I buy budget wild bird seed from a local seller near Maidstone (Pinions) it's about £3.20 for three kilos. It contains a mixture of small seed and corn. I also purchase sunflower hearts at £4.35 per three kilos and put out in a separate feeder. When the weather gets cold I put out fat balls and split peanuts both in separate feeders. Apart from soaked wholemeal bread that seems to cover it!
Hi. I have only ever fed sunflower hearts. I have great,blue and long tail tits, gold finches,green finches,bull finches,chaffinches. The gold finches can be wasteful and messy. However, I have bought a new feeder from B&Q. It is made from a criss cross mesh. The birds can peck at the seeds but not pick up whole seeds and drop them. My husband has pushed some rods through for the sparrows, but tits and gold finches have taken well to it. The odd piece of seed that falls on the floor is picked up by the chaffinches.
Thanks for info about the feeders Jo. I'll look out for them. I've not noticed the gold finches getting own way too much. The sparrows keep them in their place!
In addition to sunflower hearts ( as recommended by all ) I feed supermarket value sultanas and supermarket value porridge oats on the ground under the bushes for the dunnocks robins and thrushes. I also use the best quality, high fat content, suet balls I can afford, the cheaper ones are ignored.
About this time of year I make batches of bird cake from melted lard, soaked sultanas, porridge oats, bird seed, bread crumbs. I pour the mixture into plastic takeaway food tubs and place in the freezer.
I put it out on the bird table and on the floor underneath, where on freezing cold winter days this bird cake gets attacked by all kinds of different birds.
I don't buy the mixed seed which is bulked up with wheat. The birds just throw the wheat out which then attracts wood pigeons. For what gets eaten, the more expensive fine seed mix is actually more economical.
Must agree with you there Fidgetbones, i rarely buy feed bulked up with wheat, it also attracts pheasants, not that object to them cleaning up the throw outs, but after a few weeks the lawn is turned into a quagmire around the feeding area..
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I buy budget wild bird seed from a local seller near Maidstone (Pinions) it's about £3.20 for three kilos. It contains a mixture of small seed and corn. I also purchase sunflower hearts at £4.35 per three kilos and put out in a separate feeder. When the weather gets cold I put out fat balls and split peanuts both in separate feeders. Apart from soaked wholemeal bread that seems to cover it!
Hi. I have only ever fed sunflower hearts. I have great,blue and long tail tits, gold finches,green finches,bull finches,chaffinches. The gold finches can be wasteful and messy. However, I have bought a new feeder from B&Q. It is made from a criss cross mesh. The birds can peck at the seeds but not pick up whole seeds and drop them. My husband has pushed some rods through for the sparrows, but tits and gold finches have taken well to it. The odd piece of seed that falls on the floor is picked up by the chaffinches.
Thanks for info about the feeders Jo. I'll look out for them. I've not noticed the gold finches getting own way too much. The sparrows keep them in their place!
I have two main feeders hung under my bird table on the patio, positioned in full view from where I sit on the sofa so I can watch them feed.
One feeder is dedicated to sunflower hearts, and the other is a Tornado feeder that allows me to put 3 different types of feed into...
In addition to sunflower hearts ( as recommended by all ) I feed supermarket value sultanas and supermarket value porridge oats on the ground under the bushes for the dunnocks robins and thrushes. I also use the best quality, high fat content, suet balls I can afford, the cheaper ones are ignored.
Strangely, peanuts are also ignored in my garden.
About this time of year I make batches of bird cake from melted lard, soaked sultanas, porridge oats, bird seed, bread crumbs. I pour the mixture into plastic takeaway food tubs and place in the freezer.
I put it out on the bird table and on the floor underneath, where on freezing cold winter days this bird cake gets attacked by all kinds of different birds.
I don't buy the mixed seed which is bulked up with wheat. The birds just throw the wheat out which then attracts wood pigeons. For what gets eaten, the more expensive fine seed mix is actually more economical.
Must agree with you there Fidgetbones, i rarely buy feed bulked up with wheat, it also attracts pheasants, not that object to them cleaning up the throw outs, but after a few weeks the lawn is turned into a quagmire around the feeding area..