What Bird feeders Advice Please

Passing on a tip, we buy large 20kg sacks of Nijer Seed for our feeders as the most economic way. Over time I've saved up a dozen large plastic (Lenor?) detergent containers, ten of which accommodate a sackful of seed. By cutting a blue bleach bottle in half, the top makes an ideal funnel (with convenient handle) and a kitchen measuring jug helps scoop seed out of the sack for pouring into the containers. With the resultant row of filled containers, it's easy to see when stock's getting low, e.g. only two left, and they're far more useful than a gradually emptying bag, especially if kept in a shed where mice can invade it.

For topping up, the containers are ideal as one just tips seed into the top of the feeder.

For other wild bird seed and peanuts, we keep them in plastic bins, again after buying in sacks. To scoop the food out, I've found any number of cleaning fluid bottles with a narrow neck and a handle. By using a craft (Stanley) knife, I slice off the neck and the shoulder opposite the handle to create a useful scoop. I've got a couple that have been in use for over 12 years and, surprisingly, I've found that one full scoop contains roughly a feeder full. Makes the morning round easier.

 

A bit late on this one, I have a few of the feeders you chose @wiseowl but I can highly recommend the clingers only bird feeder, sparrows, goldfinches and the tit family's love it bigger birds just can't get a foothold.

 

Hi All,

We moved here 18 months ago and I bought two feeders straight away. One for seeds and one for fat balls but have never seen a bird near either of them

I change the contents regularly and even bought a fat candle thing, but still nothing!

I live 5 mins from the sea, so we have a lot of seagulls, also Magpies, pigeons and Doves, but I have seen sparrows and some other little birds in the surrounding trees, but am at a lose as to why none of them are feeding or indeed coming into the garden

I put the feeders under the summerhouse roof (image attached) so they have protection from the larger birds and now don't know what else to do.

Any suggestions please? Many thanks in advance

 

@Barders do you have a more open spot in the garden? Ideally they like a spot away from building's and human comings and goings but a spot close to tree's or shrubs where they can fly to away from danger, sometimes it takes a while for them to use feeders but I'd have expected them to be used after 18 months.

 

@mazambo, thank you for your comments, that's helpful.

However, unfortunately, I don't have any trees or big shrubs at the moment, although this is something I am going to work on planting this year. The garden was just grass and I had it landscaped last year, so it is still very much a 'work in progress'!

I have attached some other photos so you can see what I mean. The big problem is I don't have any side access to the garden, so everything has to come through the house, which isn't great.

I am researching small trees/large shrubs I can put in this year, so perhaps when they are established I will get some pretty little visitor!

Thanks again mazambo, Happy Easter

 

I also use a feeder that you can put fat balls in for colder weather. I make my own using melted lard and mixing in ingredients. I put the Mx in old yoghurt pots and then cut these off with a Stanley knife when wanting to use.
Rusty

 

@Barders I can see some trees or shrubs in a neighbour's garden in the 2nd pic, could you possibly put up a pole feeder on the paved area? It would be easy to keep clean and at least there would be cover to fly to. And a Happy and healthy Easter to you too.

 

Something like this

 

@rustyroots, thank you, I will give that a go, as they end up being really expensive

 

@mazambo thank you, that's an idea. I'll order one, as I think you can pick things up from B&Q and see if they will go for that

 

Failing that, some basic diy.

 

I recently bought some sonnenblumenkerne.

I was surprised to see it said Bakery quality on the sack, seems a bit posh for feedingf the birds.

 

No differants between bird food and human food, but the human food goes through a cleaner surply route but more £'s

 

It was £30, was that a rip off for 20kg.