Minnesota Outdoorsman

General Category => 🐦 Forum... => Topic started by: HD on January 01/09/19, 04:44:18 PM

Title: Is it just me, or the area?
Post by: HD on January 01/09/19, 04:44:18 PM
I have been feeding the birds for quite a few years now....and here is what I found (for my area)

They only eat, black sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, suet and finch blend.
The finch blend, gets picked through, and most ends up on the ground for turkeys and deer.

I have tried the "country blend" (nothing eats it) I have tried safflower seeds (nothing eats it)
cracked corn (nothing eats it) Oats (nothing eats it)

What do you feed your birds?
Title: Re: Is it just me, or the area?
Post by: Jerkbiat on January 01/10/19, 06:49:46 AM
I found that a long time ago too. I started just feeding them black oil sunflower seeds. Berry treat suet and I save deer talo to feed them in the winter. Seems like when it warms up they stop hitting the talo, but they sure like it when it is cold.
Title: Re: Is it just me, or the area?
Post by: glenn57 on January 01/10/19, 08:04:58 AM
i only feed them sunflower seeds and thistle/nijer seed. also suet cakes. cracked corn brings sparrows and starlings.

i mix my own cardinal mix by adding safflower seed to sunflower seeds. cardinals and red breasted grosbeaks like safflower. most any other blend brings undesireable type birds!!!!!!
Title: Re: Is it just me, or the area?
Post by: LPS on January 01/10/19, 08:10:04 AM
Same here.  Only black sunflowers in the feeder.  Suet blocks in that feeder and nijer for finches in that feeder. 
Title: Re: Is it just me, or the area?
Post by: glenn57 on January 01/10/19, 12:31:10 PM
I found that a long time ago too. I started just feeding them black oil sunflower seeds. Berry treat suet and I save deer talo to feed them in the winter. Seems like when it warms up they stop hitting the talo, but they sure like it when it is cold.
i have never had luck with the talo from deer..... they never went to it. beef talo yea. but thats up north so birds arent near as fussy!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Is it just me, or the area?
Post by: Jerkbiat on January 01/10/19, 02:09:05 PM
When we lived in Becker they would eat it there. Mostly wood peckers. Like I said they only like it in the colder weather. I put it in a suet cage.
Title: Re: Is it just me, or the area?
Post by: Rebel SS on January 01/10/19, 03:19:59 PM
Doesn't tallow and suet give them carbs for heat or something?
Title: Re: Is it just me, or the area?
Post by: glenn57 on January 01/10/19, 03:40:40 PM
Doesn't tallow and suet give them carbs for heat or something?
yep...........just like that extra wide midsection of yours!!!!!!!!!!!! :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:

mikey sent me an email daring me!!!!!!!!!!! :shocked: :angel: :angel: :doah:
Title: Re: Is it just me, or the area?
Post by: Rebel SS on January 01/10/19, 03:50:27 PM
 :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :taz:
Title: Re: Is it just me, or the area?
Post by: Dotch on January 01/10/19, 04:39:57 PM
 :rotflmao: Always someone's turn in the barrel around here seems like.  :doah:

Have 3 feeders with black oil sunflower seed, 4 with nyjer, 3 horizontal (bop!) suet cake feeders & put out a couple ears of corn on a couple spikes for the squirrel although the blue jays and red-bellied woodpeckers like them too. Been experimenting with some methods of limiting sparrows & starlings. Appears to be working out. Not wasting nearly as much seed or going thru as many suet cakes as we used to. I didn't buy it to feed them.  :banghead:
Title: Re: Is it just me, or the area?
Post by: Rebel SS on January 01/10/19, 04:41:55 PM
Maybe you need to build a wall to keep them out.   :rotflmao:
Title: Re: Is it just me, or the area?
Post by: Tom7227 on January 01/10/19, 06:23:29 PM
My best luck has been with a flat uncovered feeder that I made out of 1x3, some 1/2 inch hardware cloth and some screen over that.  I use Joe's Mix from the Wild Bird store, brown safflower, and whole peanuts from the fleet farm. I also have a 2 inch stick that has holes drilled part way through and I fill those with beef suet.
Here's a link with suggestions.  https://wildbirdstore.com/resources/selecting-seed-and-feeders/
Title: Re: Is it just me, or the area?
Post by: delcecchi on January 01/27/19, 02:07:32 PM
I have the world's sturdiest bird feeder.  Actually made to hold the well pressure tank.  2x6 treated top and treated 4x4 legs.   

Throw some sunflower seeds every mornign... get cleaned up by deer and bunnies over night.