Finally bought my birdfeeder

Marie5656

Well-known Member
Location
Batavia, NY
I got a $40 rebate on a card from Home Depot, for buying the paint for my deck. So, I decided to put some of it toward the birdfeeder I wanted to get. I could not find exactly what I was looking for in a feeder, but I got a good starter one. Probably next year I will buy another one, plus something to use as a more secure pole for it. I would like to buy a piece of lumber to use as a base to hang it from. The shepherd's hooks are attractive, but I am a bit leary of their strength.
I just wanted the birds to get used to finding the food here, before winter sets in. I got seed, but want to switch to more sunflower seeds, Maybe some corn for the squirrels. Another friend suggested safflower seeds. Any other suggestions?
Here are pictures, I know the feeder looks a bit crooked. I fixed it after I took the pictures.

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I hope you get a lot of pleasure watching the birds at your feeder!
We always had several in our backyard, one for sunflower seed, one for
niger seed and one for corn. Also a hummingbird feeder. If you do ever get
a hummingbird feeder, may I remind you to change the liquid every 2 or 3 days
as it goes rancid.
 
That little feeder should provide you with many hours of entertainment.

Try mixing a bag of cracked corn in with your mixed seed or sunflower seeds to help keep the cost down. It can be purchased at feed stores or Tractor Supply for under $10.00/fifty pound bag. A garbage can with a tight-fitting lid to keep it in might also be a good investment.
 
That's great Marie. You have already attracted so many birds. I hope the squirrels don't become a problem. Here they eat all kinds of seed and leave none for the birds. If you get a humming bird feeder you don't have to buy the red colored liquid food. I boil up sugar and water,proportions are on the internet, and keep it in the refrigerator or freezer. If the feeder is colored red they will come to it. Mine wasn't so I spray painted it red and it worked fine. The smaller feeders are better because as Tortiecat mentioned it should be cleaned and changed every couple of days. I hope you have many happy hours watching your new feathered friends.
 
@tortiecat thanks. I have never heard of niger seed.
Marie, we use Niger seed here in our garden..it's a tiny black seed.. which you can see in the feeder to the far right .. it's used to feed mainly Finches and sparrows... , etc..

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The black wrought Iron stand is called a Sheppard's hook. They have them in the garden section of places like Lowes and Home Depot. You don't need to get the fancy one with 4 hooks like mine. The also have single and double hooked ones.
 
Every morning I go out and clean the leftover seed hulls out with a 4 inch plastic putting knife. Easy peasey. And then I put 4 cups of new seed in. I get that at the grocery store. The birds love it. I get lot of different kinds.

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This morning it was mostly Doves, although I did see a couple of Blue Jays and a Cardinal. Although Doves are sometimes refered to as birds of peace, they are bullies when it comes to the bird feeder. When they come they take the place over and don't let any of the other birds in.

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Used to watch Doves in action around my yard and they are as you describe Trade .... they did come in packs and quickly take command of things. They loved a raised flower bed I had off the back patio and made it home.
 
Marie, we have problems with squirrels so feed safflower seeds to them when the squirrels start hitting the feeders, squirrels don't like those seeds, but the other songbirds and regular birds like them. Squirrels will come and taste them, but they don't come back.
I'm a messy feeder, love to put seed on the deck too so more birds can feed at once.
 
I noticed that also about the Doves. One of them scared off a Blue Jay and that takes some doing. I always thought Jays were the more aggressive bird. They all are part of Mother Nature and they all have to eat.

My son reminds me of that when I complain about a mouse or a groundhog. He tells me if it had beautiful brown eyes or looked like a little lamb or calf I wouldn't complain at all. He is totally right.
 
I'm glad you're enjoying your feeder so much, @Marie5656 ! You might decide to move it back a little so the bird poop doesn't land directly on the deck, or maybe it's just the camera angle.

I agree. I do want to get a pole that I can attach to the ground, and have feeder face over the grass, but still reachable from the deck. That will be my next project
 
Marie, this is the bird feeder we always buy...have tried many others and none holds up to this one as far as accommodating the birds and being strong and stout for years. Its a Duncraft exclusive. The large tray at the bottom is metal as are the feeding perches and top/hanging hook.
It comes with or without a top baffle. We get the one with the baffle as it keeps seeds from getting wet. Do recommend it - cardinals and other songbirds, wild canaries, buntings, finches and many types of birds really love it - lots of places to perch and nibble away without too much competition.

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