Who's been eating our fat balls? (1 Viewer)

[kendalcottages]

I put some netted fat balls out in our garden about a month ago. There must have been about half a dozen, each nailed to the top of a fence post as we don't have any significant trees/height in the garden to play with, really. By morning, they were all gone - the entire contents.

Assuming we don't have any very hungry nocturnal birds around, I'm wondering what would have taken them. Is the most likely culprit a fox?

Our garden backs on to open fields (with cows and/or sheep sometimes grazing, but I don't think there was any livestock in the field at the time).

 

[Apodemus]

Up here, it's almost always pine martens that nick the fat balls. Crows, grey squirrels or foxes could well be the culprits where you are though.

Mike

 

[Mary]

Possibly fox, but also rats are likely, they love fat products and can smell them from miles off. Can you get a pole for hanging feeders from, put it in the ground away from bushes/fence so nothing can jump to it? You would probably also need something to stop them climbing the pole, along these lines http://www.gardenbird.co.uk/Droll-Yankees-Garden-Pole/Bird-Food/GBJC27,default,pd.html
Haven't had rats so far (fingers crossed!) but maybe someone who has will be able to advise.

 

[kendalcottages]

Yes, I think something like that would be a viable solution.

A bit worrying to think we might have rats nearby (I hate the damn things!) but then they do say you are never more than so many feet away from them...

 

[Apodemus]

... they do say you are never more than so many feet away from them...

But "They" do talk a load of nonsense, don't "they"? I've never seen anyone actually prove that we're all only (insert random number) feet from a rat.

 

[Gaz Shilton]

Some married women may think they are x amount of feet from a rat!!! Joking aside, I would go with rat(s). We get them on the feeders in my garden sometimes. Our Staffy Bull Terrier has made quick work of a couple she has caught. My airgun has taken care of a few as well.

 

[Ditch]

I put some netted fat balls out in our garden about a month ago. There must have been about half a dozen, each nailed to the top of a fence post ..... By morning, they were all gone - the entire contents.

Could ye be a bit more specific, please? " The top of a fence post. " What sort of fence, exactly? Larch Lap panel type? Post and rail? Height of the posts?

And what, exactly, did ye find in the morning? What about the plastic net bags those things come in? What of those? Any sign of them? Did ye examine them closely, if there was? I note ye say " the entire contents. " Suggests the fat was gone and the plastic left behind, to me. Did ye check for any signs of fat left behind, on the ground below?

Finally; What sized balls were these? I've noticed two basic sizes being sold in shops. Smaller ones, about hens egg size or less. Then big ones, tennis ball or greater size. And how where they nailed? Through the ball, onto the top of the post? Or hung on a nail, by the bag, ball hanging beside the post?

Just curious.

 

[Stranger]

I have found slugs and snails eating mine when the weather was milder

 

[Mike Price]

I am not sure if you are aware but it is recommended not to use the mesh bags supplied with fat balls as the soft mesh can trap and injure birds.

 

[kendalcottages]

I am not sure if you are aware but it is recommended not to use the mesh bags supplied with fat balls as the soft mesh can trap and injure birds.

Thanks. And no, I didn't know that.

 

[kendalcottages]

Could ye be a bit more specific, please? " The top of a fence post. " What sort of fence, exactly? Larch Lap panel type? Post and rail? Height of the posts?

I sifted through some photos and found a picture (this is when it was snowing about a year ago, not the recent downfall).

It was the fence posts you see between the garden and the open field. I was trying to not put them too close to the house.

 

[Ditch]

I see. Fair play to ye, Kendal. That sort of fencing, eh? (No. I couldn't really have explained it either! ||) So that'll be, what? Three or so foot high?

Ok, mate; If ye interested in further opinion, I'd really need answers to my other questions. Only, it's still wide open on what we have so far, see? I'm trying to narrow it down for ye, 'Just for fun', really.

But, answer my other questions and I should be able to narrow it down to one or two probable culprits.

If ye can't be bothered and would as soon accept it was 'Something' ? No worries. I just enjoy the challenge |=)|

 

[ChrisKten]

I'd put my money on Rats.

 

[captaincarot]

if you really want to know what took them look for foot prints in the snow, even rats leave prints behind.

 

[hectorzaza]

|=)||=)|We used to hang our peanut feeders on the side of our birdtable some mornings we"d find them on the floor ripped to bits it did not take long to discover the culprits BADGERS,they love peanuts.they would stand up on their back legs pull it off the hook pull it apart then scoff the lot now we put out seperate food for the badgers and hang our feeders out of reach,the badgers give us just as much enjoyment as our birds,they are not coming at the moment because of the cold weather, they do not hibernate but will stay down in their sets living off fat reserves till it gets a bit warmer.in the summer we put food right under our livingroom window and leave said window open they will come right up to the house under the window you could reach out and stroke one (if you were daft enough) it beats camping out all night like they do on those wildlife programs

 

[claire78]

One possible culprit ...