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Post by Genesis 27:3 on Jan 27, 2017 10:46:35 GMT -5
We've only been feeding birds for about a year so my knowledge is limited. However, we have had 4-5 dead sparrows the past few weeks by where they feed. I fed them about 8:30 this morning and all seemed well. By 9:30 there were 2 dead. I feed them a farm seed mix. I have a bird feeder plus I toss some on the ground. We get a mixture of house sparrows,white crown sparrows,blue jay, cow birds, several doves, and wood peckers. Only finding the house sparrows dead. Any thoughts?
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Post by featherduster on Jan 27, 2017 11:03:05 GMT -5
Feed them oiled sunflowers only and you will have a great variety of song birds. When you buy the mixed seed foods a lot of those seeds go to waste, I also put out suet squares and wood pecker bars.
As far as to why you are finding dead birds I would have no clue unless your feed is bad.
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Post by davers on Jan 27, 2017 11:23:25 GMT -5
We've only been feeding birds for about a year so my knowledge is limited. However, we have had 4-5 dead sparrows the past few weeks by where they feed. I fed them about 8:30 this morning and all seemed well. By 9:30 there were 2 dead. I feed them a farm seed mix. I have a bird feeder plus I toss some on the ground. We get a mixture of house sparrows,white crown sparrows,blue jay, cow birds, several doves, and wood peckers. Only finding the house sparrows dead. Any thoughts? That is strange. The feed wasn't contaminated, was it (?) That would be the only reason I could explain the birds you found dead. You might take the seed back where you purchased it and tell them what happened. During the Winter I normally see mostly Crows, Hawks, Blue jays, & Woodpeckers. Crows are comical to watch year-round.
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Post by Genesis 27:3 on Jan 27, 2017 11:55:19 GMT -5
I guess I'm not sure if it's contaminated or not. We bought it at tractor supply and the other birds seem to be ok. Not sure how to tell if it's contaminated.
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Post by davers on Jan 27, 2017 12:09:58 GMT -5
I guess I'm not sure if it's contaminated or not. We bought it at tractor supply and the other birds seem to be ok. Not sure how to tell if it's contaminated. Those dead birds might have eaten something elsewhere besides your feed. That's one more theory considering that not all birds, whom ate the seed died. Neighbors feeding the birds also?
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Post by throbak on Jan 27, 2017 13:00:30 GMT -5
If seed was bad all birds would be effected I would think ! There not flying into windows are they ??
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Jan 27, 2017 13:18:02 GMT -5
Does the neighbor have a kid with a BB gun?
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Post by Pinoc on Jan 27, 2017 13:26:22 GMT -5
Does the neighbor have a kid with a BB gun? This is what I was thinking.
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Post by davers on Jan 27, 2017 13:31:34 GMT -5
If seed was bad all birds would be effected I would think ! There not flying into windows are they ?? If you have several American Holly Trees, Robins will eat the berries in early spring and become drunk and they will fly into windows, doors, etc.
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Post by omegahunter on Jan 27, 2017 13:36:57 GMT -5
We've only been feeding birds for about a year so my knowledge is limited. However, we have had 4-5 dead sparrows the past few weeks by where they feed. I fed them about 8:30 this morning and all seemed well. By 9:30 there were 2 dead. I feed them a farm seed mix. I have a bird feeder plus I toss some on the ground. We get a mixture of house sparrows,white crown sparrows,blue jay, cow birds, several doves, and wood peckers. Only finding the house sparrows dead. Any thoughts? You don't live close to me do you? English sparrows and Starlings are on a Gamo-enforced no-fly list!
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Post by Woody Williams on Jan 27, 2017 13:49:14 GMT -5
Feed them oiled sunflowers only and you will have a great variety of song birds. When you buy the mixed seed foods a lot of those seeds go to waste, I also put out suet squares and wood pecker bars. As far as to why you are finding dead birds I would have no clue unless your feed is bad. ^^^^ THIS Most commercial bird seeds contain a lot of millet and cracked corn. Neither one is all that great a feed for birds, but they are a cheap filler. We only feed black oil sunflower, suet, and thistle seed. The thistle seed is in upside down gold finch feeders. .
