Looking for a decent birdfeeder for the small birds. Any suggestions?

Had a plain feeder but the fussy buggers seem to drop most of the
seed, or rather spit it out in disgust! This in turn encourages ratty
to show up a little too frequently. I no longer have a table because
the pigeons seem to think its a toilet, and the doves think its a
bed!!
I put a tray underneath the feeder to catch the spill. Now the smart
ar** rooks have discovered they can cling to the tray and pinch the
seed...lol so thats no good either.

Any tips for a hanging feeder?

On Sat, 14 Apr 2012 10:17:49 +0100, Pendrag0n wrote:

Looking for a decent birdfeeder for the small birds. Any suggestions?

Had a plain feeder but the fussy buggers seem to drop most of the
seed, or rather spit it out in disgust! This in turn encourages ratty
to show up a little too frequently. I no longer have a table because
the pigeons seem to think its a toilet, and the doves think its a
bed!!
I put a tray underneath the feeder to catch the spill. Now the smart
ar** rooks have discovered they can cling to the tray and pinch the
seed...lol so thats no good either.

Any tips for a hanging feeder?

There are loads of hanging feeders out there but if the birds don't
like what's on offer they'll still chuck it around. I now only put out
two types of food - peanuts (in a hanging peanut feeder; they're not
"table food") and sunflower hearts. Very little mess now and that's
only accidental and cleared up quickly by the ground feeders.

Cheers, Jake
=======================================
Urgling from the sunny and refreshingly green
east end of Swansea Bay.

On Sat, 14 Apr 2012 14:00:18 +0100, Jake
wrote:

On Sat, 14 Apr 2012 10:17:49 +0100, Pendrag0n wrote:

Looking for a decent birdfeeder for the small birds. Any suggestions?

Had a plain feeder but the fussy buggers seem to drop most of the
seed, or rather spit it out in disgust! This in turn encourages ratty
to show up a little too frequently. I no longer have a table because
the pigeons seem to think its a toilet, and the doves think its a
bed!!
I put a tray underneath the feeder to catch the spill. Now the smart
ar** rooks have discovered they can cling to the tray and pinch the
seed...lol so thats no good either.

Any tips for a hanging feeder?

There are loads of hanging feeders out there but if the birds don't
like what's on offer they'll still chuck it around. I now only put out
two types of food - peanuts (in a hanging peanut feeder; they're not
"table food") and sunflower hearts. Very little mess now and that's
only accidental and cleared up quickly by the ground feeders.

Cheers, Jake

Thanks Jake. Aside from the expense, I did not really want to
specialise in specific birds. I only really get passing trade anyway
here being surrounded by open fields. My nuts are wasted in more ways
then one! Chaffinch is my only resident I reckon. But as I said I am
reluctant to specialise.

On Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:31:23 +0100, Pendrag0n wrote:

On Sat, 14 Apr 2012 14:00:18 +0100, Jake
wrote:

On Sat, 14 Apr 2012 10:17:49 +0100, Pendrag0n wrote:

Looking for a decent birdfeeder for the small birds. Any suggestions?

Had a plain feeder but the fussy buggers seem to drop most of the
seed, or rather spit it out in disgust! This in turn encourages ratty
to show up a little too frequently. I no longer have a table because
the pigeons seem to think its a toilet, and the doves think its a
bed!!
I put a tray underneath the feeder to catch the spill. Now the smart
ar** rooks have discovered they can cling to the tray and pinch the
seed...lol so thats no good either.

Any tips for a hanging feeder?

There are loads of hanging feeders out there but if the birds don't
like what's on offer they'll still chuck it around. I now only put out
two types of food - peanuts (in a hanging peanut feeder; they're not
"table food") and sunflower hearts. Very little mess now and that's
only accidental and cleared up quickly by the ground feeders.

Cheers, Jake

Thanks Jake. Aside from the expense, I did not really want to
specialise in specific birds. I only really get passing trade anyway
here being surrounded by open fields. My nuts are wasted in more ways
then one! Chaffinch is my only resident I reckon. But as I said I am
reluctant to specialise.


