House Finch? Yes. Chickadee? No. (1 Viewer)

[Chip616]

I have just this past year or so tried to attract the increasing number of House Finches in the Calgary, Alberta area. I love their song!

I am using a lantern style tray feeder, which the Finches like (picture attached). They come, carefully crack the black oil sunflower seeds, and drop the shells on the ground. They are neat eaters.

Chicakadees, however, are messy eaters. They get on the tray and fling seed everywhere, wasting up to half of it on the ground.

I would think that a similar style feeder with individual 'pockets' for the seed to drop into, rather than pour out onto a tray, would avoid this. However, I have yet to see one like that. Other than build one myself, any suggestions?

Frank.

 

[etudiant]

One idea might be to offer the Chickadees something they like better than the sunflower seed. If you have the space for a suet feeder that you can suspend under a dome, so the sparrows and starlings don't hog it, I think your problem would be reduced.
I had good luck with a couple of the Duncraft satellite feeders, away from my main feeder. The Chickadees would dash in, select 1 sunflower seed and dash away to a convenient nearby branch, to whack open the seed. Never any mess or waste. Here too I found that a cover to discourage bigger birds was helpful.
If all else fails, just add a large seed tray below your feeder to catch the spillage. Cardinals are happiest when they can walk to their snack.

 

[sirwired]

I've found some birds like sunflower seeds just fine, but are too lazy to shell them. Despite the added cost, I've found the no-mess blends to be worth it, as it seems to reduce wastage by quite a lot.

 

[stonechat1]

I've found some birds like sunflower seeds just fine, but are too lazy to shell them.

How did you recognise that?

Despite the added cost, I've found the no-mess blends to be worth it, as it seems to reduce wastage by quite a lot.

No mess blends are only targeted towards lazy people, IMO.
There are a lot of birds which usualy feed from the ground so the wastage would be very low anyway with normal sunflowers. Locigal that they don´t feed the hulls, so tell me about lazyness.
I often tried to convince people over there and other English speaking countries to stay away from those boring monotony seeds (nyjer, sunflower), but it seems that you think that birds love them.
Guess you´re enjoying your daily burger too? How healthy it´s we all know, it´s not different at birds.

 

[sirwired]

How did you recognise that?

Because they would shovel the seeds with hulls onto the ground while eating the peanuts, tree nuts, and sunflower chips in the mix. Seems pretty lazy to me.

No mess blends are only targeted towards lazy people, IMO.

Could you explain that? How is it less work for me, using a no-mess blend? (Except for the fact my wastage is less, so I have to fill the feeder less often.)

There are a lot of birds which usualy feed from the ground so the wastage would be very low anyway with normal sunflowers. Locigal that they don´t feed the hulls, so tell me about lazyness.

Food that falls to the ground also collects rodents and "pest" birds. I prefer to not have to deal with rats, racoons, even more Grackles and Crows than I already have, etc. And the deer were doing a number digging up my lawn getting whatever the other animals left (although they did take care of the hulls for me.)

I often tried to convince people over there and other English speaking countries to stay away from those boring monotony seeds (nyjer, sunflower), but it seems that you think that birds love them.

The birds DO love them. If they didn't, they would not visit the feeders; it's not as if there are not alternative food sources. (And, FYI, I have one feeder that has peanuts, another with mixed seed (sunflower kernels, peanuts, tree nuts), a Nyjer feeder, and a "suet" feeder (the "suet" being a mix of suet, cornmeal, and peanuts)

Why do you believe the birds do not love them? I have a hard time believing my winters would be filled with "finch fights" as they compete for the Nyjer if they did not think it was tastier than whatever it is they eat on their own.

Perhaps you have a hard time convincing people to stay away from seeds because you are not correct.

Guess you´re enjoying your daily burger too? How healthy it´s we all know, it´s not different at birds.

There have been plenty of studies that show that wild birds generally do not use feeder food for more than 30% of their diet. And the seeds fed to feeder birds are not that nutritionally different from the seeds they'd eat on their own. It's hardly analogous to eating a hamburger every day in lieu of a well-balanced meal.

It must be very nice for you to have discovered the One True Way of feeding birds. Or, perhaps, you haven't, and all those choices you express such disdain for are in fact just fine.

 

[stonechat1]

No mess blends are only targeted towards lazy people, IMO.

Could you explain that? How is it less work for me, using a no-mess blend? (Except for the fact my wastage is less, so I have to fill the feeder less often.)

As the description "no mess" itself explains: no hulls = no mess on the ground for people to clean up.

 

[stonechat1]

Food that falls to the ground also collects rodents and "pest" birds. I prefer to not have to deal with rats, racoons, even more Grackles and Crows than I already have, etc. [...]

It seems your love for birdfeeding is very choosey. Feeding birs for more than 40 years we never had rats or other rodents below our feeder. Sqirrels are uncommon here in my area and racoons don´t exist here. But what do you have against grackles? I thought you guys over there are just hating European Starlings and House Sparrows as they´re "invasive" or better called "not native".

