House Finches are taking over! (1 Viewer)

[Bidderswede]

A few weeks ago my bird feeders started to get visits from a few house finches, but now it's out of control!! There are sometimes 20-30 of them in my yard at the same time. I have two feeders, 1 small and 1 medium and they are empty in a few hrs.
I still have chickadee's, Titmouse's, Cardinal's etc. But they can barely get to the feeders before they go empty due to all the Finches.
I could probably get more feeders out there but feed isn't cheap and I am afraid that doing that, I might get even more Finches visiting..?
Any suggestions on how to solve this issue?
Thanks!

 

[bkrownd]

A few weeks ago my bird feeders started to get visits from a few house finches, but now it's out of control!! There are sometimes 20-30 of them in my yard at the same time. I have two feeders, 1 small and 1 medium and they are empty in a few hrs.
I still have chickadee's, Titmouse's, Cardinal's etc. But they can barely get to the feeders before they go empty due to all the Finches.
I could probably get more feeders out there but feed isn't cheap and I am afraid that doing that, I might get even more Finches visiting..?
Any suggestions on how to solve this issue?
Thanks!

Stop feeding loose seed, and get any leftovers off the ground. Birds do eat things other than "bird seed". Switch to a thistle feeder designed for smaller birds, or mealworms, nuts, or something different. If you have a local bird store they may have suggestions. Once the house finches realize the easy seed source is gone they'll move on to another easy seed source.

 

[Bidderswede]

Thanks bkrownd, I'll look into it!

 

[Aloof1]

IF you go to a Thistle Feeder the House Finches will hit that also unless it is a upside down feeder for Gold Finches. I would upgrade your feeders to either more of them or larger feeders that can handle the traffic. Serving food The Finches love but other don't as much in one feeder may draw the finches to one over the other and leave room for the other birds also. Not sure Chickadees and Titmice but You can find some loose crab apple or red delicious apple slices out and the house finches should go to that.

Also House Finches come down with finch eye disease so keep those feeders CLEAN!

 

[Bidderswede]

Thanks Aloof1. Any tips on what's the best thing to use to clean the feeders?

 

[Aloof1]

Some people go with a bleach mix with water, I always thought that was to dangerous to myself and the birds (I am the type that gets soaked when I clean something..haha). I use White vinegar or sometimes dish soap. I think Dish soap should be the safest and best since we use it to on what we eat off of.

This thread may be helpful, esp with the House Finch.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=265482

 

[Bidderswede]

Ok. Thanks!