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birds
rosemummy
Posts: 2,010
hi all sorry if i'm being extra thick, we've had 2 bird feeders for couple of months,just from aldi, 1 little black -nigella?- seeds which the goldfinches visited daily for weeks, and a general seed one,which the tits came to, we also had a thing that had untreated wool in which as emptied,i'd like to get better quality feeders and seed, what do i need to get the largest range of birds? what feeders, seed, nest boxes? thanks in advance
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Hi,first post and all that
Anyhoo i can echo rebecca in the fact that i'm no expert but also use the cheap feeders.I have quite a large tree to hang them in tho but everyone loves the bird table that i knocked together with scrap wood.
I also have 14 cats lol so thought i wouldn't get any birds atall but surprisingly the gardens full of the greedy lil blighters all day long. I get starlings,sparrows,gold finches,bull finches,great and blue tits,magpies,wood pigeons,black birds etc.I buy the poundland seed,mealworms,fat balls and sunflower seeds.
I soak the mealworms for a short while in hot water then mix a big bowl of the seeds and worms together..it's like battle royal until the magpies come down lol But yeah the cheap stuffs working great for me. I think the fact i have hanging feeders the table and scatter feed that it draws a big variety although saying that the bird tables first stop for everything that flits,flaps or flies into my garden
Hope that helps some.
Hi, birds don't mind what quality your feeders are only that they are kept clean. It is really important to regularly wash them with hot soapy water in order for disease not to build up on them which can cause diseases to spread between birds and across species.
Offer different types of seed and see what comes in - whole sunflower seeds or sunflower hearts are popular with a large range of birds. Peanuts behind mesh (baby birds can choke on whole peanuts) will also bring in different birds - I get woodpeckers on mine.
By offering food in different ways you will also increase the types of birds in your garden - hanging feeders; bird table; scattering food, scraps, fruit on the ground.
In winter or when the weather is cooler - grated cheese and fat balls are two other things to try.
Thanks daintiness , I wouldn't t dare put food on ground though , am terrified of attracting rats
I bought some nyger seed as a neighbour said her garden was full of goldfinches eating it. What a disappointment, as not only no goldfinches, but other birds haven't touched it either. A bit odd.
Ours was ignored for a few weeks..then 2 goldfinches found it and came every day, more than once for weeks
Semi-rural Rebecca. I have seen sparrow hawks swoop down and take sparrows from the hedge at the bottom of the garden. Maybe all the goldfinches are getting all they want from my neighbour (three minute walk away) as apparently she has loads of them visit her.