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Post by karenupnorth on Apr 19, 2019 11:45:39 GMT
Happy Easter to everyone, I just wanted to share with you all something I found in my local lidl, I think it may work to put live food in for the BTs etc. and hopefully not let the Starlings steal them all. It hasn't been tested yet but hopefully the birds will take to it. The scott feeder didn't go down too well last year so will give this a try. I only went in for Easter eggs! Came out with this and two other feeders and no eggs!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 19, 2019 12:19:24 GMT
Hopefully they use it for you Karen You could even put little nest box plates on that to limit the size of the holes so starlings can't squeeze the head in. Don't put your waxworms and mealworms in the same thing though, Because the waxworms are moist the mealworms start eatting them believe it or not. I remember back in 2016 I used to put them together until I witnessed this and stopped so word of warning for you. I normally have the mealworms in feeder all day and only give the waxworms as "treats" during morning and evening around 15 each time always worked well for me that will save you ££ aswell!
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Post by karenupnorth on Apr 19, 2019 12:25:19 GMT
Thanks for the heads up Paul I didnt know they eat the mealworms! I did think about the nest box plates, think I will put one on one side and see how that goes first.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 19, 2019 12:32:00 GMT
Its the mealworms that eat the waxworms Karen When I seen it happening I was shocked, But I think its due to the waxworm being moist inside and mealworms need moist in the diet, Hence the reason for feeding carrots or potato's etc. Just something I have witnessed poor little waxworm had chunks missing out of it I had to pull the mealworms off it.
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Post by karenupnorth on Apr 19, 2019 13:41:58 GMT
Or its the mealworms is it, the little beggers!
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Post by elle on Apr 19, 2019 13:43:06 GMT
Like this feeder Karen!, as Paul says if you put plates on, this could work brilliantly. The greedy Starlings (least favourite bird for me) always get into my Scott feeders no matter how many tie wraps I put on to make holes smaller, they literally push the tie wraps down then nearly strangle themselves to get at the livefood. So these might be good for me Elle xx
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Post by karenupnorth on Apr 19, 2019 17:51:04 GMT
Same here elle, the starlings always got in no matter what I did and like you say would just about strangle themselves doing it. I have put a cover on one side for now and will see what happens when I get a visitor, been pretty quiet today.
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Post by Amanda on Apr 22, 2019 21:41:33 GMT
Happy Easter to everyone, I just wanted to share with you all something I found in my local lidl, I think it may work to put live food in for the BTs etc. and hopefully not let the Starlings steal them all. It hasn't been tested yet but hopefully the birds will take to it. The scott feeder didn't go down too well last year so will give this a try. I only went in for Easter eggs! Came out with this and two other feeders and no eggs! That looks good! How much was it please? I bought some live mealworm today, I put some on the bird table and they started wriggling away What are others using for live food?
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 22, 2019 23:34:37 GMT
Amanda, I put together my own little feeder a few years ago, Alot people on forum have got one now and it is known as the "Scott" feeder (my last name) I think Kathy named it You can buy it here - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RSPB-Dual-Suet-Bird-Feeder-For-Suet-Balls-Fat-Balls-Suet-Cakes-etc/143208069505I basically cut a little square out of the feeder to fit a 25mm plate over for blue tits (I'll show you pictures below) this feeder as always been successful for me, I know alot other members have also had success with it. At the beginning of this video of mine from last year you can see the "Scott" feeder in action
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 22, 2019 23:43:05 GMT
Also if you want a bigger feeder (its more pricey) that allows a number of birds in, Sparrows, Blue tits, great tits, robins in. You can get this one that as also been successful for me. www.vinehousefarm.co.uk/kernel-caged-feeder/Here's a video from my garden on this one in action
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Post by Amanda on Apr 23, 2019 6:26:54 GMT
Thank you for all the info Paul. i will have a proper look when I get home from work this evening
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Post by karenupnorth on Apr 23, 2019 6:39:55 GMT
Hi Amanda I got it from Lidl it was around £3 I think, I put a entrance hole protector on to stop the starlings getting in and taped up the bottom as they were dropping through the tiny holes. I also snapped off the pegs. All the waxworms and meal worms have gone so I presume a BT has been in nothing else can fit in.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 23, 2019 11:44:26 GMT
Karen, You might want to watch they aren't climbing out, I am only saying this because the parts with the holes in is made of wood which these worms find pretty easy to climb. They could be climbing up the wood and getting out if you haven't seen birds using it. Might be worth putting them in and watching the feeder for a hour when you get chance, With it being wood I imagine it will be easier to climb then plastic. Plus the base of the feeder isn't that far below the holes by the looks of it maybe a few cm's so wouldn't be much of a climb for them anyway. Just have a watch and see so your not wasting live food, Hopefully it is the birds found it quickly though! If they are climbing out just put them in a little plastic container inside there should do the trick, These worms are like spider man believe me! Here's a little quote off a breeder site about the whole plastic vs wood you see "It is recommended to use a plastic or glass container rather than a wood or cardboard because mealworms can climb up or chew through wood"I personally didn't know they could chew through wood but I know it was easier for them to climb, Wouldn't want you wasting live food thinking its being ate when they're planning the great escape
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Post by twinkle on Apr 23, 2019 20:56:13 GMT
I know what i'm going to do tomorrow. If i can't adjust a feeder for mealworms then i will buy one. I have dried ones that i'm soaking but i don't know what birds are eating them.
