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Post by nofeargardener on Jan 26, 2012 9:11:45 GMT -6
Hi phrends  I know some of you on here are real good about feeding the birds/critters during the winter. From what I've read so far, it sounds like pholks are purchasing a variety of feed and seeds for that - which is great. Question - every once in a while, I've been putting out some leftover food like bread, cooked green beans, and lettuce out by one of our maple trees. It's usually gone within 24 hours. I suspect the birds, squirrels, and possibly even some rabbits and stray cats are picking it up. From a "critter health" standpoint, is this ok? Am I doing them harm by putting out these types of table foods in the winter? (I usually don't go beyond the list I've mentioned above). Curious what some of you experienced critter feeders think. Thanks!  |
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Jan 26, 2012 17:06:18 GMT -6
I have 3 little pumpkins at the edge of the garden that the squirrels have been feeding on. Also, I often throw the ends of the loaf out. Today, planted some pre-soaked yellow soup peas to grow for microgreens, but had a handful left over after I finished planting, so out the back they went too. I left the rosehips on the rose bushes for the birds, and have a small feeder with some safflower seed in it. However, one neighbour has several feeders in a tree on the fenceline as well as a suet feeder off their closeline so the birds seem to flock there because they've been accustomed to the mixed birdseed for how ever many years they've been putting it out? Mike, the only negative thing I've heard in response to feeding wild birds is that seed should not be put out during the summer months. The birds have lots of natural feeds in summer and become lazy about foraging? I think another concern is that they don't migrate as they should when they have a catering service  But in Winter, I think it's Wonderful that you do what you can to help them out  |
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Post by Laura on Jan 26, 2012 18:57:44 GMT -6
We as most/all of you know..we LOVE feeding our feathered friends. ;D ;D They get..regular bird seed, safflower, sunflower seeds, peanuts (no salt) both shelled & in the shells. They get peanut butter (chunky) suet. Both rendered & non rendered which comes down when it warms up. We get flavored suet cakes for them. Sometimes fruit. We do keep some out in the summer. As it keeps them here & in our yard & gardens. Plus no one else in this area feeds them. They also get fresh water several times a day due to them bathing. Phil takes water out no less then 6 times a day. We do have 3 cats outside. 1 belongs to us & the other 2 are offspring to our Yetti who has since passed. They do NOT bother the birds maybe sneak a drink of water out of the bath. If we notice any thing funny going on with the birds..scared..we will make sure there isn't a cat bothering them. With the way the weather has been there has been alot of seeds on the roadside plants. So a lighter year on the seeds we feed them. We give the cats bread. If there are crumbs leftover the starlings will eat it. O.K.  I have rambled enuff. ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by mogarden on Jan 27, 2012 17:00:33 GMT -6
Starlings are a pain here in the spring and fall. I guess they are passing thru on the migration, I don't see them in winter. In fall I might get 200 mobbing the feeder, cleaning it out and all the spilled seeds, then they head out. I do like the feather color when they change for the season, would make some colorful fish flies almost like a rooster hackle.
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Post by Laura on Jan 27, 2012 19:26:27 GMT -6
Starlings are a pain here in the spring and fall. I guess they are passing thru on the migration, I don't see them in winter. In fall I might get 200 mobbing the feeder, cleaning it out and all the spilled seeds, then they head out. I do like the feather color when they change for the season, would make some colorful fish flies almost like a rooster hackle. On the news today we saw a story on thousands of starlings invading a small town in KY. Looks like the movie The Birds. I am glad we dont have that many here. We may have to take action on them.  & we like the birds just not that many. |
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Post by mogarden on Jan 31, 2012 6:04:59 GMT -6
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Jan 31, 2012 8:21:02 GMT -6
WOW, never seen anything like that...wouldn't be hard to spot would it Mo...probably why it's Rare?? I can see it being easy prey  |
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Post by nofeargardener on Jan 31, 2012 10:51:27 GMT -6
Beautiful, Mo! Never seen anything like that  |
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Post by w8in4dave on Jan 31, 2012 11:00:29 GMT -6
When we had snow on the ground I see some lil bird prints on the cement by our door, he was eating the seeds that came off the plant right there ... I was going to take a pic but I didn't ... Now I think about it all the time ... If I can I try and cut stuff down in the spring specially if it has seeds and stuff so the birds can eat them |
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Post by w8in4dave on Jan 31, 2012 11:03:10 GMT -6
That is so cool!! I shared it on FB thanks for the beautiful pic  |
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Post by mogarden on Jan 31, 2012 15:30:53 GMT -6
;D I was hoping ya'll would like it.
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Post by ChileFarmer on Jan 31, 2012 19:34:02 GMT -6
Love the photos, thanks MO. CF
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Post by Laura on Feb 2, 2012 17:14:11 GMT -6
I think that is a beauty of a bird! ;D ;D ;D
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Post by lucy on Feb 10, 2012 2:14:35 GMT -6
Hi phrends I know some of you on here are real good about feeding the birds/critters during the winter. From what I've read so far, it sounds like pholks are purchasing a variety of feed and seeds for that - which is great. Question - every once in a while, I've been putting out some leftover food like bread, cooked green beans, and lettuce out by one of our maple trees. It's usually gone within 24 hours. I suspect the birds, squirrels, and possibly even some rabbits and stray cats are picking it up. From a "critter health" standpoint, is this ok? Am I doing them harm by putting out these types of table foods in the winter? (I usually don't go beyond the list I've mentioned above). Curious what some of you experienced critter feeders think. Thanks! I try to keep my feeder filled but don't always have seed to put it, and living an hour from town, I sometimes improvise with bread, crackers, oatmeal. But even at times when there is seed in the feeder, they will steal the dog food from the pan or cat food from the dish. |
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Feb 10, 2012 9:01:43 GMT -6
Not till you mentioned this did I realize... we have a lot less blue jays around now that our dogs food isn't sitting outside  |
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Post by Compost Pharmer on Feb 10, 2012 17:01:30 GMT -6
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I have rambled enuff. ;D ;D ;D
