Can I feed growers pellets to wild birds?

[Eco-Chic]

I have some left over growers pellets (expiry date Dec 09) and wondered if it would be okay to feed to wild birds in the garden and around the lake in the park?

[TEB]

I only ever seen Robins and blackbirds take pellets in the garden, as to the park then it could be said that you were encouraging the rats

[RichmondHens]

Even if they are a little out of date, if they smell ok then why aren't you giving them to your chooks? If they don't smell ok then feeding them to the wild birds is fine (they help themselves to our feeders all the time) but like TEB says I think taking them down to the park might be perceived as encouraging vermin.

[Eco-Chic]

My chooks are on layers pellets. I switched them from growers in Nov when they started laying. They smell fine, just wanted to be sure I wasn't poisoning the wildlife.

If you could see what people feed to the birds in the park you wouldn't be concerned about attracting rats. Nothing lasts more than a few minutes on the ground. The rats have been scared off by the seagulls, crows, Canada geese, and other big thug types.

[Glutton4...]

I'd just mix in a handful with the layers until they're used up.

[Nicos]

We've put out of date chick crumb into a feeder- and it's not been touched!!!! even when all the other food ran out. I know it's medicated- maybe they can smell it's 'tainted' ????

[Snadger]

I spilled a few layers pellets in the snow by accident (bag had a small hole in bottom that I didn't know about!)

I was worried about rats and hoped the wild birds would scoff them. They've been there a week now and nothing has touched them even though my brussel sprouts, which are in the same area, have been torn to shreds by woodpigeons!

[Eco-Chic]

I may do that G4 but share with the wildies too, particulary the Robin in my garden although I don't actually want to attract others in case they give my darlings any of their horrid germs.

ps look what I found on eBay YELLOW "I LOVE G4" SHORT SLEEVED T-SHIRT........14 - 16 on eBay (end time 16-Jan-10 21:39:12 GMT)

[Eco-Chic]

Snadger, I slipped when taking the feeder down to the coop and spilled loads of layers pellets. Dogs hooved most up. Happily they haven't grown feathers, laid eggs or gone broody yet

[Glutton4...]

I may do that G4 but share with the wildies too, particulary the Robin in my garden although I don't actually want to attract others in case they give my darlings any of their horrid germs.

ps look what I found on eBay YELLOW "I LOVE G4" SHORT SLEEVED T-SHIRT........14 - 16 on eBay (end time 16-Jan-10 21:39:12 GMT)

LOL - thanks for that EC! Surely you have something better to do with your time? LOL

[jayjay giant]

When the weather is warmer I feed a sprinkle of layers pellets to the carp and roach in my pond. They hoover them up !

[RichmondHens]

Snadger, I slipped when taking the feeder down to the coop and spilled loads of layers pellets. Dogs hooved most up. Happily they haven't grown feathers, laid eggs or gone broody yet

Eco - One of our cats eats the pellets too, but then he'll eat anything. I have to make sure all food is locked away in fridge or cupboards otherwise he goes on a raid overnight - massive problem. He has chewed his way through defrosting meat, loaves of bread, anything left in the chicken treat bowl (including potatoes) etc etc. He can get through the toughest of wrappings.

Anyway, to return to original subject, I would just mix the growers in with your layers and use them up that way, assuming your growers is ACS free. If the grower feed contains ACS then you cannot feed to laying hens because of medication getting into the eggs and then into us.

[Eco-Chic]

Lol Richmond, my ex-boss gaffer-taped her fridge door shut to keep her cats out. I bought her child proof locks which looked better. I adopted the cats when she emigrated and I didn't have any such problems with them. She probably wasn't feeding them enough or regularly

Another friend had a very determined Siamese. He bit through a can of cat food trying to get the meat out until the can resembled a colander. The bite punctures were so uniform all over you could have grated cheese on the inside of the can (Sarah spoiled her cats big time so Spinach had no call to do that)

[RichmondHens]

Ha ha Eco - My cat is very well fed and a little on the porky side! I think some of them just do because they can. Mine has also ripped into cardboard boxes to get the contents and chewed through sachets of cat food. He hasn't yet attempted a can of food, but there is always a first time!

[elizajay]

I had a cat that opened the fridge and swept a half eaten roast off the top shelf onto the floor. Had to put a child lock on the fridge. He also ate my cereal while I put some toast in the toaster. As a kitten he was locked in a pub cellar for a few days while I frantically searched for him. When the publican found him he shot out leaving behind dozens of boxes of broken glasses. He used to come for walks in the wood with the dog and despite being neutered went walkabout in his first spring and gradually came home less until he was gone. A beautiful animal siamese mother and feral father.