Wild Bird Food

[paddywak]

I feed the birds in my garden with the usual seeds, peanuts, fatballs etc. but for some reason they're not touching the suet block. Its a seed & insect flavour of the same manufacture I've always used and normally they polish them off in no time at all. So I was wondering if anybodies got any ideas why all of a sudden they wont touch it, also do they go "OFF" & I should just change it or possibly take it out of the feeder it's in & just leave it on the bird table?

[poltergeist]

Have you tried putting a bit of ketchup on it or tobasco sauce? It could be a simple case that they are a little bored of eating the same dry thing all the time.

Good luck x

[lankeela]

Or put some GRAVY on them.

[seadogg]

Is it a seasonal thing? Or the birds that loved them might have gone elsewhere. These guys are quite fickle and you may have a neighbour who has set up a feeding station. This happened to me today. The sparrows scarpered and the bank voles had an undisturbed feast.

[Ice.Maiden]

At the moment there are a lot of insects and seeds about, paddywak, but you'll probably find that birds feed from the suet block during the colder months.

[paddywak]

thanks for the imput,everybody, it just seemed strange that they are eating everything else and ignoring the suet, or as seadog says the ones that liked them have moved on, I must admit I've not seen any of the starlings lately

[carlton23]

Go to a pet shop and buy some white (Shelled) sunflower seeds which will attract all sorts, especially Goldfinches, they love em. Here in Bournemouth I have only seen one starling all year whereas we used to get dozens of the noisy beggers. I think they have gone to Africa at this time of the year on hols

[Cetti]

If the suet block was put out during the very hot weather it's probably rancid and not fit for birdy consumption.- so if in doubt remove and dispose of it.

If you think it's ok then another probable reason is that suet blocks etc are usually only put out in late autumn/early winter, as they are high energy supplements when the birds need it the most. Now is a time of plenty so they can afford to be picky.

[seadogg]

re the starlings. Don't a lot come over from Scandinavia in winter. and go back to do it on the Swede's cars in summer.