dont forget the birds

Re: dont forget the birds

Sal the 1st — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:42:58 GMT

just a little added to an already mixed seed too much isnt good for them - is very high in oil, similar oil content to sunflower but a lot smaller so more suited to smaller birds. have been getting my seed in bulk from a local supplier i used to use when i had canaries and british finch. Is a lot cheaper than PAH or pet shop stuff

http://www.ivouchercodes.co.uk/haiths-promotional-code/

PS the niger seed is very popular with the birds in my garden

Re: dont forget the birds

Sally Howe — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:51:18 GMT

I put dried mealworms in my home made fat balls.

Never tried them with Linseed and teezle. How much linseed do you put in?

Re: dont forget the birds

Saskia Quinn — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:48:16 GMT

[quote user="sal the 1st"]

I make my own birdcakes and they smell quite appetising. todays used all the fat from a pork joint, stale bread rolls crumbled and mixed with birdseed with extra linseed and teazle (for the goldfinches) and cheapo tescos sultanas.

melt the fat and mix in the dry stuff till it makes a very thick mix and bake in the oven for 20 mins and then let cool and cut into pieces. works out a lot cheaper than fat balls and the birds go mad for it

[/quote]

Sal, your ideas are fab! You are a real whizz in the kitchen and I love reading these posts! I am going to have a go at making those fat balls.

Re: dont forget the birds

wobbliebob — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:59:14 GMT

I saw my first ever nuthatch the other day very small and pretty

Re: dont forget the birds

Sal the 1st — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:56:35 GMT

Re: dont forget the birds

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:31:56 GMT

I seem to have seen loads of robins resently! have fat balls all over the garden. I made my own fat balls last year they smelt horrendous! was not prepared for the smell! now I am sticking to shop bought ones!

Re: dont forget the birds

Sal the 1st — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:26:32 GMT

I have 2 robins in the garden - one lives mostly in the back garden and sometimes ventures round the side to the front door and the other hangs around the front garden mostly near the oil tank and garage.They occ cross paths and they scrap like cat and dog - very territorial!

went for a walk down the back road today towards the canal and there was this little huddle of twitchers waiting to see the marsh harrier which has been spotted in the last week or so (has actually been around since october! and if they went up by the church they would find that it isnt one but two!)

Re: dont forget the birds

Kim Buckley — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:20:07 GMT

We've got lots and lots of starlings going mental over the fat balls! Also saw a little robin hopping about in the snow. Very festive! The red kites are gliding about aswell making a hell of a racket!

Re: dont forget the birds

albatross — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:54:57 GMT

thanks for reminding everyone.

our birds get currants, wild bird food, black sunflower seeds, fat balls, peanuts, cheap bread, and various scraps.

Not forgetting to make sure their water dishes are always kept unfrozen - either by replacing daily or by putting a small ball in to keep an air gap and prevent it freezing totally.

we have squirrels too occasionally, plus blackbirds, sparrows, collared doves, one of our summer ducks (donald the mallard) has returned for a quick visit, a sparrowhawk, robins, sparrows, many of the t it family, a couple of pheasants.
We also saw waxwings a couple of weeks ago which are not common in Kent.

Re: dont forget the birds

Vicky RVN — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:59:52 GMT

Our birds are eating loads...they always do, greedy things!!!