I feed the birds in my garden with the usual seeds, peanuts, fatballs etc. but for some reason they're not touching the suet block. Its a seed & insect flavour of the same manufacture I've always used and normally they polish them off in no time at all. So I was wondering if anybodies got any ideas why all of a sudden they wont touch it, also do they go "OFF" & I should just change it or possibly take it out of the feeder it's in & just leave it on the bird table?
Have you tried putting a bit of ketchup on it or tobasco sauce? It could be a simple case that they are a little bored of eating the same dry thing all the time.
Is it a seasonal thing? Or the birds that loved them might have gone elsewhere. These guys are quite fickle and you may have a neighbour who has set up a feeding station. This happened to me today. The sparrows scarpered and the bank voles had an undisturbed feast.
At the moment there are a lot of insects and seeds about, paddywak, but you'll probably find that birds feed from the suet block during the colder months.
thanks for the imput,everybody, it just seemed strange that they are eating everything else and ignoring the suet, or as seadog says the ones that liked them have moved on, I must admit I've not seen any of the starlings lately
Go to a pet shop and buy some white (Shelled) sunflower seeds which will attract all sorts, especially Goldfinches, they love em. Here in Bournemouth I have only seen one starling all year whereas we used to get dozens of the noisy beggers. I think they have gone to Africa at this time of the year on hols
If the suet block was put out during the very hot weather it's probably rancid and not fit for birdy consumption.- so if in doubt remove and dispose of it.
If you think it's ok then another probable reason is that suet blocks etc are usually only put out in late autumn/early winter, as they are high energy supplements when the birds need it the most. Now is a time of plenty so they can afford to be picky.