Feeding peanuts

~T~ · #1 (**permalink**) 28-08-2011, 01:25 PM

What is the best way to offer peanuts in a wire feeder? Last winter I buzzed them a little in the food processor so they were a bit more crushed. The tits and sikins seemed to use the feeder most though I also offered sunflower hearts so it was often overlooked and often I would have to bin the contents which had spoiled. Having now seen a GSP I would like to put it back up, would crushed or whole be more appealing to them?

Thanks.

artdemole · #2 (**permalink**) 28-08-2011, 03:23 PM

Roughly chopped in half is better for a lot of birds or kibbled.

Elizabeth B · #3 (**permalink**) 28-08-2011, 05:14 PM

I always offer whole peanuts in a metal mesh feeder - the birds are emptying them very quickly at the moment. (I can hardly keep up with filling the four feeders for hearts and black sunflower seeds too)!

~T~ · #4 (**permalink**) 29-08-2011, 08:43 AM

Thanks guys. I did a bit of both and crunched some a bit and left the rest whole so we'll see if woody comes back. Does anyone know if they tend to stay around one place? I have some mixed pine and other woodland type with a park beside it nearby where I'm assuming it's come from.

LRM · #5 (**permalink**) 30-08-2011, 04:08 PM

I always crush my peanuts up. I used to crunch them by 'hand' using a bottle or stone but it got too laborious, when bird numbers increased. For the last year I have been putting them in the food processor- finally found a use for it! But it does have a tendency to not crunch some whislt pulversing others, so I get left with alot of powder, which I then have to sieve out and am saving to make suet balls with.

The bits go fast and they ignore the wire feeders with whole nuts in, which quickly get wet and I end up giving them to rooks before they get mouldy.

Now with the price of peanuts rocketing they are on rations anyway, so get a small handful of peanuts pieces each day with their seed.

actionfinch · #6 (**permalink**) 30-08-2011, 07:58 PM

I had problems with squirrels until I made some adaptions to my feeder stations , but I now use a normal feeder with the cage round it, but put crushed peanuts in there. The coal tits and the odd blue tit love it.....stops the old grey rats getting in there....
In fact i see today a great spotted woodpecker at a rerve we went to athey had a squirrel proof feeder with nuts in and it didnt seem to stop it from gettin what it wanted..

~T~ · #7 (**permalink**) 31-08-2011, 09:21 AM

Thanks guys. Thankfully I live in an area with very few grey squirrels. In fact I have only seen one in my garden once despite the amount of treats on offer.

I get quite big bags of peanuts cheaply from Lidl. Well I assume its cheap (I KG for £1.50).

Elizabeth B · #8 (**permalink**) 31-08-2011, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~T~

I get quite big bags of peanuts cheaply from Lidl. Well I assume its cheap (I KG for £1.50).

They are certainly cheaper than the ones I buy!! However, I hope they are a branded make, and guaranteed "Safe Nuts" - ie tested as being Aflotoxin free. My latest purchase was by Gardman - 8kg for £24.99!!!

~T~ · #9 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elizabeth B

They are certainly cheaper than the ones I buy!! However, I hope they are a branded make, and guaranteed "Safe Nuts" - ie tested as being Aflotoxin free. My latest purchase was by Gardman - 8kg for £24.99!!!

Hmmm they are made by a company called Pepito (there are also seed and fatballs there by them) though they don't have anything on the packet stating they are safe.