 

[stonechat1]

[...] The birds DO love them.
If they didn't, they would not visit the feeders;

I didn´t claim that birds don´t love them, Sireweird. But is everything we like to eat healthy? Sure not! And even less when we eat those meals on a daily routine, not matter of its a burger, a fat roast pork, sweets or alcohol.
EXACTLY the same it is at birds. The most expensive canary mixtures do have a high to very high amount (up to 70 %) of Phalaris canariensis, also called Canary Seed. Though the birds don´t like it. My fathers parrots would feed only sunflower seeds if possible, but do we want fat birds unable to breed or to move (like many overfeed dogs!) or bird with fatty liver disease? No.
Take a look what the world famous Loro Park is feeding them, not what they birds like too:

Basis mixture for large parakeets, specially the largest species, and also suitable for smaller parrot species.
Yellow millet 20 %
Striped sunflower seeds 15 %
White millet 12,5 %
Canary seed 12 %
White sunflower seeds 7,5 %
Peeled oats 7,5 %
Cardy 7,5 %
Buckwheat 5 %
Paddy rice 3 %
Linseed 3 %
Japanese millet 3 %
Hempseed 3 %
Niger seed 1 %

Source: http://www.versele-laga.com/en/For-your-animal/Birds/Food-products-Large-Parakeets
Versele Laga also has excelent mixtures for wild birds:
http://www.versele-laga.com/en/For-your-animal/Birds#Wildbirds

[...] FYI, I have one feeder that has peanuts, another with mixed seed (sunflower kernels, peanuts, tree nuts),

And again only pure fat. This is what I consider a wild bird mix for finches (using this normally in my feeders but more pricey than Versele Laga. Note the amount of different seeds too):
http://www.blattner-heimtierfutter.de/artikeldet.php?proid=4357&sid=031a5fa7ed2d21b5b51e20eea7bf5290

Why do you believe the birds do not love them? I have a hard time believing my winters would be filled with "finch fights" as they compete for the Nyjer if they did not think it was tastier than whatever it is they eat on their own.

Did I at any time mention that birds don´t love your seed monotony. The reason why it´s wrong is explained above.

Perhaps you have a hard time convincing people to stay away from seeds because you are not correct.

I never told anybody to stay away of seeds, I only told to stay away from seed monotony (even if the mix has 3 different seeds hence all three are only fat )

 

[Bird_Bill]

Perhaps some southern pecans are close by, or maybe Black Walnut.
Both will have chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, et cetera, ignore the sunflower seeds

 

[Aloof1]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66GKkMoY9-s&list=UUhE2ToGqGw4OpdG7ytDGx-A


White Safflower, microwave a bowl of it for 2 mins then let it cool..this prevents it from sprouting.

Stokes Snack n treats feeder can be found for $5.

Safflower is a favorite for Cardinals, Some Grosbeaks, Doves, House Finches, and ChicachicachiaDEEEEEEEz. Best part is House sparrows, Starlings, Red-wings, and Grackles...oh and Squirrels don't like it. Some young Grackles and some house sparrows will try it from time to time but not conquer the feeder for it like they do with other seeds.

On the topic of Sunflower...
There are many types of Sunflower and different sizes and different grades of each. Each has a positive and a negative. Cheap Sunflower is what most people buy. A 50lb bag can be easily found for $20. Problem is the Meat of the sunflower is tiny so birds will consume more of this than a better larger grade of it. When that happens you are going to grow through the 50lb fast and with a large mess (because a majority of each seed is just shell).

Look around for a local feed store, look for a mom and pop tiny little shop preferably. These places are everywhere on the planet but are hard to find at first. These places will have the best pricing, freshest stock, and usually different type-size-grade of Sunflower seed also. A place by my house in Chicago carry 4 different striped sunflower seed, 5 different black oil sunflower seed and 5 different shelled sunflower seed.

Once you find the feed store look into a 50lb bag of shelled sunflower bits and pieces. I can get mine at $50 so your price will be close or better.

Here is the big difference between crap black oil sunflower in the shell and $20 Vs shelled sunflower bits and pieces at $50.

No shells with the shelled sunflower, no mess.
50lbs of shelled is 50lbs of pure food, less sunflower per pound the birds will go through.
in the shell crap sunflower is mostly shell, like the shell is three times heavier than it would be without. So you're getting 3 times the food per pound..
It would take at the least 150lbs of crap sunflower seed to equal one 50lb bag of the shelled..that is $60 vs $50...the shelled is actually cheaper.

Shelled sunflower comes mainly in three different types.
1 Fine, use this for thistle type feeders as the bits are tiny.
2 Hearts and pieces, Basically the shelled kernel is cracked in two or three smaller pieces.
3 Whole, Kernels are mostly whole and should even have a thin skin still on them.

When feeding Whole Kernels you will see lots of food going to the ground and not being eaten first off. Because for birds it is natural to crack a shell first so they actually think they're cracking a shell but they are actually cracking a whole kernel in half. After uneaten half hits the floor your usual ground feeding birds will eat it but eventually so will mice.

When feeding the bits and pieces though birds will eat the entire bit of food, whatever crumbs get stuck on their beak will hit the ground..then your ground feeders will take care of that. But it won't be anywhere near feeding whole kernels so mice shouldn't become a issue.

