Peanut crushing: any thoughts? (2 Viewers)

[Egret]

For several years now I have been crushing peanuts before putting them in the feeder; the birds definately prefer them that way. I did try peanut kernals but found them expensive and hard to handle compared to home-crushed. Trouble is home-crushing is wearying as it involves wrapping nuts in a towel and beating with a hammer; entertaining the first hundred times but not once you pass the thousand mark. I wonder if anyone has a better idea? Currently I am considering buying a food processor that will crush ice and would like to know if anyone has tried that.

Andy Shand

 

[rezMole]

I have tried it in a milk shake blender/mixer - not very successful - the peanuts contain a lot of oil, which turns the whole lot to mush. Now i buy ready crushed peanuts, which cost me only slightly much than whole peanuts. I still use whole peanuts in the feeder, but put the crushed ones on the table.

 

[A CHAPLIN]

HI Andy,

Honestly what we do for our birds, I used to break the nuts up up in a plastic bag with a rolling pin, the only time I used a hammer the bag burst and they went everywhere.

I now use a Braun, multi blender, which being hand operated take up less room than the food processors. There are several makes on the market and they usually come with a metal blade for nuts, coffee beans etc. a whisk and a small bowl. If ever you or your partner watch Ready Steady Cook you will see the chefs using one all the time, great for everything from mixing soups, chopping herbs, meat, whatever. Mine was bought specifically to break up the nuts for the birds and stands out all the time so that I remember it is there.

The birds definitely prefer nuts broken this way, to the peanut granules which you can buy. I am sat here watching a Coal Tit and young Blue Tit taking turns on the window feeder eating the nuts and I also chop sunflower hearts up small and add them, they are popular as well.

Just a word of warning they are no good for chopping raisins (too sticky I think). Everyone will tell you I am bats about my birds I even cut up raisins into very small pieces using a pair of scissors for the Wren who adores them

Ann

 

[themexican]

For several years now I have been crushing peanuts before putting them in the feeder; the birds definately prefer them that way. I did try peanut kernals but found them expensive and hard to handle compared to home-crushed. Trouble is home-crushing is wearying as it involves wrapping nuts in a towel and beating with a hammer; entertaining the first hundred times but not once you pass the thousand mark. I wonder if anyone has a better idea? Currently I am considering buying a food processor that will crush ice and would like to know if anyone has tried that.

Andy Shand

I use a liquidizer and find that the birds love them crushed.i also put seeds etc in with them and liquidize everything.(from an ex wurzel from Brislington) B

 

[Mary Evelyn]

I used to work really hard splitting my peanuts too but took Anns advice and finally bought a blender.It is super and I don't have to work hard any more.The birds love them all year round and I don't need to worry about choking the young.

 

[Egret]

Thanks folks; I think you know what I will be buying! Slightly embarassing cos we gave our food processor to eldest daughter cos we never used it.

Andy

 

[Marmot]

Thanks folks; I think you know what I will be buying! Slightly embarassing cos we gave our food processor to eldest daughter cos we never used it.

Andy

We used a Kenwood Mini Chopper to do ours, you had to do it in about 3 lots to fill up the feeder but it worked well.

Here is one I found on Ebay to give you an idea of it.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20668&item=4389746054&rd=1

The reason I said we used it, is that they seem to have gone off peanuts so I now fill that feeder with Cheerios breakfast cereal and it is going a treat with the Sparrows, Blackbirds, Starlings and Robin. The feeder is having to be filled every other day.

 

[peckey]

For several years now I have been crushing peanuts before putting them in the feeder; the birds definately prefer them that way. I did try peanut kernals but found them expensive and hard to handle compared to home-crushed. Trouble is home-crushing is wearying as it involves wrapping nuts in a towel and beating with a hammer; entertaining the first hundred times but not once you pass the thousand mark. I wonder if anyone has a better idea? Currently I am considering buying a food processor that will crush ice and would like to know if anyone has tried that.

Andy Shand

I keep a small Kenwood grinder especially for grinding peanuts.
I put in two large handfuls of nuts, partly grind them, add half an apple cut into large slices, grind again and tip into a large dish.
I repeat this and then add two handfuls of raisins or sultanas on top and mix.
If it is cold I also shred some fat from a fat cake into the mixture.
During the baby starling season I do this three times a day and at the time when the next meal is due, there is a line of starlings on the garage roof.
The blackbirds also like this mix and appear at each mealtime. As well as feeding from the bowl, the blackbirds happily pick up bits turfed out by the starlings.

http://www.furandfeathers.co.uk

 

[shakila1408]

HI Andy,

Honestly what we do for our birds, I used to break the nuts up up in a plastic bag with a rolling pin, the only time I used a hammer the bag burst and they went everywhere.

I now use a Braun, multi blender, which being hand operated take up less room than the food processors. There are several makes on the market and they usually come with a metal blade for nuts, coffee beans etc. a whisk and a small bowl. If ever you or your partner watch Ready Steady Cook you will see the chefs using one all the time, great for everything from mixing soups, chopping herbs, meat, whatever. Mine was bought specifically to break up the nuts for the birds and stands out all the time so that I remember it is there.

The birds definitely prefer nuts broken this way, to the peanut granules which you can buy. I am sat here watching a Coal Tit and young Blue Tit taking turns on the window feeder eating the nuts and I also chop sunflower hearts up small and add them, they are popular as well.

Just a word of warning they are no good for chopping raisins (too sticky I think). Everyone will tell you I am bats about my birds I even cut up raisins into very small pieces using a pair of scissors for the Wren who adores them

Ann

I stumbled on to this forum when I searched ‘easy way to crush peanuts for birds’ yes we are crazy mad over our feathered friends. I've found some great tips and I'm going to use yours too Ann and cut up the big fat raisins 🤗

 

[radix023]

For several years now I have been crushing peanuts before putting them in the feeder; the birds definately prefer them that way. I did try peanut kernals but found them expensive and hard to handle compared to home-crushed. Trouble is home-crushing is wearying as it involves wrapping nuts in a towel and beating with a hammer; entertaining the first hundred times but not once you pass the thousand mark. I wonder if anyone has a better idea? Currently I am considering buying a food processor that will crush ice and would like to know if anyone has tried that.

Andy Shand

I have both a small marble mortar and pestle and a large granite mortar and pestle with coarse inside and pestle surface. It takes no time at all to grind nuts down but stop before you get to powder.

Are you using raw or roasted peanuts?

 

[shakila1408]

Mortar and pestle that’s a good idea 😊