topic Re: Bird feeding question...... in Garden

Bird feeding question......

Nataliesgramma — Thu, 05 May 2016 13:54:18 GMT

I have 3 feeders plus 2 with suet. I was filling them every other day at first, then I would fill them every morning because they were empty. Hubby filled them yesterday in the afternoon because they were empty and he thought I had forgotten to fill them. This morning they were empty again!

My question is....Can I just fill the feeders once a day? The suet will last almost a week...but it seems the more I fill the feeders ...the more they eat!!

I am getting so many pretty birds...cardinals, blue birds, Blue Jays and I don't want them to stop coming, but I don't want to go to the Poorhouse feeding them...LOL

Re: Bird feeding question......

RipleyGirl — Thu, 05 May 2016 14:01:18 GMT

@Nataliesgramma wrote:
I have 3 feeders plus 2 with suet. I was filling them every other day at first, then I would fill them every morning because they were empty. Hubby filled them yesterday in the afternoon because they were empty and he thought I had forgotten to fill them. This morning they were empty again!

My question is....Can I just fill the feeders once a day? The suet will last almost a week...but it seems the more I fill the feeders ...the more they eat!!

I am getting so many pretty birds...cardinals, blue birds, Blue Jays and I don't want them to stop coming, but I don't want to go to the Poorhouse feeding them...LOL

Not sure what area you are in, but I'm in the North East and we had grackles coming through for a bit. They were devouring the seed. I skipped filling the feeders a couple of days (not in a row) and the grackles moved on. It also seemed as if the resident birds were eating more than usual for maybe a week, but it seems to have tapered off now - maybe a seasonal thing. If you have any Wild Birds Unlimited stores near you or something similar, I find they're a great resource.

Re: Bird feeding question......

JustJazzmom — Thu, 05 May 2016 14:13:55 GMT

Birds might be eating more because it's breeding season so they need the calories. Take down suet once the temperature climbs into mid to high 70's; it can go rancid in heat.

Re: Bird feeding question......

PenneyT — Thu, 05 May 2016 14:24:03 GMT

We fill (half fill!) our feeders in the morning.

Remember, birdfeeders usually just SUPPLEMENT a bird's diet, so don't worry that they will starve if you miss a few days, etc. Birds eat all kinds of things. The best thing you can do for them is not use pesticides and herbicides, because those things do affect their natural diets. And often, clean, fresh water is even more appreciated.

Enjoy your feathered friends, your seed is a nice treat for them!

Re: Bird feeding question......

Krimpette — Thu, 05 May 2016 14:25:37 GMT

I never knew about suet going rancid. I put suet out all year long, including the hottest days of the summer most times.

I fill my feeders once a day. If they are empty by afternoon, so be it. I'm sure they're fine. They never fail to visit me the next day. I'm especially enjoying lots of gold finches now. Especially since the males are in full color. They never empty their feeders as quickly as other birds, of course. It amazes me that they can survive on that tiny, tiny nyjer seed.

I love feeding the birds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They provide me with hours of enjoyment!

Re: Bird feeding question......

joannecha — Thu, 05 May 2016 14:33:56 GMT

Central West Michigan bird girl here. This is an active time for birds to be feeding. You'll just have to decide how much you want to spend putting out food. We get a reasonably priced mix that we found (buy one at Menards & another at a local nursery) and then mix in things like cracked corn or sunflower seeds. Right now, we have 2 generic platform feeders, a hanging finch feeder filled w/a generic finch food, a hanging suet cage (you can get an all-season suet that doesn't go rancid but most don't last that long), and I just put out my hummer feeder & grape jelly for the orioles this morning. Both DH & I love to photograph the birds & also travel to places in Michigan in their migratory routes. Love to watch & listen.

Re: Bird feeding question......

Nataliesgramma — Thu, 05 May 2016 14:38:39 GMT

@RipleyGirl wrote:
@Nataliesgramma wrote:
I have 3 feeders plus 2 with suet. I was filling them every other day at first, then I would fill them every morning because they were empty. Hubby filled them yesterday in the afternoon because they were empty and he thought I had forgotten to fill them. This morning they were empty again!

