Fat balls (1 Viewer)

[rogertb]

Hi chaps, I put fat balls in a feeder sparrows are the main diners (lots of them) but I’m really wondering if they like them, there’s a suspended tray beneath the feeder and it‘s full of, well, fat and the floor beneath needs hosing down regularly

 

[KC Foggin]

I guess they are a bit picky as far as their taste goes

 

[Kits]

They look as though they are quite cheap ones. The fat balls we put out don’t disintegrate like that.

 

[Richard D]

Ours don't last long enough to disintegrate. The sparrows preference is fat balls, sunflower hearts, peanuts, mixed seed in that order. Quality of ft balls does vary - the big cheap tubs are generally pretty poor.

 

[rogertb]

Thanks everyone, I buy big tubs because it’s more economical, how do I know if they’re poor quality, this lot were National Trust. Are they spitting out the fat and eating the solids ? the image illustrates the solidity, the balls are not disintegrating. I’ll go back to making my own, mixed bird seed and lard.

 

[Torchepot]

We use these ones - they’re not the cheapest, but there’s very little waste.

The contents are stated as such - Beef Tallow, Wheat Flour, Ground Wheat, Black Sunflower Seeds, Peanuts.

I think they’re may be something else in them unless the wheat flour or ground wheat is stained with something reddish as we get a little reddish dust left when they’re gone, but that’s all

 

[Anon2020]

The consumer group Which? recently compared different fat balls available in the UK.

Top was:

Gardman A04294 Energy Suet Fat Balls​

Second was:

Suet To Go Premium Suet Balls​

Having also noticed that the birds were not that interested in the fat balls I was buying from my local garden centre I ordered both the above which the birds do seem to enjoy.

 

[rogertb]

Well worth trying both of those thank you, it just seems silly buying these things if most of it ends up on the floor ! Good of everyone to take the time.