Feeding the birds on the allotment

[pipkins]

I bought a feeding station for the lottie(i thought it was a good idea) along with a nice peanut, seed and fat ball holder.

A few of the older lottie folk raised their eyebrows and said I was asking for trouble

Being as there is so many newbies (inc myself) getting plots and all the bramble bushes are diminishing a rate of knots I thought it would help.

Do you feed the birds on your plot?

[Jeanied]

Hi Pipkins - I had the same problem when I put a bird feeder on my apple trees on the lottie - (the sort of intake of breath noise made just before you are told your car is going to be expensive to fix) - I think the 'trouble' they are talking about is either rats or pigeons. You are going to get both of those with or without a bird feeder. I think that the other birds are a bonus - we have part of the London Himalayan parakeet flock over our way and they just love the sunflowers when the seeds are ready. I saw some magpies having a go at the rat population recently, and the lottie is the only place I get to see sparrows these days.

[Nicos]

Yes- we used to leave seeds in winter- no fat balls though.
Also water when it was very frosty/snowy

Most of the time though I think the squirrels nicked it- and the squirrel proof bird feeders were too expensive to leave in case they were knicked

[Two_Sheds]

I hang fat balls on the lotty: they attract sparrows, tits and lots of starlings, none of which do serious damage (if any) to the plot.

Woodpigeons are attracted to wheat, which you get in the cheaper loose mixes

[Bigmallly]

I don't have a lotty but have mixed feeling about putting feeders in the garden. I put them out every year but I find they attract cats & don't fancy the idea of dead birds at my expense. I am also concerned of the bird seed sprouting next year as I have had all sorts of strange extras in my pots.

[Jeanied]

Hi BM - I have bird feeders in my garden and this area is really full of cats including my 2! Over the past few years I have gone from the occasional robin or starling to a huge flock of goldfinches, greenfinches and chaffinches, with woodpigeon and collared doves, sometimes a jay, starlings, bluetits and greattits and so on. What I found out was that the best defence for a bird in danger of cat predation is - loads of other birds! Yes, I get the occasional carnage - but the number is tiny compared to the baby birds hatched each year and brought to my feeders. I put things down to catch the dropped seeds as well - or sweep them up and chuck them onto my shed roof for the chaffinches.

[Bigmallly]

Now I feel guilty at not feeding the birds.......................ok I'll do it.

[snuffer]

I have always fed the birds on my lottie. I feed using mealworms and peanuts. I don't use seed because the birds like to spread it about a bit to much for my liking.

Even if I don't need to do any work I visit the lottie every day whilst walking the dogs. It's no bother to put out a few mealworms and top-up the peanut feeder.

A few of the other plot holders feed the birds and to the best of my knowledge nobody has ever complained about it.

[Two_Sheds]

I just saw a goldfinch in the front garden - he seemed to be eating the verbena bonariensis seeds. The sparrows are back too, I've got a seed feeder for them. The spilled seed does sprout occasionally, but it's no real bother.

The blackbirds prefer soaked raisins: they get a handful a day thrown on the ground. I never put bread out: it's not nutritious enough for birds and it attracts rats.

The best place for birdfeeders is away from places where cats might lurk: bushes etc.

If you hang them from trees, hang them from the most fragile branches that won't hold a cat's weight.

[Hans Mum]

I don't have a lotty

i know a site which doesnt have a long waiting list and the Secretary is nearer to you than you thiought

i've got feeders in the garden (& ive got cats) and at the lottie, every little helps is my thinking

[Dal]

The best place for birdfeeders is away from places where cats might lurk: bushes etc.

If you hang them from trees, hang them from the most fragile branches that won't hold a cat's weight.

Or do what we've done and purchase CatWatch units from .: Concept Research :. We bought two and no cats will go near the areas protected by them. They're the only ones approved by the RSPB.

[Two_Sheds]

Catwatch? Looks interesting, it seems effective too, from the reviews selected. Buy CATWatch Cat Deterrent

[pipkins]

Thanks all,

I feel much better now and to the "making trouble for yourself" folk

[Jeanied]

Hi Pipkins - just seen where you are located - look for the London parakeet flock!

[Florence Fennel]

I'd need to shop around for that, £55.00 is too much out of my garden budget! I'll stick with TS tip about hanging food from delicate branches that the cats can't manage.