Please: any recommendations of fat ball brands and those brands one should avoid? (1 Viewer)

[louisthedog]

Hello, there seem to be 100's of companies vying for customers to buy their fat balls, and I have no clue how to tell the good from the bad and the ugly. Having read about sawdust in fatballs, I am worried I might buy the wrong product. The general advice to buy 'good quality' fat balls isn't helping much either as one is reading about upper range products [i.e. expensive ones] being totally ignored by birds. I could of course try out various products and stick with the one which the birds seem most to like; however: can I trust the birds that they know what is good for them? Would they recognise sawdust [and possibly from treated wood!] if they ate it?
I would be very grateful if someone could please mention a few 'good' and 'bad' brands ... many thanks and a Happy New Year!

 

[PYRTLE]

CJ Wildlife and Haiths are well established brands dealing with quality products. As you correctly stated, you get what you pay for. A high suet content is the key, rather than used vegetable oils. Same with suet pellets and cakes. Are you anywhere near Fakenham. I have a fantastic independent supplier I could recommend.
Cheers.
I see from another post you live near Cromer. My supplier is in Melton Constable, Van der L feeds.

 

[louisthedog]

CJ Wildlife and Haiths are well established brands dealing with quality products. As you correctly stated, you get what you pay for. A high suet content is the key, rather than used vegetable oils. Same with suet pellets and cakes. Are you anywhere near Fakenham. I have a fantastic independent supplier I could recommend.
Cheers.
I see from another post you live near Cromer. My supplier is in Melton Constable, Van der L feeds.

thank you Pyrtle!

 

[Julie50]

Happy New Year,

Not sure if you are a Which member - but this might be useful?

Best fat balls for feeding birds - Which?

Fat balls are a popular choice for feeding birds, but while some brands will attract birds to your garden, others fail to impress

www.which.co.uk

 

[Essex Tern]

Make sure you don’t leave any netting on them - can cause injury to birds