Dangers of Fat Ball Nets (1 Viewer)

[Busy-Bee]

:-C

Has anyone else ahd trouble with birds being caught in the green nets fat balls are supplied in?

Yesterday a baby starling got caught and was in a terrible state before I could get out and release him!

I've not seen this before but now think I should take them out the nets and put them on the bird table rather than risk any more harm!

 

[Marmot]

I always take them out of the bags and put them in a feeder like this
http://www.dobbies.com/Gardman-Heavy-Duty-Fat-Snax-Feeder/pid-230005

There are cheaper feeders of this type available as well.

 

[TheBirdGarden]

As like marmot I take them out of the net and put them in a special feeder mine cost 98p at Wilko. Also when the fatballs have gone the net could get caught in the wind causing it to be litter.

 

[Pam_m]

Thank goodness you were around to release the Starling! Always take the fatballs out of the net, the same goes for peanuts too! Cut the netting up into tiny pieces before putting into your dustbin so that it doesn't endanger birds at the landfill sites!

 

[Kits]

I have always used a metal feeder for the fatballs as I have heard about birds getting caught before. Good job you were able to release the starling. My feeder was 99p at the local pet store.

 

[Sandra (Taylor)]

I don't understand why there isn't a warning on the shelves/containers when buying fat balls in nets. There was a posting on here of a starling getting its tongue tangled in the net and of course it died. If I'm asked about bird food etc. I always mention taking out of the nets and the usual comment is: "it doesn't say that on the shelf". My son bought some at a shop in Aviemore and the lady said she'd never heard any warnings and she sold dozens in nets! And that was a shop entirely devoted to bird food. Presumably, also for 'fat balls' read 'peanuts'.

 

[bongofury]

Personally, I think these nets should be banned as far as bird feeding goes. I don't know why reputable shops keep on selling them.

 

[leeniex]

Does the same go for those finch socks with thistle seed in them? Are these dangerous?

 

[Pam_m]

Does the same go for those finch socks with thistle seed in them? Are these dangerous?

'Thistle socks' look a much closer netting than the netting that is used for fatballs and peanuts, so maybe these should be ok to carry on using. In the UK we use a niger seed feeder for the niger seed (thistle).http://www.birdfoodbypost.com/acatalog/Niger_Feeders.html

 

[AndyK]

It annoys me when I buy a pack of six in a plastic packet that each of them is in an individual net. I always remove this and put them into a fat ball feeder its just a waste of packaging and its dangerous for birds!

 

[Steve Dudley]

This has been an issue for some time and thankfully netless fatballs are now becoming more widely available (e.g. Vine House Farm Bird Foods). As netless fatballs become more popular and demand for them increases I hope that netted fatballs will be removed from sale by many suppliers.

If you still use netted fatballs, then always remove the net, even when you are placing them in a feeder. When the fat has been eaten the nets can still be pulled or blown out of feeders.

Personally I think it is irresponsible for any supplier to sell netted fatballs, and if your supplier doesn't offer netless fatballs, I recommend switching to one that does and telling your old supplier why you have moved your business.

 

[Sandra (Taylor)]

I cringe when I go into my local garden centre and see all the fat balls in nets. I really must pluck up courage and say something next time I'm in there. But I don't hold out any hope of things changing, especially when I see the stacks and stacks of poison (i.e. slug pellets) that they also have on sale. It really depresses me.

 

[gleneskbirder]

I use a special container as the others do, but I have a problem with crows.

Every morning I have a group of 12-16 carrion crows making a hell of a racket attacking the lard balls container. Frightening off the finches, tits and siskins. Sort of getting the gun out..:eek!: I think I'm going to stop feeding them the .. stuff.


Si

 

[energize]

Absolutely agree. I get mine from Ark Wildlife online now without nets and they're great, so much safer and no nets to worry about.

 

[slongrigg]

Several years ago we had a starling caught by its tongue in the net and it was left dangling by its tongue. Fortunately my husband saw it happen and we went straight outside. He held the starling while I cut the net away, and then it flew off. We reported it to the maker of the fat balls and they said they had never heard of it happening but they would report it to a meeting of birdfood manufacturers. We then heard that someone else had reported a similar incident. Soon after that, the message to remove the net started appearing.

I'm very interested to hear that there have been more incidents. It is worth reporting them all to the manufacturers, so that the message gets across.

Sarah

 

[Soba]

I'm just back in from buying a bucket of fifty there. They are the RSPB ones and they come without the net bag, possibly more expensive as I don't know the going rate in England but it's worked out cheaper for me actually as to what I normally paid at the country store for a smaller bucket. I hate the nets with a passion and yes, they definitely need banning plus surely it makes more sense not to have them anyway and cut down on manufacturing costs?

 

[angie67]

Several years ago we had a starling caught by its tongue in the net and it was left dangling by its tongue. Fortunately my husband saw it happen and we went straight outside. He held the starling while I cut the net away, and then it flew off. We reported it to the maker of the fat balls and they said they had never heard of it happening but they would report it to a meeting of birdfood manufacturers. We then heard that someone else had reported a similar incident. Soon after that, the message to remove the net started appearing.

I'm very interested to hear that there have been more incidents. It is worth reporting them all to the manufacturers, so that the message gets across.

Sarah

the same thing happened yesterday i posted my thread about this poor starling tounge was hanging by a thread trying to drag the fatball it was awful i managed to cut the fatball away but the mesh was still stuck on its tounge but it flew away iam going to write to the company that supplies them as well

 

[Northern123]

I found a great tit with a fat ball net twisted round it's leg at a feeding station at Cannop Ponds in the Forest of Dean in February and was luckily able to release the bird.

I agree that these things should be banned.

Who should I write to though? - I don't know the manufacturer of the particular net involved.

 

[theconstantwalker]

It was even mentioned by Norris on Coronation Street a couple of years ago. Always remove the nets.

 

[etudiant]

Hi gleneskbirder,
To discourage the crows, hang the fatball beneath a clear canopy.
Small birds are comfortable clinging to the underside of the fatball holder, but crows are hard pressed to even try to.