Easy Winter Birdfeeding
It doesn’t seem possible, but soon winter will be upon us with cold days and blowing, drifting snow. But it’s days like these when feeding the birds is most satisfying—seeing all those happy birds flitting among the feeders, enjoying nutritious, high calorie seeds and suet to get them through chilly days and freezing nights.
But what do you do when it’s very icy, or when drifting snow blocks the way to the feeders? Keeping our winter birds fed on days like this may seem difficult at best and sometimes even impossible. This year, why not plan on ways to feed the birds closer to the house before the really bad weather sets in? Before the ground freezes, put up a multi-armed hanger near an area that is regularly kept free of snow--perhaps at the end of a walkway or 
next to the driveway. Or put a deck bracket out on a deck railing or front step railing. You can either move existing feeders to this location or leave them where they are and instead, opt to hang the many new.jpg)
and easy feeding options that are becoming more and more
next to the driveway. Or put a deck bracket out on a deck railing or front step railing. You can either move existing feeders to this location or leave them where they are and instead, opt to hang the many new and easy feeding options that are becoming more and more
popular.
You can purchase ‘Ready to Hang’ Peanut Suet Nuggets, already filled Nyjer Sacks, and Suet Logs with their own built-in hangers. All you have to do is unwrap and hang on your newly placed hanger. You don’t even have to take off your mittens! Or try Duncraft’s Attractor Peanut Butter Suet Bell. It’s two pounds of suet in it’s own mesh bag. When it’s gone, just replace it with a new one—no feeders to clean! And seed cakes and blocks are easy feeding too. You will need 
only a block or suet basket, then just unwrap the cake and drop it in the feeder. 
Seed bars with built-in hangers are also very easy to feed. Duncraft's seed blocks, cakes and bars are all made with Duncraft's exclusive seed blends--just as nutritious and fresh as buying loose seed. And feeding them is so much easier than trying to open frozen, icy feeders with cold, numb fingers!
only a block or suet basket, then just unwrap the cake and drop it in the feeder. Seed bars with built-in hangers are also very easy to feed. Duncraft's seed blocks, cakes and bars are all made with Duncraft's exclusive seed blends--just as nutritious and fresh as buying loose seed. And feeding them is so much easier than trying to open frozen, icy feeders with cold, numb fingers!So, don't let bad weather prevent you from feeding the birds. Enjoy them in your yard and make sure they have the calories and nutrition they need. Having “Ready to Use” foods in cases of emergency can make winter feeding so easy and still provide your birds with the daily sustenance they need on cold winter days and nights.
- Posted at Wednesday, November 12, 2008 12:19 PM
- In Wild Bird Feeding Category | Permalink
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I tried a seed block.
I found it lying on the deck. Then a squirrel gobled for 15 minutes; then it was small enough for him to just pick it up and run off with it!
Can I put pepper, or maybe Tabasco sauce in a seed bag, shake it up, and then fill my feeder?
Posted by edna Lavey on Monday, November 17, 2008 11:42 AM
Squirrel-Away works wonders -- it's red-pepper (capsian) powder. Just be careful to use gloves, and NOT shake up your seed in a bag in the wind!
Posted by Debra in Norcross on Monday, November 17, 2008 12:10 PM
The Duncraft Suet Sanctuary is designed to deter squirrels but does any one know if House Sparrows are able to get to the suet?
Posted by Pam on Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:15 AM
Have you ever seen a squirrel who has gotten red pepper in her eyes? Its a horrible thing to witness. Use squirrel proof feeders and put some bird seed on the ground for the squirrels and birds to share.
Posted by Cheryl on Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:24 PM
Just received my first shipment. I have place my new black seed globe feeder out for the small birds. It is temporarily hung on the deck rail. so far only the big Stellar Jays have eaten from it. I will put up a deck bracket and hang it from that. I would not be surprised if Jays still get at the seed. My Jays cling onto the pole and reach way out to either get the seed or suet from the feeders or to knock it to the ground. Do not need squirrel and have only seen one here.
Crows, pigeon are big pests along with the Jays but at least the Jays are colorful.
We get tons of rain so mold is my problem with wet seed. Is there a fly through waterproof feeder out there?
Central Oregon Coast feeder
Posted by Barbara on Thursday, November 20, 2008 01:14 PM
To Pam, The Suet Sanctuary would not deter sparrows because they would be able to get through the grid. It's strictly for detering squirrels.
To Barbara, We don't carry a waterproof fly-through feeder and I don't know how one could be made. However, if you use a tube feeder with Feeder Fresh at the bottom, it should help to absorb quite a bit of moisture than may get in. You can find Feeder Fresh under our department Accessories, then for Bird Feeders on our website, duncraft.com
Posted by Duncraft on Friday, November 21, 2008 07:55 AM
Do you have a solution to keep blackbirds away. I have feeder with wire they can not get in but they reach into the feeder. They eat everything from the small birds.
Posted by ALICE D HINTON on Saturday, November 22, 2008 05:14 PM
try safflower seed.
Posted by michael on Saturday, November 22, 2008 09:30 PM
One of our autumnal activities is bringing in the feeders -- that is, bringing them closer to the house.
In the summer, we keep my feeders along the back property line, in front of the stone wall. We can enjoy the sight and sound of the birds at a distance and it's fun trudging out there with the big pitchers full of seed, and a grandchild or two to help. We hear the chickadees singing to us to 'hurry up!' The fresh things sometimes swoop down and grab a seed right off the top before I've had a chance to fill the feeder!
However, I learned long ago that as much as I love my birds - the flowers of my winter - I am not going to trudge through frozen crusted snow to refill their feeders as often as I should to ensure their steady supply of nutrition.
So, my husband and I usually go out around mid-November, before the ground freezes, and we move all the feeder pole-stands right by the glass sliders, our back door. My favourite squirrel spoiler is the new platform feeder with the wire shelf that I purchased last year.
It is a lovely season we're coming into. I remember looking out on a morning of glistening new snow, and seeing five pair of cardinals alight on the billowing white forsythia and lilac branches! They are regular visitors here all year, but are especially striking in the snow. And, when the bluejays join them, it is a sight indeed.
As I work at my table in the living room, I can look up and see who%u2019s at the feeders. From now through the spring, I will have the close company of titmice, cardinals, bluejays, goldfinches, chickadees, woodpeckers and more as members of the family. They enliven the very air! And, my new snowflake decals look cheery and prevent those unfortunate window collisions.
Enjoy!
Lisa
Posted by LisaW on Monday, November 24, 2008 10:18 AM