Feeding blackbirds?!

[hels]

So...I regularly have blackbirds visiting my garden fence, but they rarely come in to feed, primarily I think because the starlings and pigeons eat all the food that they can eat. Does anyone have any ideas of ways I can entice the blackbirds in?
Thanks, Helen

[htcdude]

Welcome to the forum hels

Blackbirds like foraging through leaves and hedge-like shrubs, maybe plant some around the edges of your garden? If you have already, try chucking some seed under there and see what happens. Otherwise they like fruit, try chucking some apple out.

Good luck!

Nige

[~T~]

I find raisins and sultanas are like a magnet for them. Dried mealworms are a favourite too. Crumbled up fatballs are also a hit. In my garden they don't seem to bother with apples though I have seen they feeding greedily on them elsewhere so just trial and error I suppose. It might be because my garden is very small and they would be too exposed feeding on apples.

[hels]

Hi Nige,

Thanks for the welcome :-)

I have only just moved in and the previous occupants clearly werent keen gardeners!! So currently I'm trying to figure out how to shift the majority of the weeds before I can plant stuff!

I will definitely try apples tho, should they be whole or chopped?

Thanks for the advice!!

[MidsRambler]

My blackbirds love a mix called Robin Mix Extra from Jacobi Jayne. Unfortunately, most of the other birds love it too. I'm quite lucky though as my blackbirds are very friendly, particularly the male who will sit on the fence and "call me" when he wants some food. I then stand over him whilst he gets his fix as once I leave the garden the starlings take over and push all the other birds out. I do strategically place some in amongst the bushes occasionally when I don't have time to stay out there but I'm loathed to as we get a lot of cats so I try to only place food out in the open. A friend of mine actually has a blackbird feed from his hand, mine isn't quite that brave yet

[roseway]

I second what someone said about raisins. You can get the cheapest cooking raisins, and the blackbirds love them. If you soak them in water first they're even better. Not so many other birds eat them, so the blackbirds get more of a chance.

[ellen h]

Raisins here too,blackbirds love them.
If you have a dog though make sure you scatter them where the dog can't get them to eat.Raisins(and grapes)are toxic to dogs.If eaten in any quantity they can cause renal failure.....
ellen

[Carol ann]

Our "Scruffy" blackbird is quite fond of christmas cake crumbled up.
I put a empty 1ltr ice cream tub on the floor surrounded by largish stones to stop the rabbits grabbing it and running off, I can then put some bits and pieces and mixed seed in it for the Blackbirds, they seem to like it, the Jays used to feed from there aswell.

[hels]

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions!!
Next time I head to a shop I will be investing in some fruit!
I don't have dogs, so no issues there :-)

My starlings actually feed quite happily alongside all the other birds in my garden, it's just the blackbirds that are losing out to them really.

I might spend some time seeing if I can get the blackbirds to be quite brave around me :-) I saw at least 3 juveniles this morning so I might be able to persuade them to come in close while I am around :-) worth a try!

[roseway]

If you go out in the garden and do some digging, you'll very likely attract a blackbird looking out for any worms you turn up. I've had them within reach on occasions when doing this.