Hi. I don't know much about birds, but I've got a lot in my yard.
I bought a beautiful feeder years ago and apparently misunderstood which birds it was for and what kind of feed to fill it with. If I recall correctly, I put a mix of smallish seeds in, which mostly streamed out with no interaction from the birds.
It's cylindrical, and about 18"tall. And it hangs.vettucally. I forget what the openings are like. It's packed away somewhere, though, and I'd like to dig it out and use it.
Can anyone offer advice an this type of feeder?
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bird seed, they put in an awful lot of millet and cracked wheat or oats. Those are the little round seeds falling off your feeder, and wild birds won't eat much of it, if any. Parakeets seem to like it, but I've never seen flocks of wild parakeets. If your reader's holes are big enough I suggest black oil sunflower seed. That will attract Cardinals, House Finches, Nuthatches, Gold Finches, Titmice, Cedar Wax Wings, just about any bird likes black oil sunflower seeds. I also put suet cakes out for them, because that gives them fat and protein, and usually vitamins the birds need, especially in winter. If its a hanging feeder, like you say, you probably should invest in a squirrel guard to keep them from climbing down and cleaning out your feeder. You attach it above the feeder. It's sort of like a dog's "cone of shame" after they've had an operation. Squirrels are very inventive and determined, so expect them to attempt defeating anything you put up to control them. If you have any other questions PM me and I'll be more than happy to help.
feeder could be IDed just by my description.
I'll have to unearth it, or at least a photo of it, to be sure what it is.
I did also have another feeder that's like a rectangular cage that holds a block of feed, which I guess have seeds and fat in them? Will look for that one, too.
There are plenty of berry bushes and other shrubs & plants for at least some food & shelter, so we've always had plenty of birds. I just happened to see a candle holder that's similar to the cylindrical feeder and thought I'd like to use it.
it's almost certainly a finch feeder. Those are designed to hold Nijer seed, which most people think is the preferred seed for Goldfinches, House Finches etc. In my experience all types of Finches like the black oil sunflower seeds better than the Nijer seed. The cage you mentioned is for seed cakes. Its seed, nuts, grains and some type of bonding agent pressed into a cake. Woodpeckers, Nut Hatches, Chickadees etc. like to peck at those, but usually just go for the nuts and leave the rest. After awhile the rain, snow etc. will make the cakes disintegrate and most of it will be wasted. The cages can be used to hold suet cakes as well, and if you live in an area of the U.S. that has cold/snow/ice in winter I'd suggest the suet cake. Websites like the Cornell site will usually suggest types of feeders to attract certain birds. You will develop favorite birds, so concentrate on those types if you wish. I was never a bird person until I hit 60, now I get a real kick out of watching them. It can get rather costly for different types of seed, suet (which you can get in it's raw form from a butcher or supermarket, but they'll charge you) etc. I spend probably $25-30 monthly, but I go a little overboard with the little critters. They're a hobby for me now, and for a hobby that's not too bad. When drinking was my hobby it was WAY more expensive, both to my wallet and my health. Have fun.
