Would anything eat my unwanted walnuts?

[vole-woman]

I was assured by the family they'd eat a small sack full of walnuts over Christmas, but beyone cracking a couple out of curiosity, no one's made much of an impression. I'm not a great one for baking, so can't imagine losing any in a recipe. I was wondering, therefore, whether any animals or birds might like them? I know it's wasteful but less so than if I leave them to rot at the back of a cupboard.

[LynM]

Try putting them out in a peanut type feeder for the birds. Obviously you'll have to do the hard work of shelling them, but they should be popular especially as it looks set for colde weather again soon.

[vole-woman]

I wondered about birds, but I know you have to be careful with certain nuts. (Eg, I know hamsters can't have almonds.)

[shirl]

I haven't come across anything which says don't feed birds walnuts, they should be a rich food source for them, how about making some suet treats with crushed nuts in them - they would disappear really fast! The only thing I did see recently was don't feed birds things like salted nuts or dried coconut.

I have been raiding the fridge and freezer since the bad weather started, apart from the usual suet treats, peanuts and seed, our garden birds have been having desserts too, apple, pear, redcurrants (they didn't last long), strawberries, etc etc . Mind you the squirrels went mad for the apples and the snow turned pink from the redcurrants!

Shirl

PS I like walnuts in pasta, gorgeous!

[vole-woman]

Thanks. Looks like I'd better get cracking!

[loripo]

The squirrels round here love walnuts, shelled though. They only take them whole when they are still green.

[vole-woman]

That's two lots of wildlife satisfied, then!