Thread: The birds are back - feeding a pond?

I am looking for tips on feeding a small wetland as well. It's close to ellesmere so as you can imagine a million birds that aren't ducks ready to eat the feed. So far I have two 20l nosloc feeders. I am thinking of getting another couple. How would I prevent the night feeding mentioned? Buy a auto feeder which is set to only feed in the morning? It makes sense to invest a bit more in good feeders than throw out a huge amount of food and waste most of it I feel.

You could probably attach a timer to the other feeders ????

Originally Posted by redbang

You could probably attach a timer to the other feeders ????

Two different kinds of feeders red. The nosloc is a nozzel on a bucket of feed that the duck pecks and the feed come out - on demand feeding.

The automatic feeders throw feed out at set times. By the sounds of this thread it's better to set that time to be morning not night.

Originally Posted by MassiveAttack

I am looking for tips on feeding a small wetland as well. It's close to ellesmere so as you can imagine a million birds that aren't ducks ready to eat the feed. So far I have two 20l nosloc feeders. I am thinking of getting another couple. How would I prevent the night feeding mentioned? Buy a auto feeder which is set to only feed in the morning? It makes sense to invest a bit more in good feeders than throw out a huge amount of food and waste most of it I feel.

If possible feed before light. Start by only putting enough feed out that the birds will finish it in the morning. Slowly build up the amount of feed going out as duck numbers start to increase. You want to create some competition for food available not have food still about by evening otherwise that is when the birds will arrive. You are trying to upset their normal feed routine, roost during the day, feed at night. An electronic feeder would certainly make life easier.

Everyone uses barley or peas. Use maize if a little extra expense is tolerable