Snowy Days

[CLS]

Does anybody out there have any tips for helping birds in winter?

[fiazie]

Lard, and lots of it!!

[HRH]

Isn't that messy though?

We've got a Chocolate Lab who would enjoy a packet of lard I'm sure. Perhaps a good tip for dog (and possibly cat) owners is to hang the lard in a tree or put it on a table out of reach of greedy pets, otherwise you could come home to a nasty mess on the carpet!

[Rita 70]

I buy sliced wholemeal bread from Tesco (43p) butter or lard it cut slices in half and put on lawn. Half a loaf goes 30 mins. also cheap eating apples are much appreciated by blackbirds.:)

[HRH]

Apples - great. However I wouldn't recommend bread. I've been told that birds have a certain amount of food they can physically eat in a set time. If they eat too much bread they'll be full, but wont have enough energy from that particular food. I suppose if the bread has lard on it, it might be better. There's also the salt to consider which isn't very good for birds either. Sunflower seeds are probably the best, but at the end of the day its feeding the birds that count and they will be getting some benefit from the bread.

[Whitezombie]

While your in Tescos buying cheap bread you could also get som value sultanas for about 40 pence for 500 grms, i aways soak them befor scatering the on the lawn and under the shrubs. this is the only thing that brings in song thrushes to my bird table, the starlings take them off the lawn while the blackbirds search under the shrubs.:)

[Rita 70]

To HRH
Never fear - I have thought already about overloading their crops with bread and only feed it early on very cold mornings for an energy boost - mostly taken byt blackbirds and collared doves. I have plenty of feeders with sunflower hearts

[Rita 70]

to whitezombie

have failed with sultanas but did not think to soak them - thanks for tip
Rita 70

[Whitezombie]

The best thing to attract/feed wrens, "Song bird crumble" mixed into lard/fat and placed in a quiet corner. leave well conceald the wrens and robins love it.

[Rita 70]

Dear whitezombie

Please define bird crumble - i long to feed my wrens who constantle pick about for insects in the creepers outside my window but I never see them get anything.

[Whitezombie]

I do not think i can name the makers of song bird crumble here, but try a google search for bill odies bird food;)

i will check later to see if cj supply an equivelent.

[Whitezombie]

I think CJ's ground treats are the closest thing to Song bird crumble,i will order some soon and let you know.

Song Bird Crumble seems to be mainly dead flies and honey.

[CLS]

I've fed the ground treats and they are very popular.

Have you thought about trying ground blend too? The blackbirds in my garden love it.