You won't be specialising with sunflower hearts if my experience is
anything to go by. When I had the so called "high energy no waste"
mixed seed, nyger seed, fat balls and peanuts I was visited by
collared doves, blue tits, thrushes, starlings and blackbirds plus
occasional robin. Now with just peanuts and sunflower hearts I can add
to that list long tailed, coal and great tits, chaffinches,
goldfinches, greenfinches, bullfinches, nuthatches, woodpeckers and
the occasional sparrowhawk zooming down after the aforementioned lunch
selection.

Cheers, Jake
=======================================
Urgling from the sunny and refreshingly green
east end of Swansea Bay.

"Martin" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:22:07 +0100, Jake
wrote:

On Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:31:23 +0100, Pendrag0n wrote:

On Sat, 14 Apr 2012 14:00:18 +0100, Jake
wrote:

On Sat, 14 Apr 2012 10:17:49 +0100, Pendrag0n wrote:

Looking for a decent birdfeeder for the small birds. Any suggestions?

Had a plain feeder but the fussy buggers seem to drop most of the
seed, or rather spit it out in disgust! This in turn encourages ratty
to show up a little too frequently. I no longer have a table because
the pigeons seem to think its a toilet, and the doves think its a
bed!!
I put a tray underneath the feeder to catch the spill. Now the smart
ar** rooks have discovered they can cling to the tray and pinch the
seed...lol so thats no good either.

Any tips for a hanging feeder?

There are loads of hanging feeders out there but if the birds don't
like what's on offer they'll still chuck it around. I now only put out
two types of food - peanuts (in a hanging peanut feeder; they're not
"table food") and sunflower hearts. Very little mess now and that's
only accidental and cleared up quickly by the ground feeders.

Cheers, Jake

Thanks Jake. Aside from the expense, I did not really want to
specialise in specific birds. I only really get passing trade anyway
here being surrounded by open fields. My nuts are wasted in more ways
then one! Chaffinch is my only resident I reckon. But as I said I am
reluctant to specialise.


You won't be specialising with sunflower hearts if my experience is
anything to go by. When I had the so called "high energy no waste"
mixed seed, nyger seed, fat balls and peanuts I was visited by
collared doves, blue tits, thrushes, starlings and blackbirds plus
occasional robin. Now with just peanuts and sunflower hearts I can add
to that list long tailed, coal and great tits, chaffinches,
goldfinches, greenfinches, bullfinches, nuthatches, woodpeckers and
the occasional sparrowhawk zooming down after the aforementioned lunch
selection.

and parakeets and jays. The wood pecker dines next door.
Tits are very fussy about the seed they eat.
--

Martin


I've always fed mixed seed and I've tried various "no mess" mixes over the
years in a variety of feeders and always had birds rejecting some seeds from
the mix. I've always taken comfort in the knowledge that ground feeders
come and clear up (most of) the rejects.

Late last year I started feeding sunflower hearts, replacing mixed feed with
sunflower in one feeder. I only bought a small bag first time just to see
how they worked. When it became clear they were a hit I started looking
for a bulk supply and came across a company called Brinvale. Since I
needed mixed seed at the same time I ordered a sack of each. Their mixture
is different to others I have used in a way that I find difficult to
describe. However, the result is that I now have almost no mess and no
ground feeders. I'm thinking that next time around I'll go back to a
different make of no mess mixture and mix with Brinvale!

"Our" Woodpecker dines on the peanuts but I sometimes wonder if it's the
nuts or insects between the nuts he is after.

I've currently got peanuts, sunflower hearts, mixed seed, niger and the
remains of a couple of fat balls on the go.

Started feeing in a suburban garden in East Berkshire and now a rural garden
in South Somerset.

I've always fed mixed seed and I've tried various "no mess" mixes over
the years in a variety of feeders and always had birds rejecting some
seeds from the mix. I've always taken comfort in the knowledge that
ground feeders come and clear up (most of) the rejects.

Late last year I started feeding sunflower hearts, replacing mixed feed
with sunflower in one feeder. I only bought a small bag first time just
to see how they worked. When it became clear they were a hit I started
looking for a bulk supply and came across a company called Brinvale.
Since I needed mixed seed at the same time I ordered a sack of each.
Their mixture is different to others I have used in a way that I find
difficult to describe. However, the result is that I now have almost no
mess and no ground feeders. I'm thinking that next time around I'll go
back to a different make of no mess mixture and mix with Brinvale!

