Hello these are some birdfeeding misconceptions. YMMV.
Feeding birds will attract rats and mice!
Look, this all blown out of proportion here.
Do you want to know how you attract vermin? By throwing the birdfeed into your garden like this:
You will bound to attract vermin along with not cleaning your feeders!
This also leads to an increase risk of fat finch disease by not cleaning your feeders along with the bird baths!
So, your better-off putting your birdfood into a certain spots via tubefeeder or birdtable and rotating the area at least monthly.
Also, establishing a symbiotic relationship (win-win) with ground feeding birds and buying the no-mess mix!
Mice and rats love fatballs.
Adding cayenne pepper to the food helps deter mice, squirrels and rats away.
I have cats can't feed the birds or have to keep them indoors!
Someone who has owned two cats and currently owns a cat. I can guarantee you that cats do not kill 24/7. Your supposed to place birdfeeders in safe locations like trees and high up for this exact reason!
To give birds a chance to retreat in case danger comes!
I would be more worried about birds flying into windows!
You can prevent birds flying into windows by window stickers, tape, moving plants.
RSPB has guide on preventing window collisions.
*Brand* prevents fat finch disease
Alot of this targeted at first-time birdfeeders.
This is aggressive marketing.
In truth no brand can prevent but can reduce the risk fat finch disease.
It's better buy from reputable suppliers Dobbies, RSPB, Pets at Home, Jollyes, etc.
It's all a fingertip away.
Birds are (very) messy eaters! Especially Goldfinches!
But can you can reduce it!
Cleaning it with hot soapy water and using a veterinary approved disinfectant or with a small drop of bleach with water.
Once a week.
Putting out 1-2 day supply and throwing out the remaining food in the brown bin.
Having multiple feeders 2 max for the average Joe.
2-3 bird baths.
The best way too prevent fat finch disease, is not to feed the birds at all.
How much birdfeed are you buying?
Are you refilling it twice a day?
Are you feeding Birds across the whole country?
How many feeders do you have?
Average Joe generally needs one seed feeder, sunflower seed feeder, fat ball feeder and one (roofed) table feeder.
Only really needs the table and a tube feeder at a time.
Bird seeds selling in large packs from 900g to 5kg and fatballs from 6 pack to 150 pack!
So you can buy it in bulk!
The No-Mess/No-Grow mix is worth it!
Fatballs are more suited for Winter-Time and Spring only.
All birdfeed is the same.
No, it's not!
You know what check the main ingredient, if it says wheat. Just put in down and move on.
Why? Because wheat is just a filler. Garden birds don't eat wheat.
Cheaper bird food contains fillers to bulk it up
Fewer, the ingredients the better!
RSPB has a buying guideabout bird feed!
Look up bird feed no fillers!
I once bought some Pets at Home regular birdseed.
Next day birds where spending 80% time dropping out wheat to the find the food.
Look at many negative Amazon reviews on bird feed.
When you see wheat as main ingredient.
Here's a mess it makes when you buy wheat birdfood:
It should be called chicken and pigeon feed.
Do yourself favour, don't buy it. Your garden and birds will thank you.
This garden bird species needs this niche food.
Ummm...no that's not true.
Certain foods are more likely to attract certain garden birds.
Along with certain feeders.
No food can attract all the garden species within your country.
But some foods can attract alot of gardenbird species!
Like, sunflower hearts and fat balls are rather popular!
