no trees/shelter for small birds feeding

minnie pal · **Posted: 07-01-2010 , 10:32 PM** #1

i was struggling in a yard with no trees to get the wee birds in.
many answers too, to prevent the starlings from getting at the feeders and being intimidating.
someone say a longer hanging line on the feeder as starlings dont 'do' acrobatics', mind did.

my solution:

i made a hoodie from the branches of a real christmas tree after it was used for the festive season.
the tits and more are coming, it is doing the trick for the starlings, but not on the fat balls, but defo on the feeders.
dont worry the starlings can go elsewhere in the yard where provision is made for them!!!

chucken1 · **Posted: 08-01-2010 , 12:28 AM** #2

Great idea Minnie! The starlings are brazen!! Do they try to sneak under the branches, no? Im going to do that in the morning with some branches. Ive been trying everthing to make sure everyone gets something..but you cant watch them all the time lol. Well you could but.....! Anyway,thanks for the idea. Question now please.....tell me about your blue tree!!!! Its lovely.

minnie pal · **Posted: 08-01-2010 , 12:51 AM** #3

the blue tree - branches actually, found strewn in twins garden,
blue, left over paint
planter, large terracotta one, chipped, car boot sale.
a hairy plant. a purplish ornamental cabbage and white pebbles hey presto a planter sculpture for nothing really.
purple branches, left over paint!!!!
i did that during the dark with an outside light, nothing like that to get the mood up and it did.
when i saw 'the light' in the morning, GOD was i well pleased!!!!!!
sorry couldnt help myself there, with the phrases, like!

dublindy · **Posted: 08-01-2010 , 06:07 PM** #4

Might be worth bearing in mind that starlings, and sparrows, are on the decline so need some TLC as well. Bruised apples and other fruit goes down very well.

chucken1 · **Posted: 08-01-2010 , 06:16 PM** #5

Ah Im giving them loads of TLC.Tons of them here every day,Its just that they bully the small guys so need to keep them separated some how! I had bananas today that had gotten too ripe so I put them out for them...no interest...until they froze!!! So now we know..starlings like frozen bananas! Would they like oranges I wonder? Ive a bag of them here too.

dublindy · **Posted: 08-01-2010 , 06:42 PM** #6

I suppose the easy way to find out is to try one. :-)

chucken1 · **Posted: 08-01-2010 , 07:03 PM** #7

Ya I suppose!! LOL. These guys would probably like it in a cocktail tho..they are so cheeky! I would be worried about citrus. I hope it wouldnt harm them.

nanny56 · **Posted: 08-01-2010 , 07:18 PM** #8

Anyone having problems with rock hard fatballs? I bought them in October but no sell by date on them (huge tub). Last year I was having difficulty keeping pace with the birds they were going through them so quickly. Now they are taking forever to nibble them down. My bananas were gobbled up today!

summersun · **Posted: 08-01-2010 , 08:06 PM** #9

Aah... Dublindy and Nanny thanks for the fruit idea... up to now i have just binned mine , now i have an alternative

MinnieP .. I love the summerhouse, reminds me that summer is coming SOON ????

Are you still up for trying to get the garden done ???

SUnny xxx

TickTock · **Posted: 08-01-2010 , 09:20 PM** #10

At the moment Hubby feeds the birds with a birdfeeder full of birdseed. We haven't bought any fatballs yet. However, we find that pigeons are now using the feeder and the little birds don't get a fair whack at it. We haven't had the pigeons taking over before. Anyone got any ideas of what to do?

chucken1 · **Posted: 08-01-2010 , 09:34 PM** #11

I think we have to live and let live in this weather.All the poor things are short of food.

minnie pal · **Posted: 08-01-2010 , 11:46 PM** #12

the garden will get done! tis nearly done, i have all the ideas...but twins is like a rice paddy, THATS the garden that needs 'done'
i am ok and up to the job! well i think so but could do with help, who couldnt, apart from the birds of a feathered kind.
heres one bird who could
xxminnie pal
the gov docked from my disab pension....now i could string em up, do you think the starlings would like em or would it give them indigestion and acidity, forget the oranges!!!

chucken1 · **Posted: 08-01-2010 , 11:53 PM** #13

Oh Minnie The poor birds..its enough that we have to "Swallow" the governments "tweeting" and "Robin" us blind....ahem. But on second thoughts....Do you want to put an ad in the wanted section for LOT AND LOTS of string!!! Let the birds take their chances!!!!! LOL.Hitchcock may have been on to something.........

minnie pal · **Posted: 09-01-2010 , 12:00 AM** #14

all suggestions gratefully received on this serious issue!
minnie pal
plenty of latitude there dont you think????

jenniferalan · **Posted: 11-01-2010 , 01:35 PM** #15

I love your summer house, where did u get it :)

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	Posted: 07-01-2010 , 10:32 PM #1
minnie pal Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: dun laoghaire Posts: 433	no trees/shelter for small birds feeding i was struggling in a yard with no trees to get the wee birds in. many answers too, to prevent the starlings from getting at the feeders and being intimidating. someone say a longer hanging line on the feeder as starlings dont 'do' acrobatics', mind did. my solution: i made a hoodie from the branches of a real christmas tree after it was used for the festive season. the tits and more are coming, it is doing the trick for the starlings, but not on the fat balls, but defo on the feeders. dont worry the starlings can go elsewhere in the yard where provision is made for them!!! Attached Images

	Posted: 08-01-2010 , 12:28 AM #2
chucken1 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Clare Posts: 1,134	. Great idea Minnie! The starlings are brazen!! Do they try to sneak under the branches, no? Im going to do that in the morning with some branches. Ive been trying everthing to make sure everyone gets something..but you cant watch them all the time lol. Well you could but.....! Anyway,thanks for the idea. Question now please.....tell me about your blue tree!!!! Its lovely.

