Rose hips query (1 Viewer)

[Cyclops]

We have a dog rose now laden with big juicy hips but because the plant is very close to the house and fence, and next door has a dog often out on the prowl, no birds will take them. But I do have a feeder tree at the bottom of the garden and I thought about picking the hips and putting them in a cage or some such device and hanging from the tree. Would this be a worthwhile idea you think?

 

[Quercus]

Try it with a few and see

 

[Cyclops]

Try it with a few and see

Aye,nowt to lose after all and they only go to waste. Shame the birds don't seem to like plums! We have a plum Tree that gets full of fruit every year that mostly go to waste-only me eats em!

 

[Cyclops]

Ok done it

Well,I felt a bit daft,god knows what the neighbours must have thought to see me picking Rose hips and putting them in a feeder but well,its for the birds! I took quite a few off,got snagged on a few thorns and half filled my peanut feeder with them. Lets see if anything takes them...

 

[mattsharps]

Good luck! Keep us updated.

 

[Cyclops]

Thanks,will do!

 

[joannec]

I've wondered why birds don't eat rosehips more readily and I've come to the conclusion that some of them, particularly the wild species, are actually quite hard. But I have noticed that once the frost gets into them they soften up and then the birds take them. I've seen bull finches and thrushes feeding on them. Or maybe they don't taste too nice towards the end of the winter and they only eat them when everything else is gone.

Would be interested to know if they have been eaten from the feeders.

 

[Cyclops]

Hi Joanne. I'd like to know what birds actually eat these fruits. I'd imagine blackbirds,maybe Starlings? I've never seen any bird take them and I wasn't sure if it was because the birds just don't like em or its because the plant,which grows to only about eye height,is just too close to the house.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

I've wondered why birds don't eat rosehips more readily and I've come to the conclusion that some of them, particularly the wild species, are actually quite hard. But I have noticed that once the frost gets into them they soften up and then the birds take them. I've seen bull finches and thrushes feeding on them. Or maybe they don't taste too nice towards the end of the winter and they only eat them when everything else is gone.

Would be interested to know if they have been eaten from the feeders.

Perhaps the frost has an effect on the hairs that cover the seeds, reducing their potential for irritation. They are the ones we used to use with great effect as itching powder when we were at school, perhaps they are hard to cope with until frosted.

 

[Mary]

I've read of waxwings taking them. So I've kept an eye on some across the road all winter! Needless to say- nothing doing!

 

[Cyclops]

I've read of waxwings taking them. So I've kept an eye on some across the road all winter! Needless to say- nothing doing!

Ha Waxwings in me garden,now that WOULD be good! Highly unlikely,but good