Birdfeeders - how many and how often do you refill?

Discussion in 'Wildlife Corner' started by Snorky85, Nov 22, 2019.

  1. Snorky85

    Snorky85 Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2013
    Messages:
    3,064
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    Accountant
    Location:
    Lincolnshire
    Ratings:
    +10,844
    Seem to be filling up my bird feeders every day. Also been putting out suet etc in coconut halves and noticed today that two of the coconut halves have disappeared! (I refill them will my own suet/seed etc mix).

    we seem to have a lot more little birdies this year but also have seen a lot of starlings(more than I’ve noticed previously) and a couple of maggies that have been in the garden and we have a couple of collared doves. Could it be them or do you think i could have a rat? Weve had brown rats in the past which we captured and let free in a field miles away. But I’ve not seen any rat signs for almost a year now.

    hmm
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Informative Informative x 1
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
    • ARMANDII

      ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

      Joined:
      Jan 12, 2019
      Messages:
      48,096
      Gender:
      Male
      Ratings:
      +100,834
      I have 4 feeders, Snorky, one long one and 3 of the normal size, and all have large plastic dishes attached to the bottom of them to stop seed being dropped to the ground. One is hung on my Acer Brilliantissimum leading to the Wildlife pond, one is hung on the Lilac halfway along the West Border, and the long Feeder and a short feeder are hung on a Bird Feeder pole a third of the way along the middle border. I buy seed in bulk, as it's a lot cheaper, and refill the long feeder every 3 or 4 days but the short feeder with it probably only every week, the one on the Lilac nearly every day, and the one on the Acer probably every four days or so. Seeing the birds flitting in and out of the trees and shrubs and then flying to the feeders in numbers is well worth the effort of keeping them fed.:cat-kittyandsmiley::coffee:
       
      • Like Like x 5
      • Informative Informative x 1
      • lolimac

        lolimac Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Feb 4, 2019
        Messages:
        1,479
        Gender:
        Female
        Location:
        East Riding of Yorkshire
        Ratings:
        +4,927
        I have 5 feeders and 2 bird tables and they get emptied sometimes in a couple of days but that is thanks to the Stoggies and the squirrels :rolleyespink:...I like @ARMANDI Idea of the attached dishes for spillages but my chooks do a good job of clearing up:chicken:..it's a great idea though.:blue thumb:
         
        • Like Like x 4
        • redstar

          redstar Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Aug 6, 2008
          Messages:
          7,061
          Gender:
          Female
          Occupation:
          Domestic Goddess
          Location:
          Chester County, PA, USA, Plant zone 4 & 5
          Ratings:
          +10,373
          I have one large seed feeder, and 5 suet feeders. I fill them when empty. I really don't put seed or suet out until winter, as birds should be eating those bugs all summer/spring/fall.
           
          • Like Like x 5
          • Agree Agree x 1
          • Snorky85

            Snorky85 Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Jul 7, 2013
            Messages:
            3,064
            Gender:
            Female
            Occupation:
            Accountant
            Location:
            Lincolnshire
            Ratings:
            +10,844
            Thanks everyone. It seems like refilling them everyday is a bit too often...in the summer I hardly feed them as I do prefer them to eat all the bugs instead. I think I may put a couple of cameras on my xmas present list so I can see them better up close...and maybe catch any ratty culprits.

            Made some more suet feed today....veggie suet, mixed with natural crunchy peanut butter, meal worms and bird seed. I then refill the coconuts or put it in plastic takeaway tubs to make suet blocks.
             
            • Like Like x 2
            • ARMANDII

              ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

              Joined:
              Jan 12, 2019
              Messages:
              48,096
              Gender:
              Male
              Ratings:
              +100,834
              upload_2019-11-22_18-44-28.png

              upload_2019-11-22_18-46-35.png
               
              • Like Like x 4
              • strongylodon

                strongylodon Old Member

                Joined:
                Feb 12, 2006
                Messages:
                14,754
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Retired
                Location:
                Wareham, Dorset
                Ratings:
                +28,241
                I have four feeders and a table in the back garden and two feeders in the front. The sunflower heart feeders would be emptied every day if I didn't discourage the Collared Doves and Woodies.
                The other 'Robin mix' (without wheat) lasts a couple of days and the nyjer seed feeder in the front gets emptied in about three days by the Goldfinches (and Siskins in winter).
                Although they have trays the Starlings throw the seed everywhere but a lot of it is cleared up by others eg Dunnocks, Pied Wagtails, Sparrows and the Woodies.
                Goldfinch - garden (2).JPG

                Siskin - garden (2).JPG
                 
                • Like Like x 5
                • CanadianLori

                  CanadianLori Total Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Sep 20, 2015
                  Messages:
                  9,687
                  Occupation:
                  Battle Axe
                  Location:
                  Oakville, Ontario, Canada Zone 5A
                  Ratings:
                  +30,478
                  My bird feeder has perches on each side. When a little one lands on it, it stays steady. Something heavy and their weight on the perch slams the opening shut. I can set the approxomate weight that triggers it.

