Robin eating cat biscuits

I wouldnt say I was knowledgable about birds.
But we have magpies nicking whatever they can find in the outside, cat's bowl after the cat has finished. The magpies are fat!
My complete guess is that birds will not eat anything that is harmful to them, but it is a guess.
The magpies take bread and toast crusts from the bowl amongst other things.

I like the idea of fat magpies. We only get jackdaws from that crow type family and they are a bit evil looking. Thanks soontobe. Perhaps I won't have to move the bowl.

My Aunt had a Robin that came to the back door for crusts, but only ate them if they were buttered!

Back to the topic, I always understood that during breeding season birds should find their own natural food because processed grain was bad for the little ones.

Worms, slugs etc. are plentiful. I was clearing behind the shed and the robin was inches away from me waiting for exposed slugs and grubs. Fear of human was outweighed by need for food. Perhaps clearing a grotty corner and exposing natural food is the most helpful way to go?

x

J52 I did wonder about the seeds etc but I kind of thought that if we do put food out for birds we are supposed to do it all year and not just in the winter. I think I am trying to wriggle out of not putting food out because watching all the birds on the feeders (greenfinch has visited over the last three days) is just great. So being selfish really and enjoy the robin visiting too. At least buttered crusts are softer than cat biscuits. I have lots of grotty corners and some are even in the garden so could clear some as you suggest. I see you can buy dried mealworms which might be good but they seem to be very expensive and come in tiny packets. So if seeds are not good for babies I doubt cat biscuits are. I mustn't agonise too much as I know it isn't a very important matter - to move or not to move the cat biscuits - I'll get GN a bad reputation. Thanks though.

Grrrranny
It's lovely to watch the birds, isn't it, and to see the greenfinch at your feeder.
Once we start feeding the birds we should keep it up every day during the winter, but leave them to forage for themselves once the winter has gone. Food is plentiful this time of year. I think I heard somewhere that hard crusts should be soaked especially when the nestlings are around. I am just listening to "my" blackbird singing alway in the garden. What pleasure he gives me, one of the best bird sounds I know.

Dry cat biscuits can't be very good for the robin- as they are too big and will swell even more when in tummy- and would be a disaster for little ones. I'd crush some with a hammer and put on a small plate next to the food- but sunflower seeds would be better!

The main thing at this time of year is to provide clean water in a safe place all the time. We only feed in winter, but now the garden and countryside is full of juicy food, caterpillars, ants, aphids and more- much better to let them feed themsleves- but perhaps not in town with little vegetation around. Was sitting with my neighbour having coffee 1 hr ago, and sparrows and black redstarts where dashing around with beaks full of fat caterpillars for the babies.

Aren't some birds [eg blue tits] seed eaters anyway? I've just put a hanging seed feeder in my garden because I've had various tits in my garden recently for the fist time in years and I'm trying to encourage them. They do have water as well. At the garden centre it said on the peanut packets to always put the peanuts in a container; never to put them loose on the ground [can birds choke?]. The robin has nested almost on the ground [in the dog pen] and I have sparrows nesting in the honeysuckle for the first time [usually have blackbirds there]. My ex who has a house full of feral cats, has taken in a non feral cat who doesn't fit in with the others [ie he actually likes being stroked] and, if he got on with my dog I would have been tempted to have him here but I'm so loving having birds in my garden these days.

Thank you everyone and the cat biscuits are moved. Cat doesn't really eat them anyway. I have seen blackbirds with beaks full of grubs so I suppose I should stop putting food in the feeders but then I wouldn't see the birds as much - selfish again. I'll cut back to just one feeder and see how that goes.

I knew that I would get sensible advice here and it is lovely to hear about all the birds people have seen. We get a lot of red kites now, circling around and uttering their distinctive cry. It is great to see them riding the thermals - sometimes as many as 10 or 12. I believe they are part of the vulture family chain and I was lucky enough to see the vultures in the Tarn Valley several years ago - amazing sight and the kites remind me of that. DH wanted to see the big bridge so we took tent and little car and off we went - bridge was good but the highlight for me was the vulture sanctuary just up the road. Would love to go back - I'm rambling now - sorry.

All cat biscuits just been given away to friend - robin will get a shock.