Can you blow up a Robin!?

Discussion in 'Wildlife Corner' started by hailbopp, Feb 10, 2025 at 8:12 PM.

  1. hailbopp

    hailbopp Keen Gardener

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    Over the last month or so a Robin has befriended me and appears every time I set foot in the garden.
    About 2 weeks ago I spread a large quantity of horse manure onto a veg bed, the manure is full of manure worms. I thought I would get the Robin a meal of said worms. To begin with I dug up about 6 worms ( they are not that big) and placed them on the path. The worms were demolished in seconds.
    I am now feeding the Robin about 30 or more worms most days. Can you over feed? I am incredulous at just how much this cheeky wee bu..er can eat but don’t want to over feed him.
     
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    • Logan

      Logan Total Gardener

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      It will only eat what it can.
       
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      • Tidemark

        Tidemark Super Gardener

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        • Escarpment

          Escarpment Super Gardener

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          It takes so much energy to fly that they have to eat around their own body weight every day. And in this cold weather they need extra to keep warm.
           
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          • hailbopp

            hailbopp Keen Gardener

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            It can is obviously eat an amazing amount for a wee bird
             
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            • Thevictorian

              Thevictorian Gardener

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              Don't forget they will be breeding soon so perhaps conditioning themselves a bit.

              We have plenty of robins here but they very rarely take worms. They seem to like other creepy crawlies, especially spiders.
               
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              • NigelJ

                NigelJ Total Gardener

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                Answer is yes, I'd catch the robin and then use a bicycle pump with a football adapter.
                More seriously; they will eat what they need.
                I've been followed around both by robins and blackbirds, who have great fun throwing the home made compost around.
                 
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                • KT53

                  KT53 Gardener

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                  Whenever I'm working in the garden I will be cussed at by blackbirds for not moving out of the way when they see a tasty morsel. Robins don't bother cussing, they just go down between my feet and presumably pray that I notice them. Stepped on they wouldn't do well.
                   
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                  • noisette47

                    noisette47 Total Gardener

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                    First prize for 'Thread Title of the Year' :-)
                     
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                    • Escarpment

                      Escarpment Super Gardener

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                      I have a very bold female blackbird, she's lucky not have been trodden on as she comes right up to my feet, normally from behind too. Any time I go out in the garden, she'll be there in a few minutes checking to see if I've put out any treats.
                       
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                      • KT53

                        KT53 Gardener

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                        I don't know about blowing up a Robin, but I was told many years ago that if you soaked bread in Brasso, and threw it in the air for seagulls to catch, it would ferment in their stomach and they would explode. Whether that is true or not I don't know and never experimented to find out. However, following a holiday in Dorset when a gull ripped the ice cream out of my hand and another, at least I presume it was a different one, crapped all down a friend's face and into her pint of beer, I was tempted.
                         
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