Question from a newbie!

redragon · #1 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 10:17 PM

Hello, I'm new to having bird feeders in my garden and so not knowing how to start I bought a Gardman Feeding kit. On the peanut feeder instructions it tells me not to put out whole peanuts between FEB and OCT.

Can anyone tell me why?

P.S Again sorry for my ignorance.

eeyore · #2 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redragon

Hello, I'm new to having bird feeders in my garden and so not knowing how to start I bought a Gardman Feeding kit. On the peanut feeder instructions it tells me not to put out whole peanuts between FEB and OCT.

Can anyone tell me why?

P.S Again sorry for my ignorance.

if they can get the whole nut tits and some other small birds have a tendency to jam them down their babies throats whole - this doesnt matter with soft food such as catterpillars and worms but has serious often fatal consequences with something as hard as a nut. feeding nuts in a mesh feeder is fine - just dont feed them on the table or floor or anywhere else that birds can fly off with a whole one

James_Owen · #3 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 10:26 PM

It's because sparrows, silly as they can be sometimes, may feed them to chicks that just can't handle whole peanuts and end up choking.

Although I think you could probably start with them again a little earlier than October.

redragon · #4 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 10:34 PM

Ok

thank you so much for your replies!

ron1863 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 10:52 PM

I use a mortar and pestle to crush my nuts

Jennywrenny · #6 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ron1863

I use a mortar and pestle to crush my nuts

There are so many replies to that but I'd better not...

cherrybee · #7 (**permalink**) 02-03-2007, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jennywrenny

There are so many replies to that but I'd better not...

I can imagine

smartie · #8 (**permalink**) 03-03-2007, 07:54 AM

We can all imagine!! Watering eyes all round

nightshade · #9 (**permalink**) 03-03-2007, 07:59 AM

I have found that a quick zizz in a coffee grinder is easier
(bought at a car boot sale25p)Robins take the finer pieces

Elizabeth B · #10 (**permalink**) 03-03-2007, 04:36 PM

I use a food processor for chopping peanuts - then I can do a lot in one go. I use them (among other ingredients) when I make giant suet blocks (weighing about 480 grams), and I usually put some in a dish on the bird table. The peanuts in hanging mesh feeders are not particularly popular though.