Birds not feeding

Maybe to much out in the open drc,this happened me last year so i moved the feeder over beside some shrubs,&it worked feeder cleared of food every other day ,hope this helps:~))))

Mobee Its almost under a plum nigra tree and usually they fly from tree to tree then swoop down on it.

Are the fat balls and seeds frozen up?
Do they need to thaw out ?

In this icyweather, some people are putting out bird food who would not normally do so. In other words, you may have neighbours a few doors away who are feeding the birds with mince pies or whatever...

Just a couple of ideas...

Oh dear sorry drc don`t know what to suggest,any cats in the area? may be something scaring them,i`m sure someone here on GoY will be able to help, hope you get it sorted.....:~))

I think I'd be inclined to move it near your shrubs, so that the birds feel even safer from whatever is 'spooking ' them. It's worth a try, anyway!

Good luck. They do need to eat!

The fat balls may be frozen Terrat but not the seed? I will move it Spritz in case its that?

I don't think that frozen fat balls put them off...they just take longet to peck at.

Let us know how it goes, Denise.

The fat balls i've got aren't used that much either Drc, the blocks of suet are used a lot more .... those you can put them in those wire/basket things that have a chain hanger on them.

The feeders hanging from my shrubs aren't used much but the feeders i hang in the Rowan tree opposite my garden are ...... ! Queer, huh ?? !!
I only have sunflower hearts in the feeders.

the birds have not eaten my fatballs either, but love the half coconut with food in i bought.... and always eat the brown bread i put out... not the white......i had a bag of peanuts out which they did not touch but are now eating them mixed with the bird seed...... strange isnt it.......

My fat balls only seem to attract the starlings whilst in the hangers,but when they are nearly finished I then crumble them and Mr Robin then appears for a feast ......All my feeding stations are near trees and shrubs so the birds can get to safety if neccessary............

i think the same as terra as lots more people feeding them in this weather,i just seem to get finches eating the fat balls,your birds are fussy holly only eating the brown bread lol

I mentioned the frozen fat balls because this has been discussed on several other GoY threads recently re. helping wild birds in the cold weather.

In my back garden, I'm feeding about a dozen sparrows at my globe feeders. The feeders can be seen in one of my more recent GoY photos. There are fat balls in one feeder and peanuts in the other. The sparrows are eating both at about the same rate. As can be seen in the photo, the feeders are quite close to a trellis with climbers such as evergreen clematis, where the birds take cover.

I presume that bluetits and finches are being fed by other neighbours who are offering expensive goodies to these birds during these icy conditions. Those birds will come back to my feeders when the neighbours lose interest in feeding the birds.

mine are in shrubs as well -- good job too as a sparrowhawk was cruising around today

birds not eating in my garden either. Maybe we have put the food in the wrong place

Have they got access to water ? Maybe if they are attracted to bathe they would notice the food :)

That's a thought

Just a thought as ours came down to bathe and drink and afterwards went on the feeders.The water had only been out a few minutes.

I will have to look for something to put it on for them tomorrow.

I wonder if its lack of water as the bath is still snow bound? will try water tomorrow as well as moving it nearer the trees.

Ours was like this last week Drc....so I checked the fat balls and like TT says they were frozen! For a couple of days I fed the birds in a roofed area where the BBQ is and they flew in and out of there........

I've started squashing the bought fat balls up and sprinking them on the ground because they are so hard. The ones I make attract lots of birds, starlings, jackdaws, rooks on the table and then smaller birds go for whatever they drop on the ground.
Eight starling in the birdbath this morning, that's the most ever. Maybe they are having a competition to see how many can get in at the same time.

Good idea Ginellie....squashing them......shall check ours tomorrow and do the same...:o)

Our local birder told us to break up the fat balls( as the small birds lose too much energy trying to peck them) and to sprinkle them around the garden. also not to put too much out at one time, if the food in the feeders has not been eaten after a couple of days take it out and put on the table. Your table could do with more cover, it makes the birds nervous being in the open hope this is of some help to you, was told to chop the nuts on the RSPB site.!!

My fat balls have frozen up this last couple of weeks.

Has the seed got a lot of wheat and/or other grain in it? The tits and finches don't eat this and may ignore the feed as too much energy spent sorting it out. Peanuts should be in a feeder, of you could chop them in a food processor or grinder. I leave 1 large fat ball hanging for the woodpecker, bringing it in at night but break up others and put on the ground and tables.

I did change the seed and this is when they seemed to stop as before I was always refilling it and replacing the fat balls

.....did you also change the make of fat balls? I get people tell me that some they buy the birds won't touch....(I'm in the trade, not just having weird conversations! he he) so may-be go back to the previous makes you bought?

Yes I did PG, come to think of it I bought the smaller fat balls to put in my hanger and its these they dont touch! also when I bought them I went to a new supplier and the seed looks more like budgie seed. Although I was assured it was the right seed. Wont go there again.

Just to up date you. I moved the table nearer the trees and crumbled new fat balls as those in the hanger were frozen solid. I put new birdseed in the feeder and its already gone down nearly 1/2 way also put a bowl of water on the table. Much more interest since from the birds . So thank-you all.

Pleased all the tips worked and your feathered friends have returned! :o))

Thanks PG it has made a difference.

Great news that your perseverance and alterations have resulted in more birds feeding and drinking.
Well done :o)

We too had to bring in fat balls and ended up crushing them up and putting on table.Also put peanus in blender to make "crumble" which they loved. All meant that they used less energy.Glad you are sorted !

Well done, Denise - I'm so pleased! :-)))

Thanks so am I

:-))

Pleased it worked out Drc......shall give the blender a go like BB, it'll be a lot easier for them...:o)

Thanks Janey those balls really freeze solid

Yep, mine were the same...wonder what sort of fat it is??