Robins eating porridge

[pusskin]

Every day we have one or maybe two robins scampering about in the garden.
Over the last 2 weeks I have left dried oats on the patio floor and the robins have golloped it up and keep coming back for more.
Yesterday I've left a tablespoon full of oats on the wall about 2 ft from our conservatory and hey, their back and forth till its all gone.
Their so much fun to watch, and wished I could get them through the back door. haha. Any more suggestions to keep them coming in the garden ?

[woofgang]

feed them. The robins in my garden like the suet and insect mix food. Last year two of them would come and take it from my hand.

[johnk]

Puss, it might be better for the robins if you soak it overnight but as they've survived 2 weeks maybe it's not so critical. all birds like cooked potatoes, doesn't matter how the're cooked.

[carrust]

Try some grated cheese, they love that as well.

[gingejbee]

"My" robins just love dried mealworms - I buy great big tubs from wilko. The robins appear from nowhere when I've put them out - probably want to beat the blackbirds to it.

[ladybirder]

NO NO NO puss, do NOT soak porridge overnight as suggested by johnk. It MUST be fed dry and keep water available nearby. Here is a link to the rspb What to feed birds page.

http://www.rspb.org.u...g/whatfood/index.aspx

[pusskin]

we have 4 different feeders up. Mixes seed and hearts and peanuts.
I always put out any scraps, pots, bacon, anything thats cooked, and all the birds finish them off in mins.
My intention is to get them eating out of my hand, like they do while camping in the isle of Wight. Your v lucky woofgang x

[pusskin]

have tried mealworm but starlings eat the lot, so its a no no.

Some one on AB said something about what you can hang on your garden outside window to attract birds nearer to the house?

[ladybirder]

Do you mean window feeders - I have one, brilliant close ups.

http://www.amazon.co....bird%20feeders&page=1

[murraymints]

I had several Robins that ate from my hand in Norfolk ..not here (Edinburgh) ..yet....

[tamborine]

Put the feed in a small open tin for them to feed from. Once used to the tin, you sit still holding tin & they will come to your hand to feed from tin. I had one feeding from my hand.

[pusskin]

Thanks for the link ladybirder.
i've not soaked the porridge as we have a big bird bath and pond very nearby. havent tried grated cheese , so that will go down tomorrow.
many thanks for replies folks x

[pusskin]

tamborine, thats a very good idea --cheers. And i really like the window feeders ladybirder, can see me getting one now x

[heathfield]

Our robin used to go a bundle on mealworms, but recently he's started ignoring them, and going for the sunflower seed hearts instead. Curious.

[ladybirder]

Very curious heathfield.