My question is....Can I just fill the feeders once a day? The suet will last almost a week...but it seems the more I fill the feeders ...the more they eat!!

I am getting so many pretty birds...cardinals, blue birds, Blue Jays and I don't want them to stop coming, but I don't want to go to the Poorhouse feeding them...LOL
Not sure what area you are in, but I'm in the North East and we had grackles coming through for a bit. They were devouring the seed. I skipped filling the feeders a couple of days (not in a row) and the grackles moved on. It also seemed as if the resident birds were eating more than usual for maybe a week, but it seems to have tapered off now - maybe a seasonal thing. If you have any Wild Birds Unlimited stores near you or something similar, I find they're a great resource.

I am in NE Ohio....we do have a Wild Birds Unlimited here...

Re: Bird feeding question......

Nataliesgramma — Thu, 05 May 2016 14:41:34 GMT

@PenneyT wrote:
We fill (half fill!) our feeders in the morning.

Remember, birdfeeders usually just SUPPLEMENT a bird's diet, so don't worry that they will starve if you miss a few days, etc. Birds eat all kinds of things. The best thing you can do for them is not use pesticides and herbicides, because those things do affect their natural diets. And often, clean, fresh water is even more appreciated.

Enjoy your feathered friends, your seed is a nice treat for them!

I don't used pesticides here for that reason and for the bees. I have fresh water for them too that I am changing every day so that I don't get mosquitos in it....

Re: Bird feeding question......

PenneyT — Thu, 05 May 2016 14:45:14 GMT

@Nataliesgramma wrote:
@PenneyT wrote:
We fill (half fill!) our feeders in the morning.

Remember, birdfeeders usually just SUPPLEMENT a bird's diet, so don't worry that they will starve if you miss a few days, etc. Birds eat all kinds of things. The best thing you can do for them is not use pesticides and herbicides, because those things do affect their natural diets. And often, clean, fresh water is even more appreciated.

Enjoy your feathered friends, your seed is a nice treat for them!
I don't used pesticides here for that reason and for the bees. I have fresh water for them too that I am changing every day so that I don't get mosquitos in it....

Sounds like a great place for the birds! What a blessing for them!

Re: Bird feeding question......

JustJazzmom — Thu, 05 May 2016 14:51:41 GMT

@Krimpette wrote:
I never knew about suet going rancid. I put suet out all year long, including the hottest days of the summer most times.

I fill my feeders once a day. If they are empty by afternoon, so be it. I'm sure they're fine. They never fail to visit me the next day. I'm especially enjoying lots of gold finches now. Especially since the males are in full color. They never empty their feeders as quickly as other birds, of course. It amazes me that they can survive on that tiny, tiny nyjer seed.

I love feeding the birds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They provide me with hours of enjoyment!

Growing Echinacea or coneflower also feeds the finches when they are allowed to go to seed.

I'm talking about real suet made from meat fat, not the peanut butter mixes found in stores in blocks.

Re: Bird feeding question......

MalteseMomma — Thu, 05 May 2016 15:57:13 GMT

I am in North Jersey and my birds eat over 25lbs/50lbs of seed a week. I think I feed every bird in NJ...lol..I love feeding and watching them.When I walk outside they flock around me . That makes me so happy.

This will be the first yr that I will not feed over summer. I have always enjoyed it when they bring their babies here to feed but I am finishing up what I have now, by gradually decreasing the amt and times I always feed them and I will begin feeding again in Sept or Oct depending on how the food sorces look for them.

I love them all and it is killing me to stop but it is getting to be too much.They are making a mess everywhere and now the pigeons have found out there is food here.I am waiting for my neighbors to complain.

I do know they just fly off and easily find food anywhere and I know for sure ,they all will easily return to my feeders in the fall..I have been feeding for 50yrs. I also count for Feeder Watch ,Cornell 's bird studies. So that is my guide as when to start and stop.

When I die ,I expect them all to gather together and carry me off to heaven where I I hope is filled with birds <3

btw,Amazon sells bird seed/suet and anything a bird needs and delivers it right to your door

Re: Bird feeding question......

