Let's talk Seeds and Seed Mixes!

Pelle I tried the safflower in one feeder back last spring and the house finch were the only ones that would eat it. But the squirrels stopped bothering that feeder.

That is weird...I have several birds that eat the safflower seed. Cardinals, Doves, House Finch, even the Chickadee and Nuthatch will eat some. The Grosbeaks loved it last spring and I have seen the Fox Sparrow eating it off the ground. That is the only feeder I can leave up in the tree at night. No other critters bother it.

We use Garden Treasures black oil sunflower seed and Garden Treasures safflower seed. I really like the safflower seed because the squirrels won't have anything to do with it. So, I put their sunflower seed in a smaller feeding tray off to the side of the deck, and use safflower seed and suet for the birds. Unfortunately, my "uphill" neighbor has been feeding corn to the squirrels, so we now have a flock of crows hanging around. YIKES! Sometimes I think that our heated water dish is a bigger drawing card than the seed.

Ooooops! Sorry, fellow birders, I should have said "murder of crows." Have a great day, everyone!

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That is what a big family group of crows is called. Ain't english grand.....

Thanks for explaining that to nanny_56 for me, JuneyBug. Believe me, crows are "murder" to have around. One afternoon they actually descended on our suet rack and feeders.

I only have 3 and I make sure that I have corn in "their" feeding area. The sure tear through the birdseed if I don't.

Oh, dear, pelle. How can it be that the cardinals don't like your safflower seed??? Ours go crazy for it and I have to say it was a glorious site this week to see 40 cardinals in the snow covered yard patiently waiting on limbs for their turn at the saff feeders. Some of our other birds will eat it too, although most of them will eat the sunflower hearts if given a choice between the two. And most times I do have some BO out too.

I think I read somewhere that saff should first be offered in a 50-50 mix with the black oil and then the proportion of saff increased every time you refill, that way the birds get used to it.

Our squirrels are going to eat me into bankruptcy. I can't believe how brazen they have become and I have become very judicious and sneaky about how much seed I put out at a time.

And it would make me crazy if my neighbor put out corn to draw into the yard every squirrel starling and crow in the county!

Hi tab,I'm not sure why they snubbed it. I was surprised and I'm glad I only bought a small bag of it.

I guess 4 types of seed is enough to put out. :-)

Although my cardinals don't like the saff, just about all the other birds do, even the sparrows have started going to it :( I keep a separate feeder of it for the Goldfinches as they are skittish around the other birds.

I have a Mockingbird that has started coming to my suet feeders..I love that! We've lived here almost 6 years and this winter was the first time I've ever seen one come to any feeder.

I have made a vow to not feed Black Oil Sunflower Seeds in the enclosed area of the yard and patio. The snow and ice has melted and I can't believe what a mess I still have out there. I am now feeding niger, sunflower hearts, nuts and other various mixes that don't have shells. The Boss has been moved to the dead tree. The birds don't seem to mind so it is a win win situation!

Congrats Clan!

Good deal Rose. I am fortunate that where I feed is not grass or patio at all. It's a mulched area (mostly leaves and grass clippings). So in the spring I just run the mini-tiller through the area. HOWEVER, the sparrows are hanging out on the covered patio. They take seed over there and sit and eat and eat. It's a mess. I can't wait to get the power washer out soon!

I am so with you Rose...I have such a mess!! I cleaned up quite a bit yesterday, but today all the snow melted and YUCK!!!!!! The ground is so saturated today though that it made it impossible to clean anymore up.

The BOSS will be restricted to the platform feeder and the squirrel dishes. Bought some different seed mixes today to switch them over. Will get a couple more things monday at the bird store.

Yes, the snow has melted here and I have quite an ugly site on my hands, too! It was 60 degrees yesterday so we went out with the hose and tried to do some mitigation but I am having nightmares of all kinds of safflowers and sunflowers growing in my yard next summer! And maybe peanut trees. Or are they bushes? Plants, maybe? LOL

Oh, well.

I am doing another comparison survey of purchased wood pecker suet blocks versus my homemade peanut butter 'dough' and my dough is winning by a landslide. So far today the squirrels haven't found (that may last until noon!) but the red-bellieds, downies, and hairies are going ga-ga this a.m..

I bought a big 20 lb. sack of seed labelled "Golden Hearts" in big print (and I didn't have my glasses to read the small print) and couldn't believe sunflower hearts were such a 'buy' so I grabbed it. Then got it home and opened it and it was a bag of cracked corn and millet and maybe a few bits of sunflower hearts. I was so mad at myself! Now I don't know what to do with it. Although I put a bit out for my towhees and they seemed to love it.

Well there you have it, save it for the towhees.

OR, you could take it to a local wildlife area and dump it for those birds and squirrels.

I expect a lot of corn this year, as I've fed the squirrels for the first time.

I bought my first "big bag" of sunflower hearts to feed around the patio/enclosed yard area. It made me feel very extravagant but it will be less I have to clean up later. Last year I fed Boss along our chicken house and the sunflowers came up with the Tiger Lilies and was just beautiful!! This year I had some wild plant come up along our chain link fence and I think it is milo...anyway the Bluebirds are now spending lots of time eating the seeds so I hope more of it comes up again this year. I will also let some of the sunflowers come up under the dead tree.

I bought some of that same stuff once Tab...I think they call it that for a reason!! I bought 1 bag of Morning Song Nut & Berry and a bag of Kaytee's Premium and mixed them together they have some Boss in them but mixed with other seeds and peanut pieces. That is going in the tray's and the caged feeder for now. I took the mini Squirrel Buster back to today...just didn't work for me.

WBU has their seed on sale, so bought a #20 bag of safflower and will get another next pay day. Along with their #20 Boss and #10 Peanuts. I had a 25% off coupon so it all cost me about $38!

I got a mesh bag with thistle and exchanged it for my regular thistle feeder since then have not seen any birds on it. Should I put the regular one back out also?

Too funny, I just asked the question and they are now using the mesh bag without me having to change a thing.lol

Then LOVE my sock. IN fact, I'm letting it run out so they'll use the new screen feeder instead!

they love my socks too.

AT LAST!!!! After keeping suet out for over two years something decided to start eating it. A Pine Warbler.

Yay Frank!!!

Finches love the sock here...my problem is that with the abundance of natural food around where I live, the finches don't come to the yard to feed as much during the summer. But during the winter, we are overrun with them!

Love the Pine Warbler.

Look what my boss and his wife gave me today! I have never tried these store bought suet snacks, but I am sure the birds will heart them! (Secretary Day) GM- AND a gift card, too!

Oh that was really nice of them GM!

That was sweet.

We only use BOSS--all the birds like it & unfortunately the squirrels do also.

Let us know if they like the suet snacks...That was really nice of them!

I put cracked corn out for the squirrels and they love it enough to leave my birdfeeders alone most of the time. I buy it at a feed store.

Let the squirrels get their own acorns. Have finally learned to jump from tree trunk to the feeder--very annoying.

Grrrr...squirrels!