Banned
Every winter I start a wild bird feeders, but I always loose alot in wild bird food, and I am not sure if what I am using is good enough.. Anyone have any ideas? We have suchhhhhh cold winters here, and I know the winter birds might need it. I usually just use a standard wild bird but always looking for other things. I also use suet, but I have to remember to bring it in at night or the bears or raccoons get it. Any ideas here???
Faux Punk Fatigue
Do you want to know how to lose less bird seed?
Shoulden't you be wanting to lose more bird seeds to the hungry birds? lol.
Last edited by Argranade; 11-06-2006 at 12:37 PM.
Mayor
What do you mean, you "lose a lot in wild bird food?"
Banned
yes ... sorry= typo... ( get going too fast..)
Tash, Tommy & Raven's Mom
Put out a source of water. If it freezes a lot get a heated bird bath. That is a huge attractor of birds, especially in the winter. Brush or bushes that keep most of their leaves are great for little birds to hide in when it's cold too, or from predators. Vary the type of seed you put out, put some wild bird food mix, some black oil sunflower, a thistle feeder or two, throw some random seeds on the ground for birds that like to ground feed more. Hang suet feeders out for woodpeckers and chickadees. But the biggest thing that really keeps birds coming and feeding in your yard is also having a consistent source of water too.
Registered User
Sunflower seeds have high fat content, so I'd think they'd be great for the winter.
"There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness. They can only be shaken by the simple development of the contrary qualities. They will not bear discussion."
Lord John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
Banned
we have the water source and yes its heated. I looked into last year some food that didnt have the shells and all- supposed to be better for them..
Oh and we have- chickadees, red headed woodpeckers, doves, starlings, geckos, uhhhhhhhhhh tuffed titmouse, blue jays, uhhhhhhhhhh the ones that look like jail birds.. ( lollllllllllll.. I need a bird book..) with the black strips.. and some wrens..
Faux Punk Fatigue
Oh you wan't feeding tips ok lol,
For me feeding the birds in the winter is the most important thing to me,
Many birds will viset your feeders during the migrations too, fruit eating birds may even stop by to see what you have in store, make sure you have a different supply of bird food during fall because of this.
During fall it's a good idea to add some sweet things like nectar, penut butter, grapes ect ... because that's what warmer weathered birds love and it will help them finish that long journey south for the winter.
After fall is over and winter takes over add more fating foods like peanuts, sun flower seeds, corn ect .. there the best for birds like bluejays, cardinals, pigeons ect.. all go crazy for them lol, you can even cook up some things for the birds like scrambled or boiled eggs, cooked rice, mashed up patatoes ect .. birds love it when there given more viriaty.
The more different foods you have for wild birds the more different species you will get, as each bird like's somthing different in there diet. For bird seeds just keep buying lots of bags of it because it will go fast trust me lol!.
Sprinkle some seeds on the floor for ground eaters like morning doves & pigeons.
If you don't want small animals like squirels eating or spilling the seeds there are speacail bird feeders that will stop that, you can just leave some bread and penuts on the ground for the squirels.
Yes winter is actualy the most important time to give birds water because they can't drink it when it's frozen, so getting a heated bird bath would be great for them .. even in the winter birds will still live to bath!
I hope this helps, if you have any more questions feel free to ask.
Banned
Wow- yes it does. I have to bring all the feeders in at night because of the bears and raccoons, but usually up by 5am so they go back out. does my handling them worry the birds? Doesnt seem to bother most last year but I thought I would ask..Originally Posted by Argranade
Oh you wan't feeding tips ok lol,
For me feeding the birds in the winter is the most important thing to me,
Many birds will viset your feeders during the migrations too, fruit eating birds may even stop by to see what you have in store, make sure you have a different supply of bird food during fall because of this.
During fall it's a good idea to add some sweet things like nectar, penut butter, grapes ect ... because that's what warmer weathered birds love and it will help them finish that long journey south for the winter.