PINKdogWOOD — Thu, 05 May 2016 15:59:15 GMT

@Nataliesgramma It's also possible that you like us, have squirrels who love to eat the seeds and the suet. DH discovered this yr that we have 2 fams of squirrels in two of our evergreens. I said to him a day or so ago that we seem to have gained more of the grey guys this spring than in the last couple of years. This is when he told me of the new ones. Squirrels drive me crazy in the bird feeders, they eat way more than the birds do.

He feeds the birds (I really can't reach the feeder) but I do put out suet every so often. He'd feed them every day but we skip a day or so.

Re: Bird feeding question......

MalteseMomma — Thu, 05 May 2016 16:51:11 GMT

@PINKdogWOOD wrote:
@Nataliesgramma It's also possible that you like us, have squirrels who love to eat the seeds and the suet. DH discovered this yr that we have 2 fams of squirrels in two of our evergreens. I said to him a day or so ago that we seem to have gained more of the grey guys this spring than in the last couple of years. This is when he told me of the new ones. Squirrels drive me crazy in the bird feeders, they eat way more than the birds do.

He feeds the birds (I really can't reach the feeder) but I do put out suet every so often. He'd feed them every day but we skip a day or so.

I leave a little bowl of nuts for my squirrel,He eats them up and leaves....lol I had a family too the babies are adorable.

Re: Bird feeding question......

Krimpette — Thu, 05 May 2016 16:53:50 GMT

@PINKdogWOOD - I buy hot pepper suet cakes. The birds have no problem with it, but the squirrels completely ignore it! My feeders are pretty much of the squirrel-proof type. Squirrels sure can be greedy!!!!! But they are very clever sometimes!

Re: Bird feeding question......

Lorik62 — Thu, 05 May 2016 18:51:33 GMT

@Krimpette Where do you find the hot pepper cakes? I'd love to give it a try. I have squirrel guards on my feeders but they manage to eat most of the other suet I put out.

Re: Bird feeding question......

Krimpette — Thu, 05 May 2016 19:02:55 GMT

@Lorik62 I live in the mid-Atlantic area. There's a store I frequent called "Mother Nature's". It's where I buy all my bird supplies. (I love to support an independent!). I'm thinking that most bird supply stores would carry it, but it's also available from Amazon. (As an aside, I also never take the suet cake out of the plastic tray. If I do take it out, it barely lasts a day or two!!!!!)

Re: Bird feeding question......

JustJazzmom — Thu, 05 May 2016 21:53:34 GMT

@Lorik62 wrote:
@Krimpette Where do you find the hot pepper cakes? I'd love to give it a try. I have squirrel guards on my feeders but they manage to eat most of the other suet I put out.

Home Depot in their bird seed area sells these hot pepper suet blocks.

Re: Bird feeding question......

PINKdogWOOD — Fri, 06 May 2016 11:16:08 GMT

@Krimpette Never heard of these. Where did you ever find them? The stores around us sell a lot of flavors but we've never seen these.

Re: Bird feeding question......

Krimpette — Fri, 06 May 2016 11:28:55 GMT

@PINKdogWOOD - Good Morning! See my post above for the local bird store where I get mine. However, I've also seen hot pepper suet cakes on Amazon. Another alternative is to sprinkle cayenne pepper on a regular suet cake. I use that as a last resort, if I've run out of the hot pepper kind. The brand I get from my local bird supply store is from Pine Tree Farms, if that helps.

Re: Bird feeding question......

PINKdogWOOD — Fri, 06 May 2016 11:34:33 GMT

@Krimpette Good Friday Morning to you as well! I just asked my husband about these cakes, if he knows of these, seen them anywhere and he said yes.

All good info - I did think about sprinkling w/cayenne too as I wrote you. Good idea as well.

Have a great day - hope your weather will be nice today, this weekend too. Finally we (in OH state capitol) ended the rain, sun's out, supposed to get back into nicer temps ie low 70s. I hope those who call themselves weather people aren't just telling us what we want to hear!!!! LOL