@purplerallim - a squirrel-proof cage round one of your feeders should stop pigeons etc taking all the seed from your little birds. Having said that, one magpie in my garden has learnt to brace himself with one wing and stick his head through the squirrel-proof cage to get the odd bite of fat cake...
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
The goldfinches eat either the nyger seeds or sunflower hearts here, I notice that they chuck the husk of the sunflower hearts onto the ground below, whereas the blue and/or the great tits need to knock the sfl. hearts in their beaks onto something hard (i.e. the metal stand) to open the seed.
I stopped buying 'standard' seed mixes many years ago. Sunflower hearts, and a good no mess mix which suits all the birds I get here. If anyone has a Home Bargains nearby - they have bulk bags of sunflower hearts cheaper than anywhere. I bought another bag a while ago, just in case they didn't get more in. I get cheap apples in there too for the birds. I put them onto skewers pushed into the ground in a couple of spots One tip - make sure you push the skewer back into the same hole if the ground's frozen, otherwise you have to take a screwdriver and hammer it into the ground to make a new one. As you say Lyn - you're paying for shells, and also loads of wheat/barley filler in those general mixes. I don't need to encourage wood pigeons any more than is necessary. I always put out cheese in cold, frosty/snowy weather - the robins, blackies etc love it, although the magpies nick a fair bit.
I've used Garden Wildlife Direct for bulk seed, but I'll take a look at the other sites mentioned too. It's a shame you're penalised with postage Fran, it's the same in the Highlands, but buying in bulk makes it a bit less painful in the long run. The bigger the bag, the better the price per kg. Even ten quid can be absorbed a bit if you get a couple of big bags of a decent mix, as long as you have somewhere suitable to store it. The sunflower hearts are easier to store.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
We paved the area below the feeders, and find blackbirds in particular enjoy the bits the goldfinches drop, from sunflower hearts, put mixed seed on the paving, the paving is washed down every few weeks, to prevent disease.
I made a little mesh feeder, Lyn, and also put food in other places - under shrubs, on one of the slabs at the shed door etc. The rain mostly washes any residue away, but I give it a going ober with a stiff brush now and again. The mesh feeder gets a scrub now and again too.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@cornelly If I still get a mess after I have cleared up and stopped using nyger seed I think, like you, I will consider putting down a couple of large paving stones which could easily be cleaned. Am sure they wouldn't look out of place. Good idea. Hi Lyn. Bought some cheap apples to see if they are appreciated and also trying out a suet block. Couldn't do much today in the rain so clearing up will have to wait until we get some drier weather. Just a soggy mess at the moment although some ground feeders find it interesting. Fairygirl's idea of a skewer is good. Amazing what ideas you pick up from this forum.
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
One tip - make sure you push the skewer back into the same hole if the ground's frozen, otherwise you have to take a screwdriver and hammer it into the ground to make a new one.
As you say Lyn - you're paying for shells, and also loads of wheat/barley filler in those general mixes. I don't need to encourage wood pigeons any more than is necessary. I always put out cheese in cold, frosty/snowy weather - the robins, blackies etc love it, although the magpies nick a fair bit.
I've used Garden Wildlife Direct for bulk seed, but I'll take a look at the other sites mentioned too.
It's a shame you're penalised with postage Fran, it's the same in the Highlands, but buying in bulk makes it a bit less painful in the long run. The bigger the bag, the better the price per kg. Even ten quid can be absorbed a bit if you get a couple of big bags of a decent mix, as long as you have somewhere suitable to store it. The sunflower hearts are easier to store.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Hi Lyn. Bought some cheap apples to see if they are appreciated and also trying out a suet block. Couldn't do much today in the rain so clearing up will have to wait until we get some drier weather. Just a soggy mess at the moment although some ground feeders find it interesting. Fairygirl's idea of a skewer is good. Amazing what ideas you pick up from this forum.