Staffordmum Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 I just checked out the shopping list for newbies (sister has ex-bats!). Haven't seen or heard of "wild bird seed balls (made with honey not fat)" Are they shop bought or home made? does anyone have a "recipe"? Thanks, Pat & Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 You can find them in pet shops, but they'll disappear in a jiffy If you want something to last pecka block are a better bet, check out Flytes so fancy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMitch Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 I get them from Pets at home, they are quite large but my chooks will go through them in a day. Definately go for the Flyte so Fancy ones, they are a bit dearer but will last alot longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teri Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 i got one in the shape of a bell from our local bargin store it lasted for a few days! i think it cost £1.50 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 We got our chooks one - they never touched it! 4 weeks we left it in the run for - eventually hung it out for the wild birds to eat instead! Fussy things... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bessandra Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Hi Pat Loads of our local pet shops/garden centres have them. What about the big new place by you, they should I would have thought? My girls love them but they are expensive..are you a cook? Maybe it is worth having a go at making some. I've just made a peckablock for mine, I'm about to put a separate posting on here about that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bessandra Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Me again Pat -I just went to petstuffgalore.co.uk to buy some treat ball thingys (as recommended on another thread) and see they sell the wild bird seed bell with honey for £1.39 each. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 PLEASE please please please try to avoid leaving bird sead with honey lying about. Honey is typically imported, and often from countries with a bee dieases called American Foul Brood. It's a bacteria but forms spores, and these can survive extreme temperatures, anitbacterials, etc.... and is very commonly found in honey. If bees eat the honey they will pick up the disease. It's relatively rare in the UK, but by law if a colony of bees has it it must be destroyed by burning (the hive entrance is blocked up at night when the bees are back home, and a cup of petrol poured into teh hive to asphyxiate them. Then the whole lot is burned in a pit). This is because it isn't treatable by anti-biotics (due to the spore phase of the bacteria) and is contagious. A lot of outbreaks are traced back to bees eating contaminated honey. I'm not sure if it's a risk to bumble bees, but it is devastating to honey bees. So if you can avoid letting honey bees have access to shop-bought honey, or honey of dubious origin, then you will be doing local beekeepers an IMMENSE service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffordmum Posted August 2, 2009 Author Share Posted August 2, 2009 PLEASE please please please try to avoid leaving bird sead with honey lying about. Honey is typically imported, and often from countries with a bee dieases called American Foul Brood. It's a bacteria but forms spores, and these can survive extreme temperatures, anitbacterials, etc.... and is very commonly found in honey. If bees eat the honey they will pick up the disease. OMG - I had no idea and to think I've always wanted to keep bees Am currently trying to plant "bee friendly" plants in the garden too, following my annual pilgrimage to Hampton Court Flower Show ... I will stick to baking my own - and without the honey ... Thanks for the info. Kind rgds, Pat & Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legend21 Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 Staffordmum, I am a member of a bee club and had received emails about the American Foul Brood, I think that selling the things that contain imported honey should be banned, the poor honey bees, they work so hard and are fighting for survival due to other diseased being brought in from countries. Please fellow omleteers be mindful Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
