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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