After fall is over and winter takes over add more fating foods like peanuts, sun flower seeds, corn ect .. there the best for birds like bluejays, cardinals, pigeons ect.. all go crazy for them lol, you can even cook up some things for the birds like scrambled or boiled eggs, cooked rice, mashed up patatoes ect .. birds love it when there given more viriaty.
The more different foods you have for wild birds the more different species you will get, as each bird like's somthing different in there diet. For bird seeds just keep buying lots of bags of it because it will go fast trust me lol!.
Sprinkle some seeds on the floor for ground eaters like morning doves & pigeons.... ( edited for space..)
IfI hope this helps, if you have any more questions feel free to ask.
Banned
We also have a wood pecker with a black tuff on his head.. ( I need a book...)
Also what would be a good general mix bird food... I mean should I have sunflowers in one, thistle, general and what do they like with suet? Last year I got just suet ( they didnt like it much except in the blizzards.) they had nut crunch and peanut butter... Any ideas? I really want to do this right this year. This is our 3rd year year. First year we were settling in, second year I tried, but I want to do it right...
Faux Punk Fatigue
Not too many birds like suet but they might not know it's even there, try putting some penut butter on the seut because most birds are attracted to the smell of it and if there lucky they'll find out they found yummy suet there, even add some grapes around the suet.
Just any general bag of wild bird seed will do as long as it has a good enough mix.
WOW that bear is well ... right there!!! my god I would be freaked out to be alone at night lol arent you? sheeshh that guy is right on your purch lol!
Banned
Thank you .. I have a general mix but I wanted to make sure.Not too many birds like suet but they might not know it's even there, try putting some penut butter on the seut because most birds are attracted to the smell of it and if there lucky they'll find out they found yummy suet there, even add some grapes around the suet.
Just any general bag of wild bird seed will do as long as it has a good enough mix.
WOW that bear is well ... right there!!! my god I would be freaked out to be alone at night lol arent you? sheeshh that guy is right on your purch lol!
The bears are actually harmless but they have to know you are around. However- like these pictures were taken from my table in the dinning room in the great room at my computer. I look up and I feel like a fish in the fish bowl here...
Registered User
I don't know what to suggest but DO NOT put out peanut butter on pine cones with seeds. It can clog the birds throat and nostrils and they will end up dying from choking.
Also, if your worried about them squirrels, they sell cones that you put around the pole that holds the bird feeders so the little buggers cannot climb up. There is also squrriel feeders that are a huge hit!
Banned
wow- what would you suggest? We get veryyyyyyyyy cold up here on this mountain. Is peanut butter safe for birds? I could freeze it first like a log...I don't know what to suggest but DO NOT put out peanut butter on pine cones with seeds. It can clog the birds throat and nostrils and they will end up dying from choking.
Also, if your worried about them squirrels, they sell cones that you put around the pole that holds the bird feeders so the little buggers cannot climb up. There is also squrriel feeders that are a huge hit!
Tash, Tommy & Raven's Mom
I did a search on this as I have not heard any problem with it and it is an extremely common thing that people feed to birds. I had a hard time finding anything that claimed it was as dangerous as that, but I found some things that said it's somewhat of a myth. Here is just one:
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3. Is peanut butter bad for birds? Will it stick to the roof of their beaks?
This topic is hotly debated, but there is no scientific evidence one way or the other. We humans sometimes have trouble digesting large mouthfuls of peanut butter, so is it logical that the same is true for birds? Not really. Birds' bills do not have as much saliva as human mouths, so it is less likely that the peanut butter will get gooey and stuck to the roof. To be safe, it's smart to mix chunky peanut butter with whole oats, raisins, cornmeal, and other ingredients to make it drier and more solid, and thus less sticky when it enters a bird's bill. Offer only small amounts and offer a source of water, just in case a bird wants to get a beak-cleaning drink.
link
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I truly do not think using peanut butter with seeds is that large of a danger. I did read over many many links to make sure though so I don't feel uneasy about it
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