The problem with shelled Sunflower is water or moisture. Once it gets wet and then drys it will become brick hard. So you either need to forecast your food with the upcoming weather or just use a feeder where water won't get in as easily. A perfect example of a feeder not to use is any screen or mesh feeder marketed for sunflower seeds, too open to the rain.

Now go buy some Safflower and then look for your little feed shop! Good luck!

 

[Aloof1]

Stonecat..

You can never compare a pet to a wild bird. A pet bird is on this planet because human bred them to be your pet. It looks to you for all of its food, it only knows what you give it is what it should eat. Wild birds Are not on this planet because of us, actually they have very little to do with us at all. But on the other hand they know their own diet, actually humans know very little of the percentage of what a wild bird really needs or eats and for what reason exactly. This is why when you see a imprinted or pet Northern Cardinal it won't look the same as a wild Cardinal for example.

Studies have shown that a wild birds intake of food from a feeder is at the most 15% of its total diet. 15% is on the high end of a bad winter or early cold and snowy spring and also some birds can use a feeder as a way to get food to their nestlings quickly without using too much of their own energy to find more food or travel greater distances for it. Northern Cardinals will use Safflower from a feeder if the feeder is perfectly placed from the nest and if the nestlings are at the correct age to digest the safflower kernel mush from the parents. I had this had to me last year, the parents where at my safflower 100's a times a day (you can watch 20 hours of video on my youtube page). But even this is at the high end of a wild birds diet for a feeder. Another thing i learned about the Northern Cardinal that pertains to this topic is this. Their favorite food are berries (blue! Rasp! and black to name a few). I tried unsuccessfully to feed them blue and raspberries at my feeder many times. Why won't they eat my fresh stuff but they love this very food, i tried it in the winter,summer,spring,fall but nothing! Only the wild bird knows what to eat and when to eat from where to eat, unlike a caged bird that is alive for the sole purpose of our entertainment.

The good news about feeders and esp seeds...
Feeders have been a major help to many species, esp in the winter and brooding times. Back to our loving Northern Cardinals, feeders are credited for their expansion to places they never been to before. Cardinals are actually native to Kentucky and now dominate all the way up to Canada.

Sunflower, suet, Safflower, Peanuts, Millet, and other premium seeds for wild birds..
This is high protein stuff, and high protein is energy. Energy is what is needed for a wild bird to cool itself and heat itself, lift off the ground and even beat its wings to stay above the ground, Watch a bird bath because that takes energy, energy is even used for them to tilt their head back and drink water. Now Protein can become fat, but unlike a pet polly that sits in a cage all day talking to itself, a wild bird will easily burn the protein off minutes after it ate it...wild birds are always on the move, always checking their back, a very high stress life...high stress easily will burn protein by itself..unlike Polly who may stress the toy don't talk back to it.


Ever see a bird pick from Mortar on a building.. A wild bird knows what it needs and where and when to get it, this is a part of being wild and free. this is how they survive because if a wild bird messes up one thing it needs then it is a dead bird. Does not balance its own diet perfectly, its dead. does not watch its surroundings, it's dead. does not eat the mortar of a building, well then it won't grind up whatever hard food it ate...and will be dead.

 

[sirwired]

Reputable sources like the renowned Cornell Lab Of Ornithology specifically mention that foods favored by ground-feeding birds (i.e. grains like corn, millet, and oats) should be either sprinkled on the ground or served in a low platform feeder, not put in a tube or hopper in any more than small amounts. I would have thought if there was a danger that oilseeds would have major health effects on wild birds, the Ornithology lab probably would have noticed it by now.

Birds that do not feed on grass seeds (i.e. most non ground-feeders) should not be offered much grain in elevated feeders (such as tubes or hoppers) for the simple reason that they will not eat it (instead they'll toss it on the ground.) It doesn't really matter what they "should" eat. If all you offer is grains, they'll ignore your feeders entirely. If you offer a mix, they'll simply throw away the parts they don't want. Why put them in the feeder to begin with? If I wanted to attract ground-feeding birds, I'd do so with a platform feeder. (Because of other local fauna, like squirrels, deer, raccoons, and House Sparrows, I don't feed ground-feeding birds.)

Since wild birds generally do not get much of their total food intake from feeders, any possible nutritional deficiency or excess is not an issue. Everything I've read said you should offer feed that attracts the birds and wildlife you want to attract and do not offer foods that attract things you'd rather avoid, or want to discourage.

I'm not sure how the food mixture used by a park to feed their captive parrots and parakeets as their sole food source is at all relevant to wild birds in North Carolina (or any other place where such birds are not particularly common) who only derive a portion of their nutrition from feeders. Certainly if I was feeding captive birds it would be important to balance their diet perfectly. But I'm not. With a given budget and level of effort, I'm trying to attract interesting wild songbirds that I can observe from my windows; to that end, I'm feeding the sorts of feeder foods that are recommended by Cornell, Fish and Wildlife Departments, the local bird store, etc. The rest of the birds and other local fauna can fend for themselves just as if I was not here.