bird feeders

[kia cat]

Just bought some new feeders for the birds, more to give the smaller ones a chance over the pigeons, doves and starlings on the bird table.

It's a plastic one where you flip the base over which then acts as a tray. They've been up there a fortnight, but the birds hate it. They've landed on it then flown off. Which type of feeder have you found the most successful? [for both peanuts & seed] Thanks

[boxtops]

Fatballs have worked best for me but they are only for the hanging birds like the tits - with six cats in two households, we dare not have flat-bed bird tables!

[ethandron]

the ones which hang up and are like a tube which has a number (2, 4, 6) of holes with a small perch next to the hole are the best for small birds. use a mesh one for peanuts so they can peck small bits out, don't put whole peanuts out at this time of year as they take them back to the nest and they can choke the babies.
have a look on the rspb website and you'll see them there or go along to your local garden centre as most now have a very comprehensive bird feeding section.

[ethandron]

http://shopping.rspb.org.uk/c/BirdFeeders.htm

similar to these

[rowanwitch]

Have you put it close to a tree or shrub the birds can use to escape predators they don't like feeders that are too far from cover... Fat block feeders are good if you add some wire to the other end you can hang it horizontally our Robin likes this especially as we use the blocks with insects in.

[Robinia]

Over the years I've tried all kinds of bird feeders & it's odd that the tubes are so popular because in my garden even the long term visitors just didn't want to know when I tried them. I thought hunger would get the better of them but no, they just went to the neighbours! I now stick with the lantern style & I'm constantly refilling, it's costing me a fortune. This kind of thing http://birdbarn.co.uk...ird_gazebo_feeder.gif
The only problem is the pigeons select a volunteer to hang on to them & flap like crazy which sends a shower of seeds to his mates on the ground. :o)
The fat balls are popular with small birds.
As rowanwitch said mine are hanging from the cherry tree & I have lots of shrubs & hedges.

[ethandron]

robinia, i have something similar to your lantern feeder too, and it gets as well used as the tube type. i have one of those bird feeding stations and have 4 hanging things on it, as well as about 8 other hanging feeders (fat balls, nuts, etc.) dotted around in the garden. i also bought a nyjer feeder which was a total waste of money as the goldfinches ignored it and continued to use the seed feeders with sunflower hearts in them.
the feeding station is about 2ft away from the conservatory and is really popular. i think once the birds get used to using a particular area and come to no harm, they're quite happy to use it although trees and shrubs certainly help. the other thing to remember is that birdbaths also attract birds, i have 4 dotted around the garden and they all get well used.
and don't forget the ground feeding birds, worth scattering some sultanas, seed, suet nibbles, etc., to encourage them into your garden too.

[Robinia]

It's lovely to watch them ethandron, but it's not free entertainment is it?! :o)
The blackbirds come to the windowsill for raisins...three pairs at the moment & rapidly expanding families. You're right about the nyger seed but we only get the occasional goldfinch & throwing a handful of seed into hedgerows is a good idea for the dunnocks. No need to buy expensive bird baths either, a large plant pot tray will do very well.
Had my little dog clipped yesterday & the birds are loving the fur, they must have some really snug nests.

[ethandron]

ha ha, you're right, costs a blooming fortune but well worth the money :)

[joanne]

Kat, I put fatballs in the middle of the privet hedge for the small birds.

[JandyAF]

A word of warning - don't scatter sultanas on the ground if you have dogs or cats, as they are poisonous to them. To limit a hanging feeder to just the smaller birds, hang them inside a metal guardian cage, which will also keep grey squirrels off.