Feeding Birds In The Garden

[sam182]

How can I encourage the birds in my garden to feed from a new feeder

[Gizmonster]

Load it up with food .... and wait.
When we moved into our house, I decided to put a stand out, with several feeders hanging from it. The feeders remained full for aaaaaages, nothing came. It must have taken several weeks (poss even a few months) before they started coming. All it takes is for 1 or 2 birds to discover the food and start feeding .... trust me they'll come ..... eventually.
Maybe you could put some bright/shiny objects out near the food, that may (or may not) attract them ??

[Chipchopper]

The secret is, wait and be patient and eventually the birds will except it, once they've become used to it.
You will gradually see the getting bolder over a few days or weeks.

[Gizmonster]

Just realised when I re-read your question, that you may already have birds coming and that you've put another feeder out, which they're not using.
I thought you meant that you'd put a feeder out and nothing was feeding in your garden .... in which case, ignore my last post lol :P

[janbee]

Be patient. If you build it... they will come...

[waterboatman]

They will find it sam. Then they will soon become regular callers.

[MargoTester]

It also helps if you put water out for them. It doesn't have to be an expensive bird bath we use large plastic saucers that you can buy for plant pots, Garden centres have them. The birds love to have a bath in them

[waterboatman]

Good thinking margo. I have a bird bath ans a dish that tiggy can get his snout into.

[MargoTester]

Good morning Boaty. We've actually got 3 of these saucers , about a foot across, on a wall near to the bird feeder the birds love them and have a right old splash about! But you are all right in that it takes time for the birds to find the feeders but once they do they will become regulars. We are lucky we live behind so woods so we get lots including greater spotted woodpeckers and nuthatches.

[waterboatman]

Sounds lovely margo. The dish is on the ground for tiggy, he's my resident hedgehog. Third generation. The birds love to splash about in the birdbath, they sit around waiting their turn. Lovely to watch them.

[MargoTester]

We've never had a hedgehog in the garden to my knowledge, they are so cute. Did I read somewhere that that are in decline?

[waterboatman]

They were margo, but are making a comeback I'm told. Tiggy's mum and grandmum are previous residents. He deals with the slugs and snails and then gets a treat of pork fat, which he loves, or whatever is to hand. He'll come and take it from my hand.

[sam182]

Thanks for all your replies.
This is a new feeder I've got, one that is hanging from a hook on the window. I have other feeders in the garden, from the fences, trees and a bird feeding station, but this one is new and the fist one that on a window.
My mum loves the birds!!