Feeding SMALL birds

The birds ignored the fatballs so we don't buy them now.

I hung filled coconut halves from a tree but the squirrel ate the coconut shells too. 🐿

So it's just seed and mealworms now.

Ps I mean he ate the actual shell

We have quite a few goldfinches visiting our niger seed feeders. Also woodpeckers on the peanut feeders. In the back garden yesterday was a flock of redwing, and a blackcap in the front.

AreWeThereYet the starlings can still feed from them. They learnt the trick of hanging on with one foot so there is not too much weight on the stand.

Clever things! I haven't seen starlings on it yet; but at least gulls and pigeons aren't on it, as I live near the sea. During the Covid lockdown I put a birdbath out, and the ONLY birds I ever saw in it were gulls!

I'd love to have one of the protected ground feeders, but as I have decking I would worry about rats being encouraged.

I’ve bought a hanging bird feeder and placed fat balls inside but they haven’t been touched. I only see Magpies and Crows around here but thought the feeder might attract some tits etc but even the Magpies and Crows have gone. I did wonder if it was too cold even for them!

The birds used to eat fat balls in my old garden but not when it was really cold - I guess freezing temperatures made the fat too hard.
I sprinkle the fat nuggets around under the shrubs here and the blackbirds and robins snaffle them up.

Trying to keep some fresh water available too

We have lots of starlings here - they sit on the electricity cables waiting for my next door neighbour to put crusts and scraps on her front garden and then all arrive in a great swoop. Usually it's fun to watch, but a sparrow hawk joined in the other day and caught one of the starlings. nature red in tooth and claw...

The choice of seed can make a difference too. We bought some bags recommended by a TV channel and our birds wouldn't touch them. Changed back to the normal Wilko sunflower hearts and they all came back. No idea why.

We had no starlings until about 5 years ago. Our new neighbour mentioned that he was used to seeing loads and lo and behold the following year we saw the first few. I think they followed him and now there are masses of them.

Ours prefer the Tesco seed to anything else.

I bought seed at 3 times the price but they ignored that.

Ours here like sunflower hearts best. I usually buy them from Pets At Home as they are the cheapest I've found.

Peanuts just go mouldy in the feeder. I have splashed out on nyjer seed before as goldfinches are supposed to like it, but they prefer the sunflower seeds too.

I did save the heads of the sunflowers that grew in the garden this year and the birds like these hung from a shrub.

Woderful replies and ideas, thank you.

What is the best way to put mealworms out so the big birds don't get them?

We just mix mealworms in with the seeds and suet pellets. I'm pretty sure that's why the robins learnt to use the feeders 😄

I usually buy them from Pets At Home as they are the cheapest I've found.

I just checked Pets at Home to see if they were cheaper than the ones we buy at Wilko but they are more expensive. BUT I think Wilko only sell the large 12 Kg bags and PaH sell 6 Kg bags.

Noola The feeder in the second picture that I posted works for mealworms.

We get a jackdaw to our feeder, scaring off the small birds. Also we now have a male blackbird guarding the feeder and chasing off any small birds that come along. He spends the whole day doing it, rarely eating anything but keeping the others away. I tap on the window and he flies up to the fence but he's soon back again.

Fascinating and helpful replies. Thank you.

When I was a child we regulalrly put out kitchen scraps for the birds. Is that not a good idea? I did hear there was some discussion about whether it was a good idea or not.

We bought some Nyjer seed at great expense to attract small blue tits, great tits etc and finches.
So far all the birds are ignoring it.

Finally. a Robin on the feeder pecking away at the fatballs. I was inordinately pleased and just hope that he’ll now return regularly and, hopefully, bring a few more.

They're very territorial, tickingbird
Although he may bring a wife along in the early spring 🙂

We have various tits, inc. often a family of long tailed tits, endlessly on a fat ball feeder. Dh refills it about every other day. The great spotted woodpeckers manage to get to the fat balls (long stabby beaks) but no other bigger birds.,
The wee ones are equally keen on a sunflower heart feeder.

As usual, Dh will be getting a Christmas card from his little feathery friends. 🎄🐦

I was so fed up with the bigger magpies, pigeons and crows scoffing all the food and bought 3 new feeders. A normal plastic food tube that is covered with a dome of metal bars which only small birds can access. A good few robins live in a hedge in the back garden. Tiny gaps show where they live and the hedge is beginning to resemble a block of flats. Below this, our resident fox, Stumpy has the ground floor flat. Isn’t nature wonderful?
I bring the feeders in overnight when it is frosty then, rehang them out in the morning to ensure they have food.

I know Callistemon but I meant that, maybe, other birds might notice and follow suit. I love watching them. I haven’t noticed Mr Robin since though. 🙁

A regular robin has brought me great joy too tttickingbird!
I likethe way you say 'hepeful' 'hope' !!

For me the robin is a sign of hope for my new house!

tickingbird

I know Callistemon but I meant that, maybe, other birds might notice and follow suit. I love watching them. I haven’t noticed Mr Robin since though. 🙁

Ah, misunderstood.

Still no takers for the Nyjer seeds but the Tesco basic seed mix goes down rapidly.

I watched a programme on Robins years ago. Quite ferocious little birds but something very special about them.

Noola

Fascinating and helpful replies. Thank you.

When I was a child we regulalrly put out kitchen scraps for the birds. Is that not a good idea? I did hear there was some discussion about whether it was a good idea or not.

Some people say it can encourage rats, Noola I think.

However I always put some bits and pieces out. Very fond of bacon rind and cheese. Cut up rind and grated cheese.

I seem to spend more time preparing the food for the birds than for us