What do you put on a bird table?
Discussion
Got one arriving today, but not really sure what you actually put on there?
Are some things better for attracting certain types of birds? Or just stick old bread on there? I assume you can buy all sorts of different stuff if you want to spend ££?
Sorry for the dumb question, just wouldn't want to find we've attracted a million crows and our garden looks like something out of The Birds
Are some things better for attracting certain types of birds? Or just stick old bread on there? I assume you can buy all sorts of different stuff if you want to spend ££?
Sorry for the dumb question, just wouldn't want to find we've attracted a million crows and our garden looks like something out of The Birds
Bird food. 
But, to be honest, bird tables will tend to attract the sorts of larger birds (pigeons, crows, jackdaws) and squirrels that will mop up everything you throw at them.
If you want to attract the smaller, 'prettier' birds, you're better off with hanging feeders.
But, to be honest, bird tables will tend to attract the sorts of larger birds (pigeons, crows, jackdaws) and squirrels that will mop up everything you throw at them.
If you want to attract the smaller, 'prettier' birds, you're better off with hanging feeders.
Edited by Equus on Wednesday 28th April 09:22
UTH said:
Got one arriving today, but not really sure what you actually put on there?
Are some things better for attracting certain types of birds? Or just stick old bread on there? I assume you can buy all sorts of different stuff if you want to spend ££?
Sorry for the dumb question, just wouldn't want to find we've attracted a million crows and our garden looks like something out of The Birds
Try a small bowl of kefir, Gwyneth Paltrow might visit your garden.Are some things better for attracting certain types of birds? Or just stick old bread on there? I assume you can buy all sorts of different stuff if you want to spend ££?
Sorry for the dumb question, just wouldn't want to find we've attracted a million crows and our garden looks like something out of The Birds
Put sunflower hearts and dried mealworms on mine, I did research what birds like but they all eat the sunflower hearts and ignore everything else.
Finches though are messy buggers and will throw out 8 or 9 hearts for everyone they eat turning your lawn in to a mush of decaying seed before you know it so you have to keep moving the table around, well I say table I have hangers and bird feeders as a table was a magnet for wood pigeons who are like the Dyson of the animal world.
Bacon fat cut up in to small bits is great for blackbirds too if you can keep the pigeons off them.
Finches though are messy buggers and will throw out 8 or 9 hearts for everyone they eat turning your lawn in to a mush of decaying seed before you know it so you have to keep moving the table around, well I say table I have hangers and bird feeders as a table was a magnet for wood pigeons who are like the Dyson of the animal world.
Bacon fat cut up in to small bits is great for blackbirds too if you can keep the pigeons off them.
UTH said:
Think the Mrs like the idea of sitting in the garden surrounded by cute little birds, like a Disney film!
Just give her a bag of live mealworms, in that case.If she hasn't got your resident robin literally taking them from her hand within a few hours, there's something wrong.
Sheets Tabuer said:
Bacon fat cut up in to small bits is great for blackbirds too if you can keep the pigeons off them.
Rats are drawn to bird tables/ feeders like magnets at the best of times but put bacon out and they’ll be forming a queue down your garden to get to it. You rarely see them though as they come out at night.As others have said until winter birds are fine and feed off insects/ berries etc.
Here's the RSPB guidance on feeding:
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/...
It isn't a simple as saying don't fed them until the Autumn: by feeding the right food in the spring & summer you can increase the chances of raising a successful brood & even a second brood in the year.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/...
It isn't a simple as saying don't fed them until the Autumn: by feeding the right food in the spring & summer you can increase the chances of raising a successful brood & even a second brood in the year.
Mr Pointy said:
Here's the RSPB guidance on feeding:
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/...
It isn't a simple as saying don't fed them until the Autumn: by feeding the right food in the spring & summer you can increase the chances of raising a successful brood & even a second brood in the year.
Thank you, I'll have a read https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/...
It isn't a simple as saying don't fed them until the Autumn: by feeding the right food in the spring & summer you can increase the chances of raising a successful brood & even a second brood in the year.
Promised Land said:
As others have said until winter birds are fine and feed off insects/ berries etc.
Birds are struggling to find food for their babies so having feeders out help them to feed themselves so they can focus on giving insects and worms to their young.They need all the help they can get.
BoggoStump said:
Promised Land said:
As others have said until winter birds are fine and feed off insects/ berries etc.
Birds are struggling to find food for their babies so having feeders out help them to feed themselves so they can focus on giving insects and worms to their young.They need all the help they can get.
Sheets Tabuer said:
Put sunflower hearts and dried mealworms on mine, I did research what birds like but they all eat the sunflower hearts and ignore everything else.
Finches though are messy buggers and will throw out 8 or 9 hearts for everyone they eat turning your lawn in to a mush of decaying seed before you know it so you have to keep moving the table around, well I say table I have hangers and bird feeders as a table was a magnet for wood pigeons who are like the Dyson of the animal world.
Bacon fat cut up in to small bits is great for blackbirds too if you can keep the pigeons off them.
Sunflower seeds are good if you like random sunflowers around the garden too.Finches though are messy buggers and will throw out 8 or 9 hearts for everyone they eat turning your lawn in to a mush of decaying seed before you know it so you have to keep moving the table around, well I say table I have hangers and bird feeders as a table was a magnet for wood pigeons who are like the Dyson of the animal world.
Bacon fat cut up in to small bits is great for blackbirds too if you can keep the pigeons off them.
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