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Post by Genesis 27:3 on Jan 27, 2017 13:59:17 GMT -5
Not hitting the windows and no kids with BB guns, except me. And yes, my neighbor's feed also. My they got into something bad. I don't mind the sparrows but I hate the starling. Built a large Martin house and those stinking things won't stay out of it
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Post by dbd870 on Jan 27, 2017 14:05:37 GMT -5
Feed them oiled sunflowers only and you will have a great variety of song birds. When you buy the mixed seed foods a lot of those seeds go to waste, I also put out suet squares and wood pecker bars. As far as to why you are finding dead birds I would have no clue unless your feed is bad. ^^^^ THIS Most commercial bird seeds contain a lot of millet and cracked corn. Neither one is all that great a feed for birds, but they are a cheap filler. We only feed black oil sunflower, suet, and thistle seed. The thistle seed is in upside down gold finch feeders. . Same here!
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Post by throbak on Jan 27, 2017 14:18:47 GMT -5
The different seeds are to appease the appetites of different birds We just feed black oil The mixture with the millet , cracked corn and sorghum attracts English sparrows and starlings Feed just oil and you will see less of those birds Same with Suet get the suet with oil seeds that helps too Save your Deer ribs and fat birds love to pick on them I put deer fat in suet feeders or just leave it on ribs We have one snow bird been here 3 years now has a couple white tail feathers to tell it apart
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Post by squirrelhunter on Jan 27, 2017 15:29:37 GMT -5
We've only been feeding birds for about a year so my knowledge is limited. However, we have had 4-5 dead sparrows the past few weeks by where they feed. I fed them about 8:30 this morning and all seemed well. By 9:30 there were 2 dead. I feed them a farm seed mix. I have a bird feeder plus I toss some on the ground. We get a mixture of house sparrows,white crown sparrows,blue jay, cow birds, several doves, and wood peckers. Only finding the house sparrows dead. Any thoughts? You don't live close to me do you? English sparrows and Starlings are on a Gamo-enforced no-fly list! I've got a bird trap,it looks like a birdhouse but when they jump in and land on the perch it trips and a thing drops down shutting off the hole. There's an access hole and door on the side with a hole small enough that anything the size of a sparrow or bigger can't get through it so the wrens and smaller ones can get out. When there's a sparrow or starling is in it I just swing open the side door,reach in and grab them and kill them.
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Post by bullseye69 on Jan 27, 2017 17:34:21 GMT -5
We've only been feeding birds for about a year so my knowledge is limited. However, we have had 4-5 dead sparrows the past few weeks by where they feed. I fed them about 8:30 this morning and all seemed well. By 9:30 there were 2 dead. I feed them a farm seed mix. I have a bird feeder plus I toss some on the ground. We get a mixture of house sparrows,white crown sparrows,blue jay, cow birds, several doves, and wood peckers. Only finding the house sparrows dead. Any thoughts? Use a tighter choke.
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Post by omegahunter on Jan 27, 2017 17:39:23 GMT -5
The different seeds are to appease the appetites of different birds We just feed black oil The mixture with the millet , cracked corn and sorghum attracts English sparrows and starlings Feed just oil and you will see less of those birds Same with Suet get the suet with oil seeds that helps too Save your Deer ribs and fat birds love to pick on them I put deer fat in suet feeders or just leave it on ribs We have one snow bird been here 3 years now has a couple white tail feathers to tell it apart Sacrilege!!!! Deer ribs go in the smoker! Best eating on the deer beside whole grilled tenderloins.
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Post by davers on Jan 28, 2017 5:13:29 GMT -5
You don't live close to me do you? English sparrows and Starlings are on a Gamo-enforced no-fly list! I've got a bird trap,it looks like a birdhouse but when they jump in and land on the perch it trips and a thing drops down shutting off the hole. There's an access hole and door on the side with a hole small enough that anything the size of a sparrow or bigger can't get through it so the wrens and smaller ones can get out. When there's a sparrow or starling is in it I just swing open the side door,reach in and grab them and kill them. In my Ornithology Class, we used "Mist Nets" to capture birds for study.
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