"Our" Woodpecker dines on the peanuts but I sometimes wonder if it's the
nuts or insects between the nuts he is after.

I've currently got peanuts, sunflower hearts, mixed seed, niger and the
remains of a couple of fat balls on the go.

Started feeing in a suburban garden in East Berkshire and now a rural
garden in South Somerset.

Lovely display of bird feeders at our local Wyevales, complete with a
real robin who comes visiting as soon as the doors are open. We've had
two in the house in the last month, but I'm not superstitious.

"Pendrag0n" wrote in message
news
Looking for a decent birdfeeder for the small birds. Any suggestions?

Had a plain feeder but the fussy buggers seem to drop most of the
seed, or rather spit it out in disgust! This in turn encourages ratty
to show up a little too frequently. I no longer have a table because
the pigeons seem to think its a toilet, and the doves think its a
bed!!
I put a tray underneath the feeder to catch the spill. Now the smart
ar** rooks have discovered they can cling to the tray and pinch the
seed...lol so thats no good either.

Any tips for a hanging feeder?

Do not buy "wild bird food" with wheat in as sold in supermarkets.
I have great success with half canary seed/half sunflower hearts, but even
better if you can find a pet shop that sells British finch feed to do that
50/50.


I
..

In message , Martin
writes
On Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:15:53 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"Pendrag0n" wrote in message
news
Looking for a decent birdfeeder for the small birds. Any suggestions?

Had a plain feeder but the fussy buggers seem to drop most of the
seed, or rather spit it out in disgust! This in turn encourages ratty
to show up a little too frequently. I no longer have a table because
the pigeons seem to think its a toilet, and the doves think its a
bed!!
I put a tray underneath the feeder to catch the spill. Now the smart
ar** rooks have discovered they can cling to the tray and pinch the
seed...lol so thats no good either.

Any tips for a hanging feeder?

Do not buy "wild bird food" with wheat in as sold in supermarkets.

because? The birds don't eat it or what?

They don't eat the wheat (they just throw it away, or just leave it in
the feeder) - well leastways the small birds that go to the feeders
don't. Pidgeons etc. do I guess.

So whilst the food with wheat is cheaper, as the wheat is cheap and
bulks it out, it's rather a false economy.

As for feeders, my favourite seed feeders are the Droll Yankee type of
feeders. Like this:

http://www.haiths.com/Products/Droll...ers-Metal-wbsd
01008/

Though you can get variations on this from different places such as the
RSPB, CJ Birdfoods etc.

Not cheap, but we have got some that must be at least 10 - 12 years old
now and still going strong, so good value. The are pretty much squirrel
proof -if they want to they can get at the seed by using their paws to
get some out, but they have never chewed into them (in two gardens). The
base top and seed ports are all metal (some of which does so some teeth
marks, so they ahev had a go), so no access to the edge of the plastic
tube.

highly recommended
--
Chris French

"Martin" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:15:53 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"Pendrag0n" wrote in message
news
Looking for a decent birdfeeder for the small birds. Any suggestions?

Had a plain feeder but the fussy buggers seem to drop most of the
seed, or rather spit it out in disgust! This in turn encourages ratty
to show up a little too frequently. I no longer have a table because
the pigeons seem to think its a toilet, and the doves think its a
bed!!
I put a tray underneath the feeder to catch the spill. Now the smart
ar** rooks have discovered they can cling to the tray and pinch the
seed...lol so thats no good either.

Any tips for a hanging feeder?

Do not buy "wild bird food" with wheat in as sold in supermarkets.

because? The birds don't eat it or what?
--

Because the small birds (which the OP wanted to attract) don't eat it and
will throw it out of the feeder.
I have a seed feeder, like a plastic tube, with holes at various points up
it. You can buy them everywhere.

I buy canary seed and sunflower hearts and mix them 50/50. I find this is
very successful and almost no waste.
If you live near a pet shop that sells British Finch Mix to mix 50/50 with
sunflower hearts, this is even better.
Wheat is for pigeons and doves and small birds that are attracted to a
hanging feeder full of supermarket mix will not eat it.
Tina