Bird Feeding Station - What is Best?

Feeding stations are a great way to attract birds into your garden. There are many versions of a feeding station, whether that comes in a tall metal pole with added arms, or a ground feeder tray, or even a hanging feeder tray! The tall feeding stations offer a multi feeding area and also save space in your garden too! This way of feeding the garden birds means you can feed multiple food easily. 

 

What birds will use tall metal feeding stations? 

  • Blue tits
  • Great tits
  • Goldfinches
  • Greenfinches
  • Sparrows
  • Robins 
  • Chaffinches
  • Woodpeckers

 

 

   

 

 

What birds will use a ground feeder tray?

     These are more likely to be your ground feedng birds and softbill birds: 

  • Blackbirds 
  • Robins
  • Wrens
  • Thrushes

                   

 

There are 3 main types of feeding stations available. You have the metal tall feeding station with the additional arms, the ground feeder tray and also the hanging feeder tray. The tall metal feeding stations which have got the additional arms are one of the more popular options for gardens. They can have as many arms as you wish, but come with either  2, 3, or 4 as standard. 

 

The traditional table top tray style is great if you do not have a graden, only have a patio, as this sits securely on the concrete. Choosing one which has a roof on top is great for protecting the seed from any rain to stop it from going mouldy. The roof also gives any tired birds a rest from any bad weather and offers protection against predators. 

 

The metal multi way station sticks into the ground easily, offering a secure feeding paradise for the birds. You can have as many arms on as you wish, the more the better as you will be able to feed a wider variety of food. 

 

Ground feeding birds such as blackbirds, thrushes, and also wrens are more likely to feed on a ground tray than a feeder. The blackbird, thrush, robin and wren will eat mainly softbill food. Here at Brinvale we have a variety of specific softbill mixes: 

                                                

 

 

All these mixes can be fed on a wooden bird feeder table, a hanging bird feeder tray and ground feeding tray. The trays more often than not have got a mesh base to them, some have small mesh holes while others have larger holes. Double check with the supplier that the food will not fall through the mesh before purchase. 

 

You can put anything on the feeders or in the seed feeders if you have a multi feeding station. Peanuts, seed and suet are all sitbale food for birds coming into your garden to eat. Always make sure you ofrfer a variety of food so that the birds can get all the calories and nutrients they need. Varying the food you put out is also going to benefit as the different foods offer different nutrients. Remember to have a fresh supply of clean water, for them to drink and bath out of and so that you can make the most out of your garden paradise! 

 

Like most food when open to the elements, it can go off after a few days if the weather is particually bad. Remember not to overfill the feeders or stations if the weather is bad, as this can lead to food being wasted and going mouldy which won't offer any health benefits to the birds. 

 

Try to avoid any waste from being on the ground for too long as this can encourage rodents. A good way to avoid this is by adding a tray to the bottom of the feeder if it is possible to do so. This will catch the majority of any spilled/dropped seed which will decrease the chance of rodents. Sunflower hearts are a great seed to put out for the birds as this has already been de-husked so they can be eaten straight away as the birds dont need to get inside the husk. This creates less droppings and less waste, and they are also full of nutrients and oils that the birds need to keep their skin, beaks and feathers healthy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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