[Fleecewife]

I know it's a struggle for us all in this weather but please, if you can, spare a thought for the wild birds.  Put out some seed, peanuts, fat blocks or even bread for them and a dish of water.  They will repay you in the spring when they mop up the caterpillars from the veggies to feed their young.

[Hilarysmum]

Brilliant idea, although they tend to share the chicken and pig feed here.

[faith0504]

i putting extra hen food out and bread and instant noodles, also made them a bowl of porridge with corn mixed into it, they loved that

[morri2]

Yep!  Were doing our bit here.  Bird feeder has been filled up three times today - there are loads of birds coming to feed, even a woodpecker and a jay earlier today.  Hung up some 'fat balls' (ahem!!)  and throwing them lots of scraps.  Water is difficult because it keeps freezing within minutes, but there is a river not far away. 

[Fergie]

Since we scatter vast quantities of poultry grain for the hens, I think we're feeding a much wider population of birds than just the ones who live in the henhouse.

John

[ballingall]

I have several different types of feeders on the rowan tree which our kitchen window looks out to. There must be at least 40 small birds coming to it during the day- all day. Seen birds we never normally see, like a pair of Thrush's, Chaffinches as well as the more normal Blue Tits, Bullfinches and the Robin. The bigger birds tend to steal from the chicken food, and the sparrows (of which we have many) live in the goat shed and they eat goat food.

Beth

[Brucklay]

Our duck/hen/wild bird feed area is heaving at the moment - lots of finches, sparrows, quite a few black birds who spend more time chasing each other than eating, wood pigeons, pheasant, red leg partridge but not see the woodpecker yet - he only comes now and again - possible when his local source is on holiday!!

[sheardale]

I think we are all doing our bit for the birds. 

[doganjo]

I'm doing my bit for the rats too it seems - my 4 year old granddaughter told me on Sunday that she saw one run up into the leylandii tree in the duck run - eeeeeyyyyykkkk

[Rosemary]

We've got our bird feeders out and we put softbill mix out twice a day for the blackbirds and the robins. And Dan puts out dried mealworms for them too. I love watching the wild birds at any time of year.

[northfifeduckling]

we had a woodpecker at the feeder yesterday! 

[Fleecewife]

Oh good - top marks everyone 

We have 8 feeders out for the wild birds plus some fat blocks and any stored apples which start to rot, but I must admit the sparrows, chaffinches and blackbirds share the hen food too.  There is also a family of jackdaws which wait impatiently each afternoon for us to come round with the sheep food.
Today the sparrow hawk was flying slowly just above us - maybe she was hoping we would frighten some birds which would fly up straight into her claws. 
I find it amazing that such tiny birds can survive quite cold temps just by fluffing themselves up and snuggling together.

Keep up the good work 

[Sylvia]

I feed the birds in the garden and would like to feed the ones in the fields but no sooner do I put grub out for them then the bl***y squirrels come along and eat it. Anyone have plans for a squirrel-proof feeder?

[OhLaLa]

I always put some extra grain out for the wild birds when the weather turns icy. Also, if the snow is deep the picnic table gets a piece of wood almost a large as the table put on it, and that gets covered in mixed grain. It doesn't take long to get eaten.

[Hilarysmum]

I feed the birds in the garden and would like to feed the ones in the fields but no sooner do I put grub out for them then the bl***y squirrels come along and eat it. Anyone have plans for a squirrel-proof feeder?

All our squirrels have gone into hibernation, very sensible; le chasse consider them fair game.  We only get red ones here so doubly sad when they do get shot.