Peanuts and baby birds (1 Viewer)

[marcia A]

Just wondered whether it was OK to hang out peanut feeders at the moment as there are a lot of juveniles about. I dont want to risk the possibility of a youngster choking in the nest? :cat:

Any thoughts on the situation and ideas on what the best food to feed your birds with at the moment?

Im overrun with Starlings at the moment (30 - 50 plus every morning) - its like a mad scrabble in the back garden!!:eat: Its a good job I love 'em.:-O Theyre eating me out of house and home - and seem to love the fat square you can buy - dont last five mins and Im mad enough to keep buying them!:t:

 

[ChrisKten]

The question of Peanuts crops up quite often at this time of year

Personally, I let the parents decide what to feed their young. I figure that the birds have evolved to feed their young what's good for them. I often watch the Tits fly off with peanuts in shells all year round, and they seem to be thriving.

I feed the same foods all year round:

• Seed/bread/bits of apple squashed into suet blocks
• Wholemeal Bread in scraps feeder
• Apples pieces
• Peanuts in Shells
• Peanuts in nut feeders and in trays
• Mixed seed in feeders

I've noticed the Starlings and Sparrows prefer to feed their fledglings bread, which is fine if it's not the only food they get.

 

[John B (not the sloop)]

I apply the precautionary principle and avoid peanuts. The risk is that a whole peanut kernel stuffed into an eagerly gaping nestling can indeed close the airway entirely.

If you are going to serve peanuts I'd stick with a good quality mesh basket that the parent has winkle out fragments of nut from. A red string bag, or straight off a birdtable would be no nos I reckon.

 

[ChrisKten]

[...] The risk is that a whole peanut kernel stuffed into an eagerly gaping nestling can indeed close the airway entirely.
[...]

I would be very interested to know what you base your opinion on. I've researched this on line and can find no evidence that this has actually happened, just advice suggesting that it might.

Have you personally seen a parent choke a chick? Or could you give me a link to where it is documented that this has happened?

I'm really not looking for an argument, it's just that if this has been proven to happen, I would change my opinion on feeding peanuts, and feed them only in nut feeders at this time of year.|=)|

 

[John B (not the sloop)]

I would be very interested to know what you base your opinion on. I've researched this on line and can find no evidence that this has actually happened, just advice suggesting that it might.

Have you personally seen a parent choke a chick? Or could you give me a link to where it is documented that this has happened?

I'm really not looking for an argument, it's just that if this has been proven to happen, I would change my opinion on feeding peanuts, and feed them only in nut feeders at this time of year.|=)|

This used to be the standard line in many a garden bird book, and given the physics I'd be very surprised if it has no basis in fact. Like I said - I simply apply the precautionary principle in this case. There are plenty of alternatives after all.....

 

[ChrisKten]

This used to be the standard line in many a garden bird book, and given the physics I'd be very surprised if it has no basis in fact. Like I said - I simply apply the precautionary principle in this case. There are plenty of alternatives after all.....

Yeah, I don't have a problem with what people feed, it's all good.|=)|

The thing is, it seems like all of this (bird books included) is based on anecdotal evidence. There is also anecdotal evidence of Tits eating whole nuts themselves, and only feeding pieces to their chicks.

Just think how many nest box cameras there are now, yet there's no evidence of a chick choking on peanuts.

I think at some point in the past someone suggested that choking on peanuts was a possibility, and it became an "urban myth". There are many food items that could theoretically choke a chick. What about fat worms, or big caterpillars? or pieces of stale burger rolls left on the street?

So basically, I don't worry about it, I let the parents decide. But like I said, if I see just one nest box video of a chick choking on a nut, I'll stop feeding them loose instantly.

TBH, the main reason this subject interests me is I wonder how many other such "myths" there are concerning birds and other wildlife. It seems people accept what's written down, even if their own observations contradict it.

 

[tonyath]

A swan can break your arm.

 

[John B (not the sloop)]

Yeah, I don't have a problem with what people feed, it's all good.|=)|

The thing is, it seems like all of this (bird books included) is based on anecdotal evidence. There is also anecdotal evidence of Tits eating whole nuts themselves, and only feeding pieces to their chicks.

Just think how many nest box cameras there are now, yet there's no evidence of a chick choking on peanuts.

I think at some point in the past someone suggested that choking on peanuts was a possibility, and it became an "urban myth". There are many food items that could theoretically choke a chick. What about fat worms, or big caterpillars? or pieces of stale burger rolls left on the street?

So basically, I don't worry about it, I let the parents decide. But like I said, if I see just one nest box video of a chick choking on a nut, I'll stop feeding them loose instantly.

TBH, the main reason this subject interests me is I wonder how many other such "myths" there are concerning birds and other wildlife. It seems people accept what's written down, even if their own observations contradict it.

Fair go. I'm sure much that we hold dear is based on urban myths etc. I'll stick with my precautionary approach nonetheless....

 

[ChrisKten]

Fair go. I'm sure much that we hold dear is based on urban myths etc. I'll stick with my precautionary approach nonetheless....

Of course, you have to do what you are comfortable with. There is no reason whatsoever for you to change how you feed the birds. I wasn't trying to convince you to change, I was just explaining how I feel about the subject. |=)|

 

[s. james]

A swan can break your arm.

Think this did actually happen to a wee kid in Northern Ireland. Read it in a book somewhere, place, date and child's name was included as far as I can remember. However I can't remember what book it was so maybe I dreamt it and it is just a myth after all!

 

[ChrisKten]

Think this did actually happen to a wee kid in Northern Ireland. Read it in a book somewhere, place, date and child's name was included as far as I can remember. However I can't remember what book it was so maybe I dreamt it and it is just a myth after all!

It seems that some Deer have also read that story.|=)|

 

[ChrisKten]

And here's proof that they attack people. Notice how the man instinctively moves his arm out of the way, so the Swan can't break it.3

 

[Rose Fletcher]

A swan can break your arm.

I used to have a Black Swan that had lost part of a wing in an accident. He used to thump me if I was too slow about feeding him. Once or twice, I thought the cranky sod had broken my leg. :eek!: I still have the scars on my shins. :eek!: I believe this urban myth - they pack a punch like Mohammed Ali in his better days. :eek!: :'D

Seriously though, if you're worried about the peanuts, why not simply break them up a bit? Put them in a plastic bag and run a rolling pin over them.

I do think though, that this idea possibly comes from the fact that peanuts can be deadly to human babies, and that bird mothers, like us humans, know what is best for their own offspring. Keep feeding, whatever happens. Birds have it hard enough these days, the small things we can do to help them along must make a difference. Thanks for being one of those who helps them thrive! o