Garden

[Nataliesgramma]

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

[RipleyGirl]

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@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

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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.

[JustJazzmom]

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.

[PenneyT]

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!

[Krimpette]

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!

[joannecha]

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.

[Nataliesgramma]

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@RipleyGirl wrote:

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@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.

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

[Nataliesgramma]

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@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!

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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....

[PenneyT]

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@Nataliesgramma wrote:

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@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!

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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....

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

[JustJazzmom]

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@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!

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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.