Acorns for the Birds (2 Viewers)

[Guinness537]

Has anyone had any luck with feeding Oak Acorns during the winter. I've managed to gather a pile from the forest floor.

What should I do to keep them from going off?

Do you crack them before you put them out?

Any help would be appreciated.

B

 

[Zoogoer2000 - Packwatcher]

I would some how crush them after taking off the caps and then spread them on a platform feeder

 

[Guinness537]

I would some how crush them after taking off the caps and then spread them on a platform feeder

Thanks for the input. I hadn't thought of crushing them.

I'll crush them before I freeze them.

Thanks again,

B

 

[YourBirdOasis]

I agree with Zoogoer2000; you should definitely try to crush them before putting them out for the birds. Only certain birds are able to crack the acorns themselves (for instance, the aptly named Acorn Woodpecker); by crushing the acorns yourself you'll have much better luck bringing in a wider range of birds. Try using a large mortar and pestle if you have one, or you could improvise with a hard surface and a hammer or rock. Good luck, and if you choose the later approach, don't crush a finger!

 

[Mirta]

I tried feeding acorns last year and they were very much appreciated by tits. I used pruning shears (hope this is the right word) to cut them in quarters before serving. Did not try to keep them for long, so I do not have experience in that.

 

[fugl]

You might also put out some whole acorns for the Blue Jays. In my neighborhood in Reno, the Western Scrub-Jays have been spending most of the day lately harvesting the local acorn crop. They’re not eating them at this stage but are storing them in loose earth & under the leaf litter for consumption later in the year when other foods starts running short.

 

[Guinness537]

Thanks for everyone's input. You've all contributed some really good ideas on how to open, store and distribute the acorns.

Over the last several weeks I've been able to collect quite a sizeable cache of acorns. I've crushed some already and the others have been left whole as Fugl suggested.

And I know what you mean when you say the Western S-J's are busy storing them. The Blue Jays are busy here stripping my peanut feeders. Its fun to watch them stash them in the neighbours lawns by jamming them down into the grass.

Now all I have to do is wait for the cold weather to arrive.

Cheers all,
B

 

[KC Foggin]

Crows seem to love the acorns as well. I never actually thought about collecting them as a source of feeder food though. Glad you started this thread as I've got about a gazillion acorns dropping down here

 

[Guinness537]

Crows seem to love the acorns as well. I never actually thought about collecting them as a source of feeder food though. Glad you started this thread as I've got about a gazillion acorns dropping down here

I could use another truck load if you can spare it KC.

B