The Forgotten Feeder

[BloomingMarvellous]

Came across this in someones front garden the other day, it looks like it's a bit out of date.

[htcdude]

I'm surprised the whole thing hasn't turn into a bush already!

Nige

[~T~]

Ha ha that's nasty, wonder what was in it? My mates got a similar one in his garden too. It's a spiral feeder that once contained a large fatball which is now a large greyish furry mess. I mentioned he should maybe bin it and he said "oh I think birds still eat from it now and again". I wouldn't be surprised if it was already there when he moved in a year and a half ago as he's not really the bird feeding type.

[Deb London]

That looks rank. That said, my niger sprouted and they weren't out of date. It's been so wet here.

[sunnydale]

Never mind what's in it, the bag itself is more of a danger to birds than the food!

[Elizabeth B]

Originally Posted by sunnydale

Never mind what's in it, the bag itself is more of a danger to birds than the food!

Well said! The RSPB has warned about these mesh feeders, having received reports of birds getting their claws (and even tongues) caught, sometimes with fatal results.

[werdnal]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth B

Well said! The RSPB has warned about these mesh feeders, having received reports of birds getting their claws (and even tongues) caught, sometimes with fatal results.

As a slight aside, we told MIL off at Christmas as we discovered she was putting out fat balls still in the bags. Bought her a couple of feeders to put them in, and were pleased when we visited the following week to see she had taken our advice and was using them.

Called in last week, looked at her birdtable and alongside the shiny new fatball feeder, was a bag of birdseed, rather like the one in the photo - although a lot fresher. "Oh they were selling those off in Asda last week, so I stocked up" she said. We went on to explain again about the dangers of the mesh.

This is the same woman who we nagged to stop using slug pellets as they were lethal to the birds. She relented and said she would only use them in the greenhouse from then on, adding "Its only the blackbirds that go in there when I leave the door open!" Words fail me sometimes!!!!!!

[Wild-Woman]

The seeds look like sunflower seeds to me. Worst though, I believe, is allowing peanuts to mould. The toxins in the mould can be fatal.

[Elizabeth B]

Some peanuts can be dangerous for birds before they go mouldy. This is why I always buy "Safe Nuts" that are guaranteed Aflotoxin free.