Home made bird food

[annie0000]

Stuck at home in the snow....again. I noticed that all the little birds seem to be well catered for in the neighbours gardens with bird feeders etc, but saw quite a few blackbirds and medium birds handing about and they cant get the food from the feeders.

I didn't have a lot of stuff in, but I improvised and crushed up some wheetabix, mixed it with raisins and some crushed up brazil nuts and mixed it with some sunflower oil and chucked it out the back.

Birds are tucking in, will this be any good for them?

I know it's a bit late to ask. :o)

[NazNomad]

Oats, fruit, nuts ... perfect for birds. Not sure about sunflower oil, but I doubt it would do them any harm in small quantities, as they'd eat sunflower seeds non-stop with no problems.

I'll link to this question in the Twitchers topic too.

[ethandron]

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

[annie0000]

cheers naz- I only used the oil as the weetabix seemed a bit dry - I didn't have any lard or anything which I think you are supposed to use as they need the fat I think- too much healthy eating!

[madmaggot]

Just make sure that any dried fruit is reconstituted first or it swells up inside the bird.

[NazNomad]

You can safely crush up a dry Weetabix and throw it out for them.

If you really want to 'wow' the Blackbirds, cut up an apple for them.

[annie0000]

Thanks all - thats a good site ethandron - seems most breakfast cereals are fine - leaving the water out beside it is a bit of a problem - I don't think it's been above -4 all day!

was -16.5 this morning - poor birdies :o(

[ethandron]

don't think that's quite right madmaggot, look here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/...ambs/bird_guide.shtml

[annie0000]

good idea about the apple - I have some of those - running low on supplies here. Any idea about bananas? My son will only eat unblemished fruit and nobody else really ikes bananas so I have a few that would otherwise be put in the bin.

[ethandron]

i buy smartprice sultanas especially for the blackbirds, they love them.

[ethandron]

yep, bananas will get eaten, peel them first.

[annie0000]

If we can get out to the shops, I will stock up on stuff for them, stuck at home just now with no prospects of shops for a few days so just improvising for now.

[annie0000]

cool - just nipping out with the bananas and apple.

[vivandorron]

Hi annie....Yourself and others who are interested in our feathered friends should consider posting in the following:-

http://www.theanswerb...t/Question958202.html

Best wishes....Ron.