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What could be eating the bird food?

13

Posts

  • Jacobsback says:

    I’m not an expert but I am confident rats will nibble most things including dried mealworms and suet berry mix.  The only time they left food alone was when it was positioned inside the humane rat trap, very clever!  In the end I removed all other sources of food and placed half a fat ball in the trap and finally caught my little friends.

    Mark56’s suggestion of a hedgehog feeding station is good.  I attached a mesh ground feeder onto a tree branch and pushed this into the ground to construct a raised feeding station.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6UTSlskEWI

    Depending upon what you want to attract I can confirm badgers love bird suitable peanuts, foxes love raisins, cats love dried meal worms and deer like young plant shoots! 

    Just be aware, I am quite sure that my playing with the wildlife camera and putting out food encouraged the rats to come and feast in our garden, the badger decided to dig up the lawn, the deer munched through all our tulips and we have numerous cats wondering around!

    If you require information about a wildlife camera let me know.  I asked my family to group together and purchase the items I required as a Christmas present last year, the three items I use came to £97.92 on Amazon; my brother in law now has the same setup.

    See original post

     

    I have stopped putting food out for the time being as I really don't want rats or cats but would love for it to have been a hedgehog. Some wildlife can be quite destructive though image

    I would love to to know your camera set up if that's ok as some of them are so expensive.

  • Mark56 says:

    Try a hedgehog feeding station Stagbeetle, at least then it will narrow it down. Check the hedgehog thread for advice image

    See original post

     Thank you Mark56, I'll take a look image

  • Jacobsback thank you for the link to your YouTube post, wow they were greedy rats! 

  • This is the setup I am using. These are the three items as listed on Amazon and the prices from last year. 

    Wildlife Camera : £75.99
    Crenova 12MP 1080P HD Infared Game&Trail Camera 42 Pcs IR LEDs 120 Wide Angle Night Vision 2.4” LCD Display Waterproof Hunting Scouting Camera Digital Surveillance Camera

    Batteries : £11.98
    EXTREME 2900 mAh AA Rechargeable batteries 8 pack

    Memory Card : £9.95
    SanDisk Ultra 32 GB SDHC Class 10 Memory Card up to 80 Mbps, Frustration Free Packaging

    I already have a battery recharger and a small bendy camera tripod which screws into the bottom of the camera (makes it easier to position). The camera does come with straps so you can attach it to a stick or a nail etc. The photo, video and sound qualities are amazing and it is very simple to use.

  • Jacobsback says:

    This is the setup I am using. These are the three items as listed on Amazon and the prices from last year. 

    Wildlife Camera : £75.99
    Crenova 12MP 1080P HD Infared Game&Trail Camera 42 Pcs IR LEDs 120 Wide Angle Night Vision 2.4” LCD Display Waterproof Hunting Scouting Camera Digital Surveillance Camera

    Batteries : £11.98
    EXTREME 2900 mAh AA Rechargeable batteries 8 pack

    Memory Card : £9.95
    SanDisk Ultra 32 GB SDHC Class 10 Memory Card up to 80 Mbps, Frustration Free Packaging

    I already have a battery recharger and a small bendy camera tripod which screws into the bottom of the camera (makes it easier to position). The camera does come with straps so you can attach it to a stick or a nail etc. The photo, video and sound qualities are amazing and it is very simple to use.

    See original post

     Thank you for taking the time to write the information image

    I will looks these up and put them on my Christmas list image

  • I have put some feeders in the yard to cater to my birds, but unfortunately, it also attracts some guests who should not come to my garden. Some animals eat bird seeds at night, like mice, rats, squirrels, or big ones like raccoons. Even though I built a barrier, it doesn't affect their taking away the feeder.
  • I must admit I stopped putting out bird food as we definitely attracted a number of rats. I now grow more seed bearing food plants and leave the heads on over winter. 
  • I had a fat ball feeder on my feeding station which disappeared overnight, only the top was left on the ground. I am pretty sure a jay, magpie or crow has taken it.
    I understood that wherever you stand, you are within a few metres of a rat. They will eat anything and are very clever.
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    edited December 2021
    Mrsteveearsom, another plug for your own website?
    This website is predominantly visited by UK gardeners, you are obviously in the USA
  • He’s gone now @Ergates 😊 
    The Mods can decide what to do with him 👍 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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