topic Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed in Pet Lovers

Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

NickNack — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 20:26:13 GMT

I have a bird feeding station in my back yard. It's been there for many years, and have never had a dog interested in eating the seed. Recently I got a seed cylinder feeder. When it gets to the end of the cylinder it falls on the ground. Frankie discovered this yesterday and has been eating the seed. I picked up the part of the cylinder seed that fell on the ground, but now she's eating the other seed.

I Googled this, and it usually isn't harmful. She could eat bird poop which could give her a problem, though, and if she eats too much seed she could get a blockage. I hate that she discovered this. I love feeding the birds and don't want to stop.

I know there really isn't any advice anyone can give me. I just wanted to comment about it I guess. Has anyone else ever had a problem with their dog eating bird seed?

This is the bird seed cylinder feeder that I have. I'm thinking about getting one with a tray underneath it instead. Unfortunately she's discovered the other bird seed under the feeders now, too.

Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

Still Raining — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 20:40:32 GMT

I had a chihuahua once who appeared to be in pain so the vet treated her for fecal impaction. And low and behold she had downed a shelled peanut (for the jays) whole and there it was, still with both halves together and unchewed. I was advised to have a wee word with her, but she just ignored me.

Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

Sweetbay magnolia — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 20:44:54 GMT

Oh mine eats it sometimes. I scatter seed on the ground and have suet feeders hanging. 65 lb dog. Never had a problem, and clearly sometimes it is not digested.

Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

morganjen — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 21:34:10 GMT

My dog will try to eat the sunflower seed chips that fall underneath mine. She will dig and make a mess. I just get after her when I see her doing it. I also have to rake up any of the chips that the birds fling out of the feeder. So far, it hasn't hurt her, but it's a pain.

Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

Kachina624 — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 21:34:12 GMT

Those darn kids get into everything! I don't know what you could do except put a tray under the feeder. Do you think spraying the seed on the ground with sour apple (Petsmart)

would help? Do you have a Wild Birds store in your area? You could call them for advice.

Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

NickNack — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 21:44:09 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
Those darn kids get into everything! I don't know what you could do except put a tray under the feeder. Do you think spraying the seed on the ground with sour apple (Petsmart)
would help? Do you have a Wild Birds store in your area? You could call them for advice.

@Kachina624 Yes, we have Wild Birds Unlimited. I buy my bird seed there. I think all I can do is get the kind of seed cylinder feeder that has a tray under it. I don't think it's possible to put a tray under the one I have now, but I will ask them.

Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

candys mine — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 23:13:08 GMT

Frankie being a relatively short little girl maybe you could put up one of those garden boarder fences around the bottom of the birdfeeder area where most of the seed ( and bird poo) falls. that would look neat and keep her from dietary indescresions. maybe plant some flowers around it in the spring.

How's Team Frankie doing with her eye treatments?

Hope all is well with you, Frankie and Mr. Henry.

Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

Carmie — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 23:18:23 GMT

A friend of mine who adopted a lab that flunked out of the dog service program because she was too wild and not trainable for that type of work, got into a big bucket of bird seed and ate way too much.

She got a blockage, and began throwing up and she got bloody diarrhea. She was taken to the Vet and x-rayed. Her whole digestive system was backed up.

eventually, all this passed, but not before she ripped the intestinal and rectal lining with all of that ruffage. She survived, but it was really bad. I'll spare you the details.

My friend does not store bird seed anywhere the dog can get a hold of it. This beautiful dog is very clownish and has gotten into a whole lot of things and done some really crazy things over the years. She is very sweet, but is wild and crazy if you turn your back.

It is always best to put your seeds up and out if the way. Dogs sometimes will eat some crazy things, but turn their nose up at dog food. Go figure.

Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

NickNack — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 23:40:06 GMT

@candys mine wrote:
Frankie being a relatively short little girl maybe you could put up one of those garden boarder fences around the bottom of the birdfeeder area where most of the seed ( and bird poo) falls. that would look neat and keep her from dietary indescresions. maybe plant some flowers around it in the spring.
How's Team Frankie doing with her eye treatments?
Hope all is well with you, Frankie and Mr. Henry.

@candys mine That's a great idea to put up a border fence around the area. I'm just getting ready to post an update on Frankie's eye. A new problem has developed.

Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

Drythe — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 23:57:53 GMT

@NickNack

That Frankie is a busy Girl!

My dog Robbie (a Lab) does that too. Or he used to.

I have a cylinder feeder, and I like that it spills a bit for the ground feeders, I like to give them treats too.