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Post by karenupnorth on Apr 24, 2019 6:27:45 GMT
Karen, You might want to watch they aren't climbing out, I am only saying this because the parts with the holes in is made of wood which these worms find pretty easy to climb. They could be climbing up the wood and getting out if you haven't seen birds using it. Might be worth putting them in and watching the feeder for a hour when you get chance, With it being wood I imagine it will be easier to climb then plastic. Plus the base of the feeder isn't that far below the holes by the looks of it maybe a few cm's so wouldn't be much of a climb for them anyway. Just have a watch and see so your not wasting live food, Hopefully it is the birds found it quickly though! If they are climbing out just put them in a little plastic container inside there should do the trick, These worms are like spider man believe me! Here's a little quote off a breeder site about the whole plastic vs wood you see "It is recommended to use a plastic or glass container rather than a wood or cardboard because mealworms can climb up or chew through wood"I personally didn't know they could chew through wood but I know it was easier for them to climb, Wouldn't want you wasting live food thinking its being ate when they're planning the great escape Cheers Paul, they were in a small plastic cut off bottle bottom as I noticed the little sods climbing all over. But I do intend to sit and watch for a while as I havnt seen it in action yet.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 24, 2019 13:24:37 GMT
Yes might be worth watching Karen, Wouldn't want you wasting live food if they're indeed escaping.
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Post by Amanda on Apr 25, 2019 17:42:28 GMT
Hi, Thanks for for all the help with the mealworm feeders. In the end I bought this as it was on offer, I got 500g of mealworms, which made it up to next day free delivery. I hope the blue tits, coal tits and robins will use it! Mealworm feeder
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 25, 2019 17:53:00 GMT
Looks good Amanda, Let us know what birds start using it.
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Post by Amanda on Apr 26, 2019 14:07:45 GMT
Looks good Amanda, Let us know what birds start using it. The first bird I saw feeding from it was a coal tit this morning and since then I have had a blue tit a few times. I’m pleased with it 😀
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 26, 2019 14:49:17 GMT
That is brilliant Amanda, I am glad its being used so quickly for you.
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Post by Amanda on Apr 26, 2019 15:12:10 GMT
I got a photo of a blue tit While I was getting this photo from the SD card, I looked through some of the goldfinch photos that I took a couple of weeks ago and noticed it was ringed. I thought this photo looked like father Christmas with the soft nesting material in her mouth I cant see as much now the leaves are out on the Beech Tree
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 26, 2019 15:47:24 GMT
Such lovely pictures Amanda!
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Post by karenupnorth on Apr 27, 2019 7:52:35 GMT
Hi Amanda, I have a Blackbird that is ringed visit us daily, we managed to zoom in on a photo and get the details of the ring, you can then send it to the BTO and they can tell you info about it, be great if you can do that also. Lovely pics!
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Post by Beechnut on May 1, 2019 15:38:03 GMT
I finally defeated the pesky starlings getting the mealworms from my Scott feeders this year.
As I always have GTs I have to use a larger diameter hole than for BTs, so the starlings could get their heads in and by turning in all directions, including hanging upside down, managed to extract mealies by using their tongues. This of course restricted the GTs from using the feeders as starlings rarely come in ones - there's usually 2 or 3 at least.
Anyway as well as using cable ties and garden wire to reduce the mesh size round the bottom half of the feeder (as advised by Paul initially) I have now cut a hole in the bottom of the feeder and fit into it an empty (!) 120g Yeo Valley yoghurt pot (Fruity Favourites), which has a rim round the top to prevent it falling through, and it's transparent so you can see when the contents require topping up.
I fit the disc/plate with the hole in as high as possible to ensure that starlings can't reach the top of the mealies, but since I have done this, I haven't had a starling anywhere near the Scotties - they tried the first day that I did it, but eventually cottoned on to the fact that they would have to get their easy pickings elsewhere!
Obviously any plastic type pot would suffice, preferably tapered, a regular 4-sided one would be easier to cut a hole for - the choice is yours, it's just that I love Yeo Valley Fruity Favourites!
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Post by Beechnut on May 2, 2019 8:18:48 GMT
Here's a pic of the modified Scott feeder in the plum tree. As you can see I have used a fair amount of plastic covered garden tying wire in XX shaping to stop starlings getting in, before finally cutting through the base and using the yoghurt pot!
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