Feeding the birds.

[Rtaxron]

Apart from putting out the usual scrap food and bread for the birds, I tried Hamster & Gerbil food I found in Tesco yesterday, only 99p a kilo, they love it.

[lankeela]

We sell top quality wild bird food for �1.50 for 2.2 kilos, which works out cheaper than the hamster food.

[gen2]

Hi Rtaxron I'm glad to hear you are enjoying feeding the birds, but once they come to rely on a source, it is important to keep up a regular supply. If you are serious about this, why not try looking for a bulk supplier.

Until last autumn I have been buying 25 kilo sacks of mixed seed for �10. Suddenly overwinter the price has rocketed to the �16 a sack that I had to pay last week. My birds are getting through two refills of their feeder every day. The peanut feeder is only refilled every 4 or 5 days. The fat balls cost me 99p for 6 and they get through 3 every day before noon. I ration them so they just have to make do for the afternoon. This is the busiest time of year as they are all bringing their fledged offspring to feed as well. This rate of consumption will continue until October.

For many years now I have had opportunistic feral pigeons patrolling the ground beneath the feeders waiting for spillage but this spring, just one of them has mastered the balancing trick required to feed directly from the feeder causing an even faster rate of depletion. "Tough" I say, they still only get it filled first thing in the morning and at lunchtime.

[Rtaxron]

Thanks to you both for the replies.

lankeela, �1.50 for 2.2 kilosI thats great. I suppose the postage would be to much to buy from you unfortunately, so will have to shop around.

[lankeela]

Try your local market pet stall (you never know, it might be me!)

[eyeshade]

gen2, me too, we have had pigeons and doves mosey around underneath the feeders all year cos they can't hang on the wire and they have trampled all my lavender and penstemons to death!! However Mr ES has now put more wire round the feeders so that the big birds can't get, although the starlings peck the weeny just fledged sparrows, the tiny birds know they have the pick of the food now and no dopy large flappy things.

[Robinia]

Bloomin' feral pigeons!....grrrr....the gang we have appoint a feeder shaker who hangs on to it & flaps like mad while the rest of them all stand underneath & clap & cheer!!

[Veebird]

Shop around for bird food. I can get 12 fat balls (exactly the same quality and size) for 98p from a cut price shop. Seed I buy in bulk tho for about �10, from the pet shop and they will deliver too. Once started it does snowball and I spend about �4 or �5 a week on food now, but it is a hobby for me. I worry about when I leave them to go on holiday and next March in the breeding season I have to leave for a whole month.I don't like to ask neighbours to do it every day for so long a period. Has anybody any suggestions? I've even thought of a hopper style feeder system.

[Rtaxron]

Thanks lankeela,

I am at home more now due to semi retirement so I have more time to feed the birds, which is also enjoyable watching their habits.

I am sure they know what time I am going to put the food out for their breakfast and evening meal. : - )

Not being a great lover of shopping etc, I don't see the bargains, but will make an effort on Wednesday when we have a market.

[madboutcats]

i nearly picked up a bag of canary seed in a shop the other day and after reading your post rtaxron my birds would probably never have noticed and hoovered it all up. they certainly enjoyed the out of date cherry cake and an over ripe banana i put out for them last week. and bronson the starling has a liking for stealing cat food and biscuits from under the nose of a sleeping moggie. robinia lol at your gang of pigeons, my woodys take it in turns to shake the seed feeder for the mate below.

[spudqueen]

If you have an animal feed shop near you (the sort that supplies animal feed to farms etc) they may well sell bird food in large bags at a reasonable price. I used to work for one and we sold bird food in 20 kg bags and also 1 kg bags.