	Posted: 08-01-2010 , 12:51 AM #3
minnie pal Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: dun laoghaire Posts: 433	well chicken/chucken! the blue tree - branches actually, found strewn in twins garden, blue, left over paint planter, large terracotta one, chipped, car boot sale. a hairy plant. a purplish ornamental cabbage and white pebbles hey presto a planter sculpture for nothing really. purple branches, left over paint!!!! i did that during the dark with an outside light, nothing like that to get the mood up and it did. when i saw 'the light' in the morning, GOD was i well pleased!!!!!! sorry couldnt help myself there, with the phrases, like!

	Posted: 08-01-2010 , 06:07 PM #4
dublindy Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Inchicore, D8 Posts: 60	Starlings are on decline Might be worth bearing in mind that starlings, and sparrows, are on the decline so need some TLC as well. Bruised apples and other fruit goes down very well.

	Posted: 08-01-2010 , 06:16 PM #5
chucken1 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Clare Posts: 1,134	Ah Im giving them loads of TLC.Tons of them here every day,Its just that they bully the small guys so need to keep them separated some how! I had bananas today that had gotten too ripe so I put them out for them...no interest...until they froze!!! So now we know..starlings like frozen bananas! Would they like oranges I wonder? Ive a bag of them here too.

	Posted: 08-01-2010 , 06:42 PM #6
dublindy Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Inchicore, D8 Posts: 60	Bird feeding I suppose the easy way to find out is to try one. :-)

	Posted: 08-01-2010 , 07:03 PM #7
chucken1 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Clare Posts: 1,134	Ya I suppose!! LOL. These guys would probably like it in a cocktail tho..they are so cheeky! I would be worried about citrus. I hope it wouldnt harm them.

	Posted: 08-01-2010 , 07:18 PM #8
nanny56 Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mullingar, Co. Westmeath Posts: 150	Supporting struggling wildlife Anyone having problems with rock hard fatballs? I bought them in October but no sell by date on them (huge tub). Last year I was having difficulty keeping pace with the birds they were going through them so quickly. Now they are taking forever to nibble them down. My bananas were gobbled up today!

	Posted: 08-01-2010 , 08:06 PM #9
summersun Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Miles away from most of you up here in Co Monaghan Posts: 1,027	Aah... Dublindy and Nanny thanks for the fruit idea... up to now i have just binned mine , now i have an alternative MinnieP .. I love the summerhouse, reminds me that summer is coming SOON ???? Are you still up for trying to get the garden done ??? SUnny xxx

	Posted: 08-01-2010 , 09:20 PM #10
TickTock Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: D24 Posts: 525	no trees/shelter for small birds feeding At the moment Hubby feeds the birds with a birdfeeder full of birdseed. We haven't bought any fatballs yet. However, we find that pigeons are now using the feeder and the little birds don't get a fair whack at it. We haven't had the pigeons taking over before. Anyone got any ideas of what to do?

	Posted: 08-01-2010 , 09:34 PM #11
chucken1 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Clare Posts: 1,134	I think we have to live and let live in this weather.All the poor things are short of food.

	Posted: 08-01-2010 , 11:46 PM #12
minnie pal Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: dun laoghaire Posts: 433	yeh sunny the garden will get done! tis nearly done, i have all the ideas...but twins is like a rice paddy, THATS the garden that needs 'done' i am ok and up to the job! well i think so but could do with help, who couldnt, apart from the birds of a feathered kind. heres one bird who could xxminnie pal the gov docked from my disab pension....now i could string em up, do you think the starlings would like em or would it give them indigestion and acidity, forget the oranges!!!

	Posted: 08-01-2010 , 11:53 PM #13
chucken1 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Clare Posts: 1,134	Oh Minnie The poor birds..its enough that we have to "Swallow" the governments "tweeting" and "Robin" us blind....ahem. But on second thoughts....Do you want to put an ad in the wanted section for LOT AND LOTS of string!!! Let the birds take their chances!!!!! LOL.Hitchcock may have been on to something.........

	Posted: 09-01-2010 , 12:00 AM #14
minnie pal Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: dun laoghaire Posts: 433	chucken all suggestions gratefully received on this serious issue! minnie pal plenty of latitude there dont you think????

	Posted: 11-01-2010 , 01:35 PM #15
jenniferalan Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Galway Posts: 1,166	I love your summer house, where did u get it :)