wisdom Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 I noticed when visiting a friend yesterday the huge amount of birdlife in their back garden.We only have a few types.Whats the best feeders and seed to attract more?We have a suet feeder up at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 Shoot all magpies on sight. All crows ditto...as long as you can justify each under the General Licence terms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 Get a mix of feeders as different species like different seeds Fat balls are always a good thing as most will feed off them. Peanut feeders, wild birds seed mix, sunflower hearts. Niger seeds for small finches like bullfinches etc. Soon as you start getting a few they will attract more. Keep and spillage swept up as can attract rats. We have lots of dunnocks that clear up.under our feeders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 Weirdly Countryfile had on one of the best ideas for feeding birds I’ve seen in ages! Weird because I don’t generally watch it, but for some reason it was on. 🤷♂️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 always found a fat wallet and flash car attracts very wild bird life especially tits but more of a bird mix and scraps on a sheltered table these days which is a shame Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 And shoot all grey squirrels on sight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmicblue Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 39 minutes ago, enfieldspares said: Shoot all magpies on sight. All crows ditto...as long as you can justify each under the General Licence terms. Can I shoot magpies? Have 4 of the noisy blighters as regular visitors, they went after the fat balls we put out and aggressively defended them from the other birds, I'd get an air rifle for the task. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windswept Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 46 minutes ago, figgy said: Soon as you start getting a few they will attract more. Keep and spillage swept up as can attract rats. We have lots of dunnocks that clear up.under our feeders. Keeping the feeders clean and clearing up old food is also essential to prevent disease. I'm not a fan of overfeeding wild birds, I tend to encourage them naturally by leaving seed heads about the place and encouraging as many berry and other fruit bearing plants about the place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 25 minutes ago, Cosmicblue said: Can I shoot magpies? Have 4 of the noisy blighters as regular visitors, they went after the fat balls we put out and aggressively defended them from the other birds, I'd get an air rifle for the task. Within the terms of the General Licence for your location yes. But ONLY within those terms. And notwithstanding if that is legal you'll need to be sure any shot you take is also 200% OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 (edited) Be aware feeders attract rats as well. Big problem around London suburbs. Edited December 20, 2020 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 Gordon Bennett! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 34 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: Gordon Bennett! Are they doing wild bird seed now 😀😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 3 minutes ago, johnphilip said: Are they doing wild bird seed now 😀😀 I would suggest getting the exact same feeders and feed as the OP visited! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 Water and good variety of different feeds and plenty of cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 1 hour ago, Cosmicblue said: Can I shoot magpies? Have 4 of the noisy blighters as regular visitors, they went after the fat balls we put out and aggressively defended them from the other birds, I'd get an air rifle for the task. Check the general licence, if yiu have amber and red listed birds visiting the garden then yes. We have loads in our area, the larsen trap will be running in the spring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisdom Posted December 20, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 14 minutes ago, Dougy said: Water and good variety of different feeds and plenty of cover. Ah cover could be a factor. Thank you all for your replies. I will try different types of feeder and seed.There is a full Leylandi hedge in next door.That could create good cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NatureBoy Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 Great tits like coconuts. 😉 NB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 2 minutes ago, NatureBoy said: Great tits like coconuts. 😉 NB Is that how you like them? Or is that small birds like them 12 minutes ago, wisdom said: Ah cover could be a factor. Thank you all for your replies. I will try different types of feeder and seed.There is a full Leylandi hedge in next door.That could create good cover. Aslong as they have bushes or edge to dart back into should be good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NatureBoy Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 Either, Or. All nuts! 😉 Bird in the bush always good. Don't over feed em. Or you will attract vermin that are hard to get rid of. NB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 4 minutes ago, NatureBoy said: Either, Or. All nuts! 😉 Bird in the bush always good. Don't over feed em. Or you will attract vermin that are hard to get rid of. NB Our cats sort the vermin. Even bought in a young rat the other day, live... That was fun!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltings Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 fast car fat wallet a pint and crisps attracts great tits and other species take out all predators' and your golden 🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmicblue Posted December 21, 2020 Report Share Posted December 21, 2020 4 hours ago, enfieldspares said: Within the terms of the General Licence for your location yes. But ONLY within those terms. And notwithstanding if that is legal you'll need to be sure any shot you take is also 200% OK. Thanks and to ShootingEgg too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonty Posted December 21, 2020 Report Share Posted December 21, 2020 11 hours ago, figgy said: Get a mix of feeders as different species like different seeds Fat balls are always a good thing as most will feed off them. Peanut feeders, wild birds seed mix, sunflower hearts. Niger seeds for small finches like bullfinches etc. Soon as you start getting a few they will attract more. Keep and spillage swept up as can attract rats. We have lots of dunnocks that clear up.under our feeders. I think figgy had hit the nail on the head. We have a variety of feeder types with the 4 x feeds he listed above and we have a huge array of birds visiting the feeders. We tend not to put fat balls out as there’s loads of jackdaws around where I’m live and they tended to mob the fat ball feeders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discobob Posted December 21, 2020 Report Share Posted December 21, 2020 a splash of Brut 33- didn't do Henry Cooper any harm!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted December 21, 2020 Report Share Posted December 21, 2020 This might look messy but the birds love it, they dive in and out of cover. The green feeder is new but plastic(wont last) I bought it to replace another, there are multiple feeding positions and it's got sunflower hearts and crushed peanuts in it at the moment, with this mix you get very little spillage and anything that is soon gets eaten. I've yet to find a bird feeder I don't add drainage to, but during the spring and summer the Nyger feeder has been brilliant, covered in Gold and Greenfinches. The fat balls are always up, often ignored until now, I put out extra suet during winter, and squirrels that enter the garden get shot. Always loads of birds, but they come in waves during the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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