Have been feeding garden birds for years, but have found in the last couple of years that fat balls are no longer being eaten as quickly and indeed late last year one actually had green shoots on. I do wonder if its a result of them being harder now than they used to be?
Having done a little reading it seems that most fat balls are like this due to the quantity of fillers vs seeds. Suet balls seem to be better in this regard, is this correct?
Does anyone have recommendations as to which suet balls to buy? Too much choice on Amazon, etc and a range of prices, so need to thin it down a little.
Currently have two plastic tube type seed feeders out and have thought of replacing one or both with similar, but with a tray fitted in the base to catch any loose seeds, The pidgeons don't mind the loose seeds, but they and the pidgeons seem to making a mess below the feeders.
So looking for recommended feeders too, hopefully without needing to raid the piggy bank.
Next no-mess type seed mixes, recommendations please,
Thanks for reading this far.
Having done a little reading it seems that most fat balls are like this due to the quantity of fillers vs seeds. Suet balls seem to be better in this regard, is this correct?
Does anyone have recommendations as to which suet balls to buy? Too much choice on Amazon, etc and a range of prices, so need to thin it down a little.
Currently have two plastic tube type seed feeders out and have thought of replacing one or both with similar, but with a tray fitted in the base to catch any loose seeds, The pidgeons don't mind the loose seeds, but they and the pidgeons seem to making a mess below the feeders.
So looking for recommended feeders too, hopefully without needing to raid the piggy bank.
Next no-mess type seed mixes, recommendations please,
Thanks for reading this far.
18 Comments
sorted bySunflower Hearts, black sunflower, niger and peanut butter (flutter butter). The fat balls for the scrats (starlings) that are like a plague of locusts.
The woodpecker, finches and tits eat the peanut butter. Finches and siskens eat the niger and sunflower hearts. Great tits eat the black sunflower.
Unless I missed it, it depends on what part of the country you live in and if you are rural or urban. (edited)
Generally I regularly see blackbirds, sparrows, robins, bluetits, crows, magpies, ring necked doves and woodpigeons in the garden, I do see long tailed tits flit across, but very rare they go near the feeders and even then its only fleeting.
Fat balls are usually in a feeder. Have taken to breaking them up a little to see if that helps.
A robin jumped in quickly this morning before the others had arrived.
They also do the ultimate - not tried these: wilko.com/en-…120
We also give them Lincolnshire Wild Bird Foods wheat free garden seed mix from a Peckish feeder with the clear tray at the bottom. The tray still doesn't stop seed falling on the ground but I think it helps a lot. The seed is expensive, but there seems to be less waste.
If you've got outdoor space you could try growing giant sunflowers from seeds.
Also got some sunflower hearts and kibbled peanuts, need to get some new feeders with trays and swap with the existing ones.