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I would appreeciate any suggestions of food which I can put out for the Birds now that my Sunflower Hearts are now almost finished.  I ordered up a large quantity of Bird Seed last Wed. but been told it may be thurs. or Fri. or I take delivery.   I have been replacing some of the seed with Atora Suet (at 1.59) a packet, Porrage Oats, grted bread, grated cheddar, raisons, wholemeal bread in breadcrumbs and melted some lard.  I boiled up some Rice tonight to cool for tomorrow.  Any Other foods?   The poor wee things get fed all year and I just hate letting them down when the outside temperature is -15c.   

:'( :'(

I think they like cooked potatoes. I ordered a 25 kg £25.65 sack last Friday not expecting until later this week & it was delivered yesterday. It is usually next day delivery. I don't know how that compares price wise. It's ano grow mix so we throw it everwhere. We cut apples into 1/4 for them & they seem to be waiting for them to be put down. Anne Kennedy bird seed if anyone is interested. 

Just about the only other things that you not mentioned are over-ripe fruit, apple and pear cores, melon pips and biscuit crumbs.
Surprisingly porridge oats are probably the best all-round garden bird food, and very few birds don't eat it.

I stocked up a couple of weeks ago on bird food and am now also running short as they have been eating twice as much as usual.  I am saving every crumb I can  for them.

Well done to everyone just goes to show  we still care Best wishes  Rugbypost

thanks for the suggestion of Potatoes.  I know they eat them but unfortunately I have no spuds left in the house.  I too, need to get stocked up but with the icy roads etc. I can't get to a decent supermarket.  I tell you this winter has been a nightmare and its only the start.  Oh and Flighty, the birds are eating the porrage oats but there is so much dust of oats in packets of porrage oats. 

'Our' birds here are fighting over their lard on toast ;D It is not great nutritionally but will provide valuable energy for them to keep warm when weather is so cold ;D

Not tried that 'goodlife'.  I will do that tomorrow.  I have  a big block of lard and a wholemeal loaf.  I cut the loaf up into small squares orr crumb it.   I know, I am nuts....   Ran out of nuts as well.   boohoo.   :'(

Carol  i put a packet of tesco cheap fruit in half a pound of melted lard & some porridge oats put it in the fridge overnight in lots of yogurt pots & a small pudding basin, put the tipped out basin on the bird table & hang the pots in the hedge for the small birds they eat them like its a christmas party  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D..
Thats besides  the nut feeders & 2 domes we have & 2 cages ::)
They cost us a fortune but we just love watching them we have at least a dozen sometimes more Goldfinches they love the niger seed.

Our garden birds are currently feasting on left over mufins - pear, blue cheese and pecan - so nutrition a-plenty.

When I run out of bird food I just boil up some rice and then add oil or fat for extra calories and, if I have them, oats, dried fruit, chopped apples....  

Carol try bananas!

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/266048-birds-go-bananas-in-the-cold-weather

Bird Food Crisis is over for present.  I managed to get to the local Garden Centre and bought seed. 

The Blackbirds were lined up waiting on me returning and I am sure they cheered  :o :o :o   when the seed sack turned up.   ;D ;D

Bananas eh   :)

thanks for advice.

Quote from: Carol on December 08, 2010, 20:31:09
Bananas eh   :)

I can remember having some very overripe bananas that I was going to chuck in the bin, but OH said to put them out for the birds. I said I thought they wouldn't eat them, but he chucked them out anyway.  They absolutely lapped them up.  Didn't last five minutes.  I was really surprised, but if push comes to shove, they'll eat most things. ;D

valmarg

I have 2 over ripe bananas which I iwll put outside tomorrow and see what happens. 

:D

I got a couple of overripe  bananas, I'll put them out now........thanks for the heads up Flighty!

Had a sainsburys order delivered today so added 3kgs of rice & 4kgs of basics apples. That should keep them happy too. Thanks for extra info. How can we invite our feathered friends into our gardens & lives & then not look after them when they are desperate for food. Saw a female Bullfinch today in the garden.

Silly question, but do I cook the porridge, or just chuck out the Tesco cheap oats, also what about my frozen redcurrants????

Borlotti that's not a silly question at all!
Just chuck out the porridge oats straight from the packet. As for the redcurrents chuck them out as well and see if they get eaten!

We have a slow Thaw.   Birds were not so keen in eating this new food, they are fussy.  I bought No Mess bird seed but its seems to be full of Millet.  Well, they will just have to try and eat it up.   I had a Moorhen visiting today.  I think I chased it off yesterday when I opened the back door and I just caught it flying off but today there it was trying to get at food with the starlings.   I also feel sorry for a Rabbit which has been in my garden most of this year.  It spends its time lying ontop of a pile of drifting snow and nibbles now and then at the cotoneaster.  I would like to throw a carrot at it but think OH would start divorce proceedings.

;D