Author Topic: Bird Feeders. A cautionary tale. (Read 7850 times)

Garden Manager · « **on:** January 15, 2004, 14:10:11 »

Some months ago we got a feeder and started to feed our garden birds on a regular basis. This has proved popular particularly with the sparrows. We have since got a second feeder to provide different food (the first provided only a seed mix, the second peanuts).

The seed in the feeder would disapear at an incredible rate and require almost daily refilling.

Recently though, at a time when use should be the greatest, it seemed to be used less and less, which i thought strange. I did think perhaps the fact that our next door neighbours were doing the same and providing the same food had meant that the birds were going there instead of coming to us. This is perhaps true, but for a different reason.

On investigation I found that the seed at the bottom of th feeder, below the dispensing hole was starting to germinate, thus clogging the opening and preventing the fresh seed from being dispensed to the birds.

We have perhaps been a little naughty or lazy by just topping the feeder up every time without emptying it out first. I have now emptied it and cleaned the feeder thoroughly. Hopefully once the feeder is fefilled and replaced the birds will soon find it again

Now the moral of this tale? Clean your bird feeder (or table) regularly. :)

eileen · « **Reply #1 on:** January 15, 2004, 14:35:06 »

I have enough feeders now so that I can rotate them. ::) While some are being cleaned others are hanging up outside. :D Even then it's a task that has to be done every few days in weather like this. :-/ Roll on summer and some nice, long, dry days!! ;) I hope your birds have all returned now. Cheers Eileen.

Garden Manager · « **Reply #2 on:** January 15, 2004, 18:33:22 »

No sign yet Eileen, although the wether out is so awful i dont blame the birds not coming out to feed.

Heres fingers crossed for tomorrow. :)

tim · « **Reply #3 on:** January 15, 2004, 19:21:43 »

Only one thing as bad as cleaning up bird droppings - the pop-uo plug in a wash basin! = Tim

budgiebreeder · « **Reply #4 on:** January 15, 2004, 20:26:59 »

Bird tables ,baths,feeders etc.must be cleaned and sterilised regularly as they soon become contaminated by the bird droppings i cant stress this enough .

tim · « **Reply #5 on:** January 15, 2004, 21:14:58 »

In what, please? Some EU-bird-friendly-gunge? No, seriously - would Citrox do? = Tim

SueT · « **Reply #6 on:** January 16, 2004, 01:18:09 »

I`m out several times a day poking the nuts, seed etc, it`s a pain but I have to keep my birds coming in ;D

Garden Manager · « **Reply #7 on:** January 16, 2004, 15:16:46 »

You will all be pleased to know that 'my' birds have returned to the feeder now, thank goodness. :)

it just goes to show you have got to be hygenic even if the birds arent! I think they drop as much seed as they eat. We now have a new weed problem around the feeder, from all the dropped seed that has germinated!

Just a query on location of a bird feeder. We have our seed feeder on a tree near a hedge, and is popular with the birds, however the peanut feeder is closer to the house and attached to a fence in quite an exposed position. This feeder hardly gets used. Is it in the wrong place I wonder?

I remember being told once that a feeder needs to be safe from predators (ie cats) but near to cover (ie a shrub or hedge) for the birds to feel safe enough to use it. Is this correct? should i move the nut feeder to a similar spot to the other one, and if so how close t the other feeder can I put it?

budgiebreeder · « **Reply #8 on:** January 16, 2004, 17:08:43 »

Tim i use Milton the same as for babies bottles .If it's safe enough for babies i would say it's safe enough for birds but rinse well.
You've got me double checking my spelling,grammar etc. with your other thread.

eileen · « **Reply #9 on:** January 16, 2004, 22:18:11 »

Hi Richard,

Yes. You'd be better to move the peanut feeder to a similar place as the seed one. Birds do like to feel that they are 'safe' while feeding and within reach of cover if the need arises. It doesn't seem to matter if the feeders are close together as mine are only inches apart on the birdtable and both are used well on a daily basis. ;D

Sorry about my blank postings on G4A earlier. My newly installed pop-up buster didn't seem to be working quite as I'd expected! Very, very frustrating I can tell you >:( - worse than the da..ed pop-ups! :-/ I had to turn it off and then delete it. I'm now going to try out the site that Pat and yourself have used. Apologies once again. Cheers Eileen. :D

tim · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2004, 12:09:27 »

At last - a poo-free feeder!! Thank God! = Tim

OK - that's moved to my later comment 26/2.

14/2 - no one has visited yet!!

Gardengirl · « **Reply #11 on:** February 12, 2004, 12:24:52 »

That looks great Tim - where did you get it from ???

Garden Manager · « **Reply #12 on:** February 12, 2004, 12:35:43 »

As a belated follow up, i have moved the peanut feeder close to the seed one and whilst it took them a while to find it, the birds are now thouroughly enjoying the nuts as well as the seed. It is just a case of keeping an eye on the feeders and refilling them regularly. Oh and cleaning as well of course ;).

Garden birds certainly are creatures of habit. One day after refilling the feeders i tried swapping the feeders over. They did NOT like this at all. Voted with their wings and stayed away until the feeders were back in their original places. Strange!

The birds in our area are certainly well fed and looked after. Not only do we have our feeders, our next door neighbours have a series of feeders, a table and a bird bath as well. In fact i think the idea is catching, I have noticed the neighbours on the other side have a feeder up as well. Needless to say a few of the birds are looking decidedly 'well' if you know what I mean ;D.

tim · « **Reply #13 on:** February 12, 2004, 13:47:37 »

Pat - Pro-Idee - 0870 2401011 - not cheap! = Tim

Muddy_Boots · « **Reply #14 on:** February 12, 2004, 14:20:22 »

Obviously, you have very posh birds in your garden, Tim ;D ;D ;D

eileen · « **Reply #15 on:** February 12, 2004, 18:03:46 »

Tim - PLEASE where did you buy it? It's just what I need. I must have one NOW!!

tim · « **Reply #16 on:** February 12, 2004, 18:22:43 »

- look back 2 slots? = Tim

eileen · « **Reply #17 on:** February 12, 2004, 22:44:49 »

Oops sorry Tim - went straight to page 2 to post my earlier message :-[

rosebud · « **Reply #18 on:** February 13, 2004, 00:24:57 »

Very interesting reading about the fussy birds .I had a
simalar problem i moved the feeders about after filling them and wondered what was wrong ,i changed them around and whoosh they were down straight away can anyone explain this.I feed the birds in the bare hedge at the front of my garden because they stopped feeding at the bird table at the back garden i tried everything i knew i still do not know why but they are very happy to feedat the front in large numbers i have a flat bird table my husband fixed in the hedge and 4 different feeders and fat balls my other half says he`s sure they look on it as a restaurant ::).cheers Rosebud

SueT · « **Reply #19 on:** February 13, 2004, 00:32:09 »

I find I have to put my bird feeders back in exactly the same order each time.....from left to right, Black Sunflower Seeds, general seed mix, Sunflower Hearts, Peanuts, peanuts, peanuts, fat ball. If I change them it seems to confuse the birds.

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Author Topic: Bird Feeders. A cautionary tale. (Read 7850 times)