Wild bird food

Discussion in 'Wildlife Corner' started by Sheal, Nov 4, 2017.

  1. Sheal

    Sheal Total Gardener

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    Now I have a garden where I can actually feed the birds I'm thinking of buying food for them in bulk. Has anyone suggestions of where to buy from please? :)
     
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    • ARMANDII

      ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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      Look up your nearest Pet Superstore, Sheal. I buy 20 kilos sacks of Bird Seed for £11.50 at my nearest Pet Superstore. You'll need somewhere to store it and I use this kind. Buying packs of seeds from Pet Shops is an expensive way to buy which is why the Pet Superstores/Country Farming Stores are best.
      [​IMG]
      There are plastic types but Rats, etc will easily chew through them to get at the seed. I've got four of the metal type for seeds, peanuts, fat balls, etc.:thumbsup::snorky:
       
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      • CanadianLori

        CanadianLori Total Gardener

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        I have set up my feeder and need to add more seed. I keep seeing the "no corn" vs whatever and I still don't know which is best.

        The beakie crowd do seem to throw the millet all over because it is light, I'm guessing that part, so id be interested in hearing about the mix on favoured products

        What's in yours?
         
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        • Jiffy

          Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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          • KFF

            KFF Total Gardener

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            @Jiffy , Should they be called " Most expensive " not cheapest " :)
            They're double the price from Pet Superstore.
             
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            • CanadianLori

              CanadianLori Total Gardener

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              I should have made my question a little clearer. Obviously I would not have access to the same brands here so I was wondering what seed mix (i.e. % of corn, sunflower etc) works the best?
               
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              • Jiffy

                Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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                I feed straights which are, wheat, black sunflower, sunflower hearts, niger, peanuts and a mix which has in it, cut maize,naked oats,red dari,yellow millet,red millet,white dari and black sunflower

                Some bird feed mix's will have a high % of wheat as a filler (cheaper) and if there has been any problem in the storage you may get a problem with bugs/insects as a member found out, so watch out for insects and bugs as you don't want them in your house
                 
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                  Last edited: Nov 5, 2017
                • Gwen austin

                  Gwen austin Gardener

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                  My only recommendation is to buy 'no mess' seed. I usually just google 25kg and go for the cheapest. I also buy 300 fat balls on a monthly basis. I made a huge mistake last month as there what looked like a great buy which wasn't a no mess mix. How bad could it be. Horrendous to be clear. I have 14 seed feeders all on different surfaces. Every one of them are in such a state I'm set aside 4 full days to clean up what is now growing around the bases. It's the stuff of nightmares. My garden is certified wildlife habitat so you know I can put up with a fair amount of mess. I may post photos of the devastation. Only no mess will be my pic.
                   
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                  • Jiffy

                    Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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                    @CanadianLori

                    Corn in the UK is known as wheat and barley, where as you may know corn as Maize in the usa and not sure Canada
                     
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                    • CanadianLori

                      CanadianLori Total Gardener

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                      Maize is corn here. The stuff that grows on cobs.

                      Wheat and barley are just that. We don't call them anything different.

                      When I refer to corn, I am referencing the actual kernels from the cob.

                      There seems to be a fair amount of corn, at least it appears so, in our bird feeder mixes. Just was wondering what the difference is between your/our mixes. :)
                       
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                      • ARMANDII

                        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                        At £25 for 12.5 kilo, Jiffy, that ain't "free" postage, as at that price you're paying for postage.:dunno::snorky:
                         
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                        • ARMANDII

                          ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                          The birds will decide that for you, lori!!:heehee:
                           
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                          • Jiffy

                            Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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                            I know the postage is in the price but it's not that price then postage on top, but if your like me in the middle of nowhere and the near pet shop is 15 miles away it's cheaper then going to get it, Sheal may be the same
                             
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                            • ARMANDII

                              ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                              I know what you mean, Jiffy, but it just irritates me when the retailer declares it's free postage when it's not and you are paying the postage:wallbanging::heehee:........I'd rather know the actual price of what I'm buying and then the postage costs. I get put off by claims of free postage when we all know there ain't not such thing and really the retailer is being economical with the truth.:snorky: My nearest Superstore is about 11 miles away so, for me, a 22 miles round trip is worth it.
                               
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                              • ARMANDII

                                ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                                Hmm, the only one I can find in Inverness is.

                                Pets at Home Inverness
                                4.0 (14) · £ · Pet Shop
                                One-stop shop for pet food, toys, equipment and insurance, plus small animals, fish and reptiles.
                                Inverness Centre
                                8, Inverness Centre, Eastfield Way
                                01463 229684
                                Open until 17:00
                                 
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