Feeding wild birds during the snow

[Willow]

Its about the only time i can feed wild birds without having to worry that I'm giving our cats more opportunity to catch them..

I've just made a thick porridge by boiling oats into a thick paste and adding oil, grains, cat food & some chicken pellets.. This thick sticky paste can be 'stuck' to the top of gazebos, pergolas or into any empty coconut shell feeders.. they love it

[Sara]

Thanks Willow, Ive ran out of bird food and they've almost finished thier fat balls so i will make some up for them later

[Mo]

Thanks for the reminder - I'll sort my apples and throw out the wrinklies. Blackbirds love them, specially if chopped into quartes so they don't have to peck through the peel.

[jannie]

I spend a fortune feeding the birds but don't begrudge it and love it when they come and say thank you .. like my little Robin did half an hour ago when I fed him some mealworms .. I'm sure all the chicken keepers amongst us can spare a few of their girls' favourite treats for the wild birds.

[wendy]

Yep just filled all mine up. I also have a dog bowl with bird seed in for the wood pigeons I get.
So hard to keep the snow from falling on it though

[Mo]

My robin kindly lets the hens have some of his pellets!

[urbanchicks]

I keep the feeders topped up all year,but I do have a problem with the water container freezing over very quickly,and water they need to survive.

Maggie

[albertajune]

I've just made bird cakes which they love. I don't have a recipe, but just break a couple of eggs into a basin, beat tog and then add about 3ozs wholemeal flour, a handful each of seeds, dried fruit, suet and mealworms. If too crumbly add a little milk but should be stiff.
I push down into saved 1/2 coconut shells and bake at 180C until firm. As the shells already have string, I sit the shells in a little water with the string in it.