So, I used one of those small 24” high roll up fences, hooked two of them together, and set it up around a goodly area of the seed fall. Of course he could have jumped it, but he did not. It was not attractive, but after @ 3 weeks he no longer visits that area. Fence now down, but waiting if needed.

The seeds are still falling, and the ground feeders are still getting a bit which makes me feel happy for them. I couldn’t stand to take away that bit of help from them.

I’m just a softy.

Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

Shaunac — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 00:38:11 GMT

Something to consider: rats love bird food, too.

Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

NickNack — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 00:52:58 GMT

@Shaunac wrote:
Something to consider: rats love bird food, too.

@Shaunac Yes, but I have fed the birds for over twenty years and have never seen a rat.

Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

fthunt — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 01:36:48 GMT

You could switch to a bird seed block - seeds are stuck on the block - woodpeckers love it. No loose seeds. Or - switch to a platform feeder - 2 sided and cardinals love and will only eat where they can perch. Fill with loose seeds from the top. Most birds don't hang from wire to eat. That way less seeds drop to ground for dog to eat. Just suggestions.

Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

fthunt — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 01:43:19 GMT

Looking in depth at picture of feeder. How do birds eat from it? Just strange. On the platform design - chickadees nut hatch and other birds select a seed and have to go to a tree branch to bang the shell open - so they can eat the seed. How - where do birds stabilize themselves on that to select a seed? I'm totally puzzled by your feeder. LOL

Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

Kachina624 — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 03:05:07 GMT

@Shaunac wrote:
Something to consider: rats love bird food, too.

I stopped feeding the birds when I saw little mouse (?) footprints in the snow all around the feeder. Then I started having trouble with mice in the garage.

Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

Kachina624 — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 03:12:48 GMT

@NickNack. I can't tell the diameter of the feeder, but I'd look for something like a round aluminum cake pan drill holes in it and attach with wire to the bottom of the feeder. Drill a few holes in it so water can drain out.

The fence is a good idea too. I put a fence long the back of my house using green metal posts and 3' high green fencing from Lowe's. This was for the collies; you wouldn't need something that high.

Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

ScenicMaine — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 03:27:15 GMT

@NickNack

I, also, have been feeding the birds in our back yard for many years. Our dog will also eat the bird food - she's about 85 lbs. So far, no problem. I have different feeders, one w/ the tray & one cylinder style, along with suet feeder & another cylinder one for the sunflower seeds only. We've been thru many different feeders and always the same problem .. the squirrels always manage to get to the feeders by jumping from branches or just climbing up the poles (we even have that black squirrel preventer) & they still get up it. So, for us the trays aren't much of a help because both the squirrels & both small & larger birds spill them on the ground. Sorry, I don't have a good solution.

Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

NickNack — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 12:14:06 GMT

@fthunt wrote:
You could switch to a bird seed block - seeds are stuck on the block - woodpeckers love it. No loose seeds. Or - switch to a platform feeder - 2 sided and cardinals love and will only eat where they can perch. Fill with loose seeds from the top. Most birds don't hang from wire to eat. That way less seeds drop to ground for dog to eat. Just suggestions.

@fthunt The bird seed block is the bird seed cylinder feeder I'm talking about. When I added that to the mix that's what she's eating. When it gets to the end a chunk of it falls to the ground. I think I'm going to have to get a different cylinder feeder that has a tray to catch it.

I have a hopper feeder, a nyjer seed feeder, and the cylinder feeder. There's a large tray under the hopper feeder.

Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

NickNack — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 12:18:44 GMT

@fthunt wrote:
Looking in depth at picture of feeder. How do birds eat from it? Just strange. On the platform design - chickadees nut hatch and other birds select a seed and have to go to a tree branch to bang the shell open - so they can eat the seed. How - where do birds stabilize themselves on that to select a seed? I'm totally puzzled by your feeder. LOL

@fthunt It has a cylinder perch that goes around the feeder. They perch on that. They're also able to perch on the seed itself since it's stuck together in the cylinder. I have woodpeckers, bluebirds, nuthatch, titmice, chickadees and other birds that love it. The problem with it is that it's expensive and they finish it in a few weeks or less.

Re: Frankie Is Eating Bird Seed

ValuSkr — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 12:21:31 GMT

I think those seed cylinders make such a mess. As others have noted, seed on the ground attracts undesirables like mice, chipmunks, and squirrels. I guess it's okay as long as the cylinder is placed far away from the home.

On another note, I hope Frankie is able to see the opthalmologist soon.