ird Bells

[Zil]

Hello, Birders!

I am currently using hanging seed bells instead of offering loose seed, because there is a pigeon roost close by. I do draw a few pigeons below the bells to the scatterings, but nothing like I had when I put out loose seed! Also, the Peach-faced Lovebirds prefer the bells to seed feeders.

My problem is the high cost of these bells. On average, 2 bells a day are hung. They cost ~ $3 each, so I figure $180 per month to feed my feathered buddies. No problem for now, but I will be retiring soon and fear I will no longer be able to afford this outlay.

Does anyone have a recipe for making "bells" from loose seed?

Thank you for any advice you are able to give!

Zil
Phoenix, AZ USA

[Zil]

Sorry -- Subject = Bird Bells -- my keyboard is sticking.
Z

[Toucha kent]

In my sons Sunday School class we made bell bird feeders out of fresh apples and we rolled them in peanut butter and then rolled them in the bird seed .It seemed to work pretty good they lasted about a month.

[Beverlybaynes]

Zil, there's a recipe specifically for creating bird bells on the gardenbuddies.com website.

If you go there, click on the 'Feathered Friends' forum, then look in the header for the link to 'Treats'.

It's much more inexpensive that what you are paying now, and involves egg whites, seed, a terra cotta flower pot, and wire (such a the florist wire you can find in craft stores).

For less than you will spend in one or two days on your current seed bells, you should be able to make LOTS of them at home.

Gardenbuddies.com is also just a really nice site filled with terrific, friendly people.

And many thanks in advance to Steve and the moderators, who, I think, will NOT boot me off for mentioning another site. Couldn't have done this at GW! :)

[Zil]

Thanks, Beverlybaynes! That recipe was exactly what I was looking for. A little more labor-intensive than buying at the store, but hey -- when I'm retired, I'll have the time. And it sounds like fun. Have you tried making these? If so, what did you do with the extra yolks? :-) Thanks again! Zil