Bird feeding tips

[Tinkerbell]

I'm sure many of us would be grateful for some tips on feeding the birds during this dreadfully cold spell.

I'm going out with crushed biscuits (digestive), bird seed and fat balls but they are all freezing and the balls are proving difficult to crack, and much of the food remains where it has been left. In addition it's difficult to place it somewhere that won't be open to the elements and once again covered in snow.

Any tips would be gratefully received if you've found a solution to the problem.

Cheers. Tinkerbell

[Elizabeth B]

We have a narrow paved path down one side of the garden, which curves round towards the end of the garden. Yesterday, I threw on some clothes (on top of my pyjamas) and swept away about 8cm of snow from the path and neighbouring bits of lawn.

On this, I scattered a mixture of porridge oats, chopped peanuts, sunflower hearts and mixed seed. The birds flocked down - over a fairly short space of time there were 16 chaffinches, 6 starlings, 9 blackbirds and 2 jays. I also provided two lots of water, which was much appreciated.

The tits take sunflower hearts and black sunflower seed from the hanging feeders, and they also have a home made fat block in a caged feeder that keeps out starlings. The block weighs about 330gm and vanishes in under two days - I have 5 more stored in the fridge!!

I also make a fat mix using lard, and put some into a shallow dish on the bird table - the starlings soon demolish this.

[Tinkerbell]

Thanks Elizabeth

I seem to be putting out the same kind of food as you, but up here in N Yorks we have so many falls of snow that it is becoming very wet and it has been so cold that it is freezing quite rapidly. Hence my battle. Nevertheless I'll keep up the feeding and hope the birds survive.

Ann