Nasty issue with bird food - seeking advice!

RockDesk

Hi,

I feed the wild birds sunflower seeds and, about 6 months ago, permanently added suet blocks and fat balls. Because the birds are quite messy, every so often I have to dispose of what has dropped from the feeders. A few weeks ago I went to dig up under the suet and fat balls. OMG. The smell. It was FOUL. I know it's not the sunflower seeds as I've never had a smell before.

Is the only option I have to clean very regularly? And if so, what is safe to use? There are ground feeders as well so I'm reluctant to use anything too toxic like a bleach mixture.

It's falling on loose stones so I can't really get a brush out and sweep them away. I usually use a large gardening fork and shovel.

Any advice would be welcomed!

Thanks

Outkast_IRE

Its likely the sun hitting the suet and fat balls and it melting the oils and fat into the ground underneath.

You could always take them out of the mix and get in a better quality bird seed with more of the oil rich seeds in the mix that the birds love.

RockDesk

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Its likely the sun hitting the suet and fat balls and it melting the oils and fat into the ground underneath.

You could always take them out of the mix and get in a better quality bird seed with more of the oil rich seeds in the mix that the birds love.

I'd be open to that for sure. Would there be anything you would recommend?

Outkast_IRE

The black sunflower and Nyger seed are high in oils and much sought after by birds.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/feeding-birds/safe-food-for-birds/

kildare lad

Maybe try moving the feeders around every week or 2 , it'll stop the build up in the one area

RockDesk

I'll definitely look into Nyger seeds.

I never thought of moving the feeders around actually. It would make it easier to maintain the mess!

Outkast_IRE

RockDesk wrote: »

I'll definitely look into Nyger seeds.

I never thought of moving the feeders around actually. It would make it easier to maintain the mess!

Yeah just keep an eye on your feeder type the nyger are small so need a certain type of feeder so they aren't falling out .

RockDesk

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Yeah just keep an eye on your feeder type the nyger are small so need a certain type of feeder so they aren't falling out .

Oh yeah, good point. I'd definitely jump in and get the seed without thinking of the holder!

fryup

if you can try putting something underneath the feeder to catch any waste, like plywood ..make it easier for you to clean up

OpenYourEyes

I'd second the idea of putting something underneath the feeder - wood, plastic sheeting etc - that you can easily move and clean.

There's a lot of mess with nyjer seed - a mix of empty seed husks, and actual seed that has spilled and gone uneaten. If you wan't to truly avoid mess under feeders use peanuts in a mesh feeder (zero spillage) and sunflower hearts (any spillage will be readily eaten). Both of those are the foods that will also attract the largest variety of garden birds, whereas really there's only three species that go for nyjer.