Forum Topic

Birds

Reading a post on Chiswick Site saying there are fewer birds in the gardens, if you feed the birds over winter just a suggestion to place the feeder away from neighbours who have cats, possibly place it in the middle to give the birds a chance to get away, the cats are killing so many birds, the feeders are death traps if not placed away from the boundary.

Janice Evans ● 2758d8 Comments

I have another cat he's 21 and has been indoor cat for last 5 years, he could go out but never bothers and when he used to go out never caught birds or took any notice of them at all the complete opposite.

Janice Evans ● 2754d

I do understand. Cats are not very good at understanding why they're not being let out!

Nina Battleday ● 2754d

I would but he was a stray originally and gets a bit frantic if he cannot get through the cat flap, I will try it though.

Janice Evans ● 2754d

Janice, it can help birds if you can keep your cat in during the early morning, when birds tend to be at their hungriest. Not easy,I know but worth a try. Some cats are born hunters, others are far too lazy to even think about it!

Nina Battleday ● 2754d

Yes that's why I thought place them to the centre of the garden then the ones feeding on the ground have a chance of seeing any cats approaching.My cat is a real hunter, I've mange to save a few he caught but cannot save them all as he don't always bring them to the house, I don't have feeders because of him.

Janice Evans ● 2754d

Always tricky, after all,some birds e.g. robins, blackbirds are ground feeders and not at all keen on using hanging feeders.

Nina Battleday ● 2755d

You can get some strips of anti cat spikes, small low spikes that make it uncomfortable for cats to walk along the top of fences without causing injury. This will keep most cats out unless they have an extra high hunter/killer drive. But I agree keep feeders away from where cats can ambush birds.

Kim Rugg ● 2755d

A very good suggestion. I shall move my feeders away from the shrubs and small tree by my fences and hang them from the Magnolia tree. The leaves will have fallen and the birds able to see the new place clearly. With the dense summer foliage no birds ate from the feeders , Not even the open ones tempted the wood pigeons.

Beryl Bashford ● 2755d