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Busy in the garden again (1 Viewer)

I feed whole sunflower hearts to mine. The birds bite them into smaller pieces, most of which end up on the lawn. I had wondered about crushing them first, but was afraid that they would go soft and mouldy. Seems like I was right!

I find it pretty essential to clean the feeders regularly. And the birdtable (though I only use that in winter). They get to pick up diseases from visiting birds, which are then easily spread to healthy ones.

Jason
 
Elizabeth Bigg said:
I have now read that it is important to feed niger seed in a tube feeder designed just for it
Click to expand...
I'll be interested to hear how you (and others) get on with this. I've been thinking about getting a niger feeder, but from comments I've seen elsewhere I gather that success is by no means guaranteed. Of course the problems in those cases could be with the gardens rather than the feeder.

Jason
 
Hi Elizabeth, the Goldfinches in our garden are going thru the Sunflower hearts at such a rate, I’ve been forced to shop around for a better price. I’ve found reputable local establishment offering them at £23 for 25kg’s how does compare with your supplier?
Regards Glyn.
BTW good luck with the Niger seed feeder, not only does the Goldfinch love them but so do the Siskins.
 
Sunflower hearts

Pops_uk said:
Hi Elizabeth, the Goldfinches in our garden are going thru the Sunflower hearts at such a rate, I’ve been forced to shop around for a better price. I’ve found reputable local establishment offering them at £23 for 25kg’s how does compare with your supplier?
Regards Glyn.
BTW good luck with the Niger seed feeder, not only does the Goldfinch love them but so do the Siskins.
Click to expand...
Hi Glyn .The names Ken i pay 34-00 for my sun hearts .So please send me the address all the best Ken.
 
Sunflower hearts

Pops_uk said:
Hi Elizabeth, the Goldfinches in our garden are going thru the Sunflower hearts at such a rate, I’ve been forced to shop around for a better price. I’ve found reputable local establishment offering them at £23 for 25kg’s how does compare with your supplier?
Regards Glyn.
BTW good luck with the Niger seed feeder, not only does the Goldfinch love them but so do the Siskins.
Click to expand...
Hi Glyn .The names Ken i pay 34-00 for my sun hearts .So please send me the address all the best Ken.
 
Pops_uk said:
Hi Elizabeth, the Goldfinches in our garden are going thru the Sunflower hearts at such a rate, I’ve been forced to shop around for a better price. I’ve found reputable local establishment offering them at £23 for 25kg’s how does compare with your supplier?
Regards Glyn.
BTW good luck with the Niger seed feeder, not only does the Goldfinch love them but so do the Siskins.
Click to expand...

Glyn - I buy them at a local petshop in 1 or 2 kg bags, and the price is £2 per kilo. They did quote me for a 25kg sack, but I didn't make a note of the price - as I buy peanuts and mixed seed in 25kg sacks, and black sunflower seed in 15kg sacks, the thought of another vast quantity to store in the plastic bins in the garage was too much to contemplate at the time. I have not used hearts much so far, but I have emptied a seed feeder, and will be putting it out tomorrow filled with sunflower hearts. If these catch on, then I'll start buying in quantity - and may have to buy a fourth bin.

Can you tell me where your supplier is - I am down near Basingstoke reasonably frequently, as that is where one of my sons (and my 3 grandchildren) live. I might be able to collect a sack while I am there. (Haven't been to Fleet pond yet, but I have not forgotten about it).
 
Sunflower hearts

Elizabeth Bigg said:
Glyn - I buy them at a local petshop in 1 or 2 kg bags, and the price is £2 per kilo. They did quote me for a 25kg sack, but I didn't make a note of the price - as I buy peanuts and mixed seed in 25kg sacks, and black sunflower seed in 15kg sacks, the thought of another vast quantity to store in the plastic bins in the garage was too much to contemplate at the time. I have not used hearts much so far, but I have emptied a seed feeder, and will be putting it out tomorrow filled with sunflower hearts. If these catch on, then I'll start buying in quantity - and may have to buy a fourth bin.

Can you tell me where your supplier is - I am down near Basingstoke reasonably frequently, as that is where one of my sons (and my 3 grandchildren) live. I might be able to collect a sack while I am there. (Haven't been to Fleet pond yet, but I have not forgotten about it).
Click to expand...
HI Glyn look in WWW.vinehousefarmbirdfoods.co.uk You will find it all in there. allthe best Ken
 
Ken,
They are the cheapest online sellers I've seen. Delivery included too! My mother (in the uk) will be getting a delivery in the next week - thanks for that :)

Jen
 
Hi Elizabeth
You’re not wrong about Forest Lodge:).
Rob Harvey Specialist Feeds (www.robharvey.com) is the next right after the garden center, right again into a short narrow lane, building facing you (call 1st)
£23 for 25kg + £5.95 delivery for Sunflower hearts

With my work I’m about the Home Counties weekly so if you would like me to pick up some for you, it’s not a problem.
Regards Glyn.
 
Pops_uk said:
Hi Elizabeth
You’re not wrong about Forest Lodge:).
Rob Harvey Specialist Feeds (www.robharvey.com) is the next right after the garden center, right again into a short narrow lane, building facing you (call 1st)
£23 for 25kg + £5.95 delivery for Sunflower hearts

With my work I’m about the Home Counties weekly so if you would like me to pick up some for you, it’s not a problem.
Regards Glyn.
Click to expand...

This is a very kind offer Glyn, and I may well take you up on it. I haven't used hearts very much so far, but I've emptied out the mixed seed in one of my feeders, and it now contains hearts. If the demand is there, then a large sack (particularly at this price) will be on the shopping list, also probably another plastic dustbin for storage!
 
I don't know if anyone has used the same idea to fill feeders? but here goes. Take either a 2 or 6 pint empty plastic milk bottle, cut from approx 2inch in front of the handle towards the bottom corner diagonally from the handle on both sides, result is scoop that has a handle and a pouring spout, sealable with screw cap one fill just does a feeder,2 pint one does smaller ones. with little or no mess. y pay so much for a proprietry one?
Also good for the distateful little jobs around the garden and the milk comes Free!!
 
A little update...

Picked up the bags of seed from the UK - feeders full of niger, black sunflower seeds and hearts hanging all over the bird tree. One Goldfinch (my first since Summer) has visited all morning to eat the thistle seed heads on the other side of the house! Maybe I should have just let nature do the job :)

He's lovely anyway - hope he brings his mates.

Best wishes
Jen :)
 
I want him back! My Goldfinch numbers have plummeted since the gales blew the leaves off the trees. Max count now is down from c.20 to 6.

Jason
 
Bird feed.

Fuchsia said:
A little update...

Picked up the bags of seed from the UK - feeders full of niger, black sunflower seeds and hearts hanging all over the bird tree. One Goldfinch (my first since Summer) has visited all morning to eat the thistle seed heads on the other side of the house! Maybe I should have just let nature do the job :)

He's lovely anyway - hope he brings his mates.

Best wishes
Jen :)
Click to expand...
Hi Fuchsia just give the sunflower seeds aweek you will see .They will bring you all the finches.Allthe best Ken .let me know how you get on. o:)
 
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