyone had any idea what size holes I should have to achieve this.

Gatekeeper · #2 (**permalink**) 11-10-2010, 12:37 PM

Is this for the purpose of ground or table feeding? Quite a few companies sell these, but the ground cages are usually designed with dimensions that allow blackbirds, thrushes, and starlings to have access.

About 10 years ago I used to have over 100 starlings visiting my garden, but now see 5 on a good day. I try to do all I can to encourage them. Here's a quote from the RSPB website:

"Long term monitoring by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) shows that starling numbers have fallen by 66% in Britain since the mid-1970s. Because of this decline in numbers, the starling is red listed as a bird of high conservation concern."

artdemole · #3 (**permalink**) 11-10-2010, 12:41 PM

Mesh size should be 25mm x 25mm.Or 28mm....Do a Google starling mesh size...

Picidae · #4 (**permalink**) 11-10-2010, 01:50 PM

Can understand why you'd want to deter Starlings from hogging expensive bird seed and they do tend to 'crowd' smaller birds out but agree with Gatekeeper's comments re: Starlings/decline/encouragement. Could you consider, once you've got your 'cage', to provide hanging fat balls or making a suet mix for the Starlings? If you buy fat balls from the shop, please remove them from string bags and place in feeder. However, much cheaper to make your own from cheap porridge oats and lard (you can chuck other bits in). The empty half coconut shells make the best homemade suet feeders imo.

Starlings are wonderfully gregarious birds and very fun to have in the garden - they just need to be 'managed' not starved out of the garden!

nikolai_avenger · #5 (**permalink**) 11-10-2010, 02:29 PM

Agreed, starlings and their comedy antics are great to watch and they are my young daughter's favourite birds that come to our garden.

In my experience, starlings are not fantastic at balancing on yer average seed feeder and whilst they do have a good go they don't seem to take much. I find that strategic placement of feeders, e.g. one of mine is in a tree above some shrubs/bushes, therefore discounts starlings from devouring what falls to the ground, whilst encouraging birds that seem happier feeding on the ground amongst the bushes, e.g. dunnocks/robins. 'Our' starlings seem happier feeding in the middle of the lawn, out in the open, or on the garage roof.

Having said that, I don't know if you have any trees or shurbs or whatevers.

Cheers. Nik.

willowjay · #6 (**permalink**) 11-10-2010, 02:43 PM

Our starlings are totally ignoring all fat balls, peanuts, ground food - everything. The reason? The grapes over the pergola are ripe enough for starling taste buds (though not yet for mine) - result - happy starlings. And I don't really mind either

Deb London · #7 (**permalink**) 11-10-2010, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willowjay

Our starlings are totally ignoring all fat balls, peanuts, ground food - everything. The reason? The grapes over the pergola are ripe enough for starling taste buds (though not yet for mine) - result - happy starlings. And I don't really mind either

Same here. They appreciate our trees as a roost, but they go elsewhere to eat. It's like B&B without the breakfast.

kangarooz · #8 (**permalink**) 11-10-2010, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porkx

Hi,
I want to make a cage to cover some bird food (to try and keep starlings out and let tits, robin, dunnocks etc in) and was wondering if anyone had any idea what size holes I should have to achieve this.

Mini ground feeding sanctuary : Food for Wild Birds

I have one of these and have never had so many blue/great tits in the garden before as they can actually get some food!

Porkx · #9 (**permalink**) 12-10-2010, 01:36 PM

Hi,
Thanks for all your replies. My intention is to try to keep 1 or 2 sources (1 on the ground and 1 on a table) just for the smaller birds (robins,tit,finches etc..) with another couple on the ground for the larger birds (we get lots of blackbirds (we also have a resident pair who nest in the garden)) and lots of starlings and pigeons who just seem to stuff themselves silly. So creating a sanctuary or 2 for the "little ones" seems a necessity. So finding the right mesh size is important. So again thanks for the help.

werdnal · #10 (**permalink**) 12-10-2010, 09:11 PM

We have 2 feeders, one open and one "caged". We had some round plastic trays (they were given to us to sit large planters in, by someone who used to work in a recording studio - they are tape reel canisters I think), but you could use a large plant pot saucer. The cage is an upturned round wire hanging basket fixed on top. The mesh size is just right to allow the smaller birds through, and if it isn't you could always cut a couple of bars out. Its weather proof and a "sympathetic" green colour for the garden. Just one tip though, drill a few drainage holes in the saucer/tray as otherwise it will fill up with rainwater.

We mounted ours on top of a pole, and hang peanut, seed and fat-ball feeders under it, but I guess you would also be able to hang it.