Eddy, Im afraid I'm neither a farmer or someone who works with lead. 'Lead farmer' is simply part of a quote from a film called Tropic Thunder. If you search 'I'm a lead farmer' on youtube you will see what I mean, I won't post a link as it contains foul language.
Hi folks - I have just moved and haven't yet got organised with a bird feeding regime but in my previous place I used to buy the Peckish range of birdfood. The favourite of my birdtable clientele was the Nesting & Young Birds variety. The robins loved it and it wasn't padded out with wheat (favoured by the cheaper ranges and usually in the 'Wild Bird Seed' mixes.) These cheaper foods are really only suitable for pigeons - which are a confounded nuisance and about the only species on the increase. Robins, tits etc are not seed eaters so cheap food is not suitable. I make a very popular bird 'cake' which attracts Robins, Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Nuthatches, Woodpeckers and the usual starlings. Strangely,my previous home wasn't in an area with many sparrows. Recipe: 2 handfuls peanuts and 4-5 slices of (preferably wholemeal) bread - whizzed in a processor or coffee grinder - a good handful mixed birdseed, one handful, sunflower seeds, one handful dried mealworms. Melt approx 1/3 block of Britannia dripping in a saucepan (lard is too soft) and mix in the dry ingredients.This should resemble pastry mix - moist enough to pack into shallow jars (which can be hung up with string) or I also use plastic 1/2 pint beer glasses which I refrigerate then dip in hot water and easily turn the solidified cake out. If you can be bothered you can insert a cardboard disc with a knotted string through it to hang up. This mix is always devoured with relish and attracts just about every species. I make 3-4 and keep them in the fridge or freezer. Incidentally, if you turn out pots and containers for re-filling and find the white Vine Weevil grubs which eat plant roots - robins will go mad for them!
I feed mine on mixed table seed,premium sunflower hearts for feeders,standard peanuts for mesh feeders and oats,I also make some bird cake when I have any fat to use up.I wouldn't get fat balls with the mesh already because they'll get their beak's caught in them.I buy mine from The Really Wild Bird Food Co.The price is very good as well as quality.
Thank you all very much for your input, I've bought a hanging feeder and I've filled it up with sun flower hearts, it's already attracting attention from great tits and I think I've seen a few coal tits. I think the best option is to buy the seeds individually and put them in separate open containers and see what the birds in my area prefer, obviously no two birds are the same... I've already got an open feeder out there, at the moment the sun flower hearts are a definite win and the crushed peanuts are a favorite too, I'm also trying some other things too like crushed pumpkin seeds, I'll definitely experiment with things but I think buying seeds and nuts and making my own food up will be the better option. Thank you all again
Nyger seeds in proper feeder, Peckish no mess seed / general feed , fat balls and peanuts, cant go wrong. We get all sorts feeding. I had to adapt a cage feeder for fat balls during nesting time to stop Jackdaws demolishing up to 10 balls in three hours. Other small birds still able to feed in peace and carry feed to young
Twootz do good bargains with just about every feed stuff needed
I use Johnson and Jeff. I order on line and get free delivery, it always gets eaten and smells lovely when I open the bird food bin, think it must contain aniseed.
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Eddy, Im afraid I'm neither a farmer or someone who works with lead. 'Lead farmer' is simply part of a quote from a film called Tropic Thunder. If you search 'I'm a lead farmer' on youtube you will see what I mean, I won't post a link as it contains foul language.
Jo, yes it's fine in ordinary seed feeders, causes no blockages.
Hi folks - I have just moved and haven't yet got organised with a bird feeding regime but in my previous place I used to buy the Peckish range of birdfood. The favourite of my birdtable clientele was the Nesting & Young Birds variety. The robins loved it and it wasn't padded out with wheat (favoured by the cheaper ranges and usually in the 'Wild Bird Seed' mixes.) These cheaper foods are really only suitable for pigeons - which are a confounded nuisance and about the only species on the increase. Robins, tits etc are not seed eaters so cheap food is not suitable. I make a very popular bird 'cake' which attracts Robins, Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Nuthatches, Woodpeckers and the usual starlings. Strangely,my previous home wasn't in an area with many sparrows. Recipe: 2 handfuls peanuts and 4-5 slices of (preferably wholemeal) bread - whizzed in a processor or coffee grinder - a good handful mixed birdseed, one handful, sunflower seeds, one handful dried mealworms. Melt approx 1/3 block of Britannia dripping in a saucepan (lard is too soft) and mix in the dry ingredients.This should resemble pastry mix - moist enough to pack into shallow jars (which can be hung up with string) or I also use plastic 1/2 pint beer glasses which I refrigerate then dip in hot water and easily turn the solidified cake out. If you can be bothered you can insert a cardboard disc with a knotted string through it to hang up. This mix is always devoured with relish and attracts just about every species. I make 3-4 and keep them in the fridge or freezer. Incidentally, if you turn out pots and containers for re-filling and find the white Vine Weevil grubs which eat plant roots - robins will go mad for them!
Thank you all very much for your input, I've bought a hanging feeder and I've filled it up with sun flower hearts, it's already attracting attention from great tits and I think I've seen a few coal tits. I think the best option is to buy the seeds individually and put them in separate open containers and see what the birds in my area prefer, obviously no two birds are the same... I've already got an open feeder out there, at the moment the sun flower hearts are a definite win and the crushed peanuts are a favorite too, I'm also trying some other things too like crushed pumpkin seeds, I'll definitely experiment with things but I think buying seeds and nuts and making my own food up will be the better option. Thank you all againNyger seeds in proper feeder, Peckish no mess seed / general feed , fat balls and peanuts, cant go wrong. We get all sorts feeding. I had to adapt a cage feeder for fat balls during nesting time to stop Jackdaws demolishing up to 10 balls in three hours. Other small birds still able to feed in peace and carry feed to young
Twootz do good bargains with just about every feed stuff needed
And don't forget to put out live food at nesting tine, I use live mini meal worms which our nesting blue tits devour..
LF - that is just unbearably cute
I do a bit of adapting with feeders too ozwig. The bl**din' starlings and magpies would have everything if I didn't!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I use Johnson and Jeff. I order on line and get free delivery, it always gets eaten and smells lovely when I open the bird food bin, think it must contain aniseed.