Feeders

[Axeman]

It cracks me up that birds are picky at the feeders at the start...they ransack the my feeders and pick through the seeds taking what they like first...and finishing the rest as the days go by....

Any tips on type of feed to use, places to buy and pricing? If I let them, they'd eat me out of home...not sure where the phrase appetite like a bird came from but it obviously means someone who eats constantly...and a lot.

[frozenice7885]

black oiled sunflower seeds

[Axeman]

Not the mix stuff?

[Mark D]

I've also found that a lot of birds really like the sunflower seeds.  When I've bought the mixed stuff, they pick through it and eat the sunflower seeds, leaving the rest.

[Ron Luft]

Wild Birds Unlimited stores carry good seeds It was explained to me and experience then bore that out, that avoiding seed mixes (tho labelled Wild Bird seed) contain a lot of corn which many don't eat and attract Pigeons and Starlings. Sunflower and peanuts attract Chickadees, BlueJays, Cardinals, Niger seed attracts House/Gold Finches. Suet for Woodpeckers etc. High grade bird seed costs more but you wind up using less as corn is acheap 'filler'. Perhaps real wildbirds have discerning pallets.

[Axeman]

My wife picked up some bird seed for me on the weekend...and the variety she picked up has a much higher sunflower seed content although still mixed stuff...and the results have been dramatic...a lot more activity (longer and more birds and more of certain birds eg. red breasted nuthatches and cardinals) and red squirrels (whom I enjoy) and usually at dusk, the rabbits descend...I will have typically 2 maybe 3....last night I had 10....I have been converted....I can see the light.

[Bird Brain]

....I have been converted....I can see the light.

I made the mistake of munching on popcorn as I read your posting.   It's now on the floor!  :lol:

[wbtc]

Seed should be high in sunflower content. Other ingredients that are very attractive are:

Peanuts        (unsalted and not rancid, roasted are best)
White Millet   (for ground feeders)
Cut Corn       (this is the highest carbohydrate ingredient and good for winter feeding) (Cracked corn can have toxins)
Safflower
Striped Sunflower
Nyjer Seed


Avoid mixes with fillers and hazards listed below:
Wheat
Milo (also called sorghum)
Barley
Wheat screenings
red millet
cracked corn  (may have toxins)
Hot Pepper     ( will decrease body temperature in cold weather and defeats the principle that birds eat to stay warm)

[Napper]

Hey!!

You of course realize that you will have a plantation under your feeder this spring.:?

I found sunflowers and other assorted greenery all over the yard last year..:roll:
 
I really have to get out there and do a major clean up..

Napper:))

Black oil seeds seems to work the best here for me.

House finch, House sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, Cardinal, Am Gold finch, Junco's, The odd redpoll , and tree sparrow seem to love it.

In about two weeks I will scale back feeding so as to not attrack too many Grackles..  Psss.. Some goldfiches are already starting to turn or ripen as I like

to say.

[Pat Hodgson]

try Tractor Supply if there is one near you  - the one in Alliston has vast quantities of bird seed

[guinness]

I buy my bird feed direct from a farm that grows the seed themselves. The quality of the blacks is outstanding........you can see the shine of the oil on it when you open the bag. Its not dried out like when you by it at the big box stores and there's very few twigs or broken hulls etc.

The price is right to at $25 for a 50 pnd bag.

[Napper]

Hey!

We used to have a Farmers Co-op here in town, it was bought out by TSC Tractor Supply Company in May of 2008.. Unfortunately they only sell 16 kg/ 36 lbs bags of black oil seeds..

Co-op used to sell 50 lb bags for 29 bucks.

p.s. My wife claims to have spotted a few Robins today during her daily walk.. I am waiting for the Red winged black birds.. Shouldn't take long..
Mourning Dove's were calling today after work, Cardinal's for about two weeks. kestrels at work are very active and very noisy.

Napper