home » Business plans » How to feed titmouse in the feeder