                  Vermin can't get up the pole but I'm sure tnat what the birds kick over the sides, they get fed later.

                  The feeder holds about a gallon of birdseed and I refill it about every 4 weeks. 3 weeks if the winter is bad.

                  Anyone got an idea of what is desirable in a bird feed? I've been told that corn is not nice for them.

                  We have different brand names than over there, so I'm hoping someone can steer me to the ingredients on their favourite bag of seed.
                   
                  • Like Like x 2
                  • Jiffy

                    Jiffy The Match is on Fire

                    Joined:
                    Aug 25, 2011
                    Messages:
                    11,167
                    Occupation:
                    Pyro
                    Location:
                    Retired Next To The Bonfire in UK
                    Ratings:
                    +31,459
                    I've got 8 feeders, 2 peanuts,1 suet pellets,1 niyjer, 2 mix seed, 2 sunflower, the sunflower and suet feeders will be filled every day some times twice when cold the rest will be topped up every 3- 4 days

                    also have 1 bowl and 3 trays near the house (on the ground) for the sparrows, pheasants and blackbird and to any wildlife that is hungry, the bowl will have sunflower, suet, peanuts and mix seed, the trays will have porridge oats, the bowl will be topped up every day some times twice, the trays will get topped up when empty which can very from every day to once a week
                     
                    • Like Like x 4
                    • Snorky85

                      Snorky85 Total Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Jul 7, 2013
                      Messages:
                      3,064
                      Gender:
                      Female
                      Occupation:
                      Accountant
                      Location:
                      Lincolnshire
                      Ratings:
                      +10,844
                      Just had to share this beauty that was feeding off my coconut feeder in the front garden this morning. Woody-woodpecker. :wub2:
                      4C204390-B6F1-4F62-B245-374952411FA1.jpeg
                       
                      • Like Like x 6
                      • redstar

                        redstar Total Gardener

                        Joined:
                        Aug 6, 2008
                        Messages:
                        7,061
                        Gender:
                        Female
                        Occupation:
                        Domestic Goddess
                        Location:
                        Chester County, PA, USA, Plant zone 4 & 5
                        Ratings:
                        +10,373
                        BTW, I only get the suet that has cayenne pepper in it. that will burn the mouths of squirrels, so they don't eat it. the birds have no issue with it.
                         
                        • Friendly Friendly x 1
                        • strongylodon

                          strongylodon Old Member

                          Joined:
                          Feb 12, 2006
                          Messages:
                          14,754
                          Gender:
                          Male
                          Occupation:
                          Retired
                          Location:
                          Wareham, Dorset
                          Ratings:
                          +28,241
                          I don't use any bird food that has wheat in it as it can be indigestible to most birds other than pigeons, unfortunately it is in most bird food.
                           
                          • Informative Informative x 2
                          • Agree Agree x 1
                          • WeeTam

                            WeeTam Total Gardener

                            Joined:
                            Mar 9, 2015
                            Messages:
                            2,362
                            Gender:
                            Male
                            Ratings:
                            +5,078
                            We never buy bird feed. We tend to put out whatever isnt used up in the kitchen, seeded bread, porridge,rice,rolls etc.
                            If it snows hard some saved sunflower seed and barley. Luckily around us theres loads of birds and few cats. :cat-kittyandsmiley:
                             
                            • Informative Informative x 1
                            • Jiffy

                              Jiffy The Match is on Fire

                              Joined:
                              Aug 25, 2011
                              Messages:
                              11,167
                              Occupation:
                              Pyro
                              Location:
                              Retired Next To The Bonfire in UK
                              Ratings:
                              +31,459
                              Feed Wheat can be a cheap filler
                               
                            • luciusmaximus

                              luciusmaximus Total Gardener

                              Joined:
                              Apr 18, 2014
                              Messages:
                              3,137
                              Gender:
                              Female
                              Occupation:
                              Lost in the Wilderness
                              Location:
                              Isle of Anglesey
                              Ratings:
                              +6,899
                              I have one mini suet pellet feeder, four fat ball feeders and two caged feeders - one for fat balls, one for suet blocks. Don't use the cages in winter as located in another part of the garden and I keep the fat ball feeders close to the house just for convenience. Currently I'm putting out 16 fat balls and two/three medium sized bowls of suet pellets and sunflower seeds mixed daily. I scatter this on tables and across the ground. At least 60 Starlings here, around 20 Sparrows, two Magpies, two Crows, 6 Chaffinch, two Bluetits, two Great Tits, several collared Doves, several Jackdaws and several Rats and Mice. I buy coconut feeders too and suet logs.
                               
                              • Like Like x 3
                              Loading...

                              Share This Page

                              1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                                By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                                Dismiss Notice