Bird Feeders

Steve A asked:


I have tried making a sweeter feed mix 2 to 1 sugar water, in an another feeder and attracting the bees away, from the 4 to one hummingbird mix, (didn’t work) the bees just used both feeders, I tried spraying the bees and the feeder with soap and water, it chased the bees away for about 5 min but the soap migrates into the syrup and is not as attractive to the birds, The bees still come.

Jessica

Mayoor Patel asked:


Amongst the many types of bird feeders that you can choose the most common, and easiest to make, are the platform bird feeders. This type of feeder has a flat tray like base with short sides that are only tall enough to keep the bird food from falling out. It should also have a roof to it to keep the food dry in case of rain or snow. It also needs to have some holes for drainage in case it does get wet. You do not want puddles to appear in the seed you are feeding to the birds. This can spoil the seed and so keep the birds form coming back. One way to avoid this is to use a wire screen bottom instead of having to put holes in a wooden or metal base. This takes care of any water problem.

If you are trying to attract a lot of birds then the placement of these feeders is very important. You will have more luck if they are not out in the open with no cover. The kinds of birds that will be attracted to platform bird feeders will be happier if the feeders are in a more secluded spot. Putting them in amongst the bushes, trees and shrubs will be much smarter. Evergreens are a good choice to offer this security as they are also great for protection from windy weather. But, despite the need to put the bird feeders in an area with lots of trees for protection, they cannot be too close or the birds could become easy prey for cats. As well, the bird food might become a treat for animals like squirrels that can jump from the trees to the feeders. Therefore, you should try to put them in a treed area but at least ten to twelve feet away from the trees themselves. Remember, this type of bird feeder is more likely to attract other creatures since there are no sides to protect the seeds or other foods against squirrels, chipmunks or other rodents.

Having a platform bird feeder can prove to be a very rewarding experience as you watch your feathered visitors take a break when they stop in for a meal. They attract more variety of birds than the other types of feeders so depending on where you live you may see jays, doves, blackbirds, finches, sparrows to name only a few.



Lois

Sameer Shinde asked:


Welcome UK based Wild Bird Food Company selling bird food, bird seed, bird health and hygene products, and bird feeders direct from Street End Farm. We are a company that produces the highest quality bird seed - with the fewest air-miles. Over 75% of the crops that we grow on the farm are used in our wild bird food. We grow a big variety of seeds and grains, which we harvest, double clean (to minimise dust), mix, and pack ourselves. So when you buy from us – you are buying UK grown, home produced seed which hasn’t travelled half way around the world to get to you.

Our wild bird food shop supplies and sells variety of products like seed mixes, sunflower seeds, straights seeds, suet and fat foods, Niger seed ,peanuts, mealworms, bird feeders, pick and mix and bird hygene products.The bird seed is all home produced, so you will find them fresh, clean and nutritious when they reach to your garden feeders.

Birds need feeding all year round so don’t delay order bird food today from our farm shop. Our order process is very simple. You just select products and complete the online order form. We accept payment by credit card, debit card and also by cheque. Using debit card or credit card in our site is secured. Security is provided by Thawte digital certificate technology. Once we receive the payment, good will be dispatched to you with 48hrs. Feeders, fat products and accessories can only be delivered with birdseed orders.

If you are placing order for first time, you will be invited to join our frequent flyer club. This will help you next time when you making any purchase with us. It will make the order process much quicker and easier.. We have special service called ‘PICK AND MIX’ where you order a selection of smaller feeds packs to ensure your birds get variety. We give advice about birds, bird nutrition and bird care. Our bird care products are based around ark-klens, tamodine E and cleaning brushes.

We offer our customer gift service were you can tell us a message and the address of a recipients and we send our bird products as a gift form yourself.

We also offer a gift voucher service where we provide gift vouchers in multiple of ?5.00 for use on our site. This voucher will be sent with gift card by first class post. To order vouchers select one of the voucher options within our Bird Shop.

If you still have doubts regarding product, service, order process, or want to make a suggestion, you can contact us either by sending email, by phone, or by fax.



Edward

kevinw3364 asked:


I finally got squirrels out of my hanging feeder but now I have a new problem. What I believe to be Mourning Doves fly to my feeder and just sit in it feasting on the seeds. The dove will clean out the entire feeder in about 30 minutes and I can’t afford to feed them too! How can I keep them out but still attract the Cardinals, Wrens, Chickadees, etc. that I want?

Lonnie

Betty Hammond asked:


Keen bird watchers value bird feeders as an integral part of the backyard landscape. Now wherever there is bird food there is bound to be squirrels; welcome or not. If you want success at feeding wild birds, you will have to look at squirrel proof bird feeders . Here are some squirrel facts to consider.

Squirrels are agile, bold and persistent. They are rodents; so their teeth never stop growing and adults require up to two pounds of food per week. They are adept at climbing up a wide variety of surfaces, including brickwork. The harder the access to feed, the more they turn into ninja squirrels – truly ingenious acrobats. They are seldom outwitted, but they can be deterred and diverted.

Think about the best feeder types and optimal location in your backyard – always bearing in mind that squirrels can leap up to ten feet across a gap, jump as high as five feet off the ground and are happy dropping eleven feet from a height!

Feeders can either be suspended or pole-mounted. Choose to suspend them from an isolated branch of a deciduous tree (less dense foliage than pine) or you could try hanging them from a wire between two trees (although this makes refilling quite tricky). Always suspend from a metal chain or wire and hook, otherwise the squirrels will chew through the cord to make the feeder will drop.

A good squirrel guard is a baffle. Made from either heavy plastic or metal, it forms an umbrella over the top of both suspended and pole-mounted feeders. The squirrels simply slide off them. Baffles can also be placed about four feet above the ground below pole-mounted feeders – greasing the pole with Vaseline can also be effective.

Caged bird feeders are a good option because they allow small birds access to the feed, excluding squirrels and larger birds too.

You can always opt for more high tech squirrelproof bird feeders . They are weight-activated. When a squirrel lands on one, a spring mechanism causes a metal shield to come down over the feeder or its perches give way. Another, which is also very funny to watch, has a battery-driven motor that spins the squirrel (harmlessly) off it.

Squirrels eat a wide range of foods, but another way to fend them off is to offer the birds safflower seed, thistle seed (niger), and /or pure suet (without seed), because they are simply not that fond of them.

Of course, you can look at this from a completely different angle and get a squirrel feeder – complete with trapeze, tightrope and springboard. You can give squirrels their favorite foods in return for them putting on a wonderful circus performance for you. So while they are distracted, the birds get to eat too – everyone wins.

Let’s face it, squirrels will always be a part of our backyard gardens, and with strategic planning of bird feeder type, location and bird food type, we can ensure not only that the birds get their fair share but also that we are entertained by funny squirrel antics.



Dustin

Kitkat asked:


Every morning we wake up and the bird feeder is lying on the ground. The string we are using to hang the birdfeeder apparently isn’t working. I was thinking about getting that wire from the craft store they use to hang picture frames. Any other suggestions?

Danielle

Bonnie E asked:


have a hanging bird feeder hanging from a ole and squirrels are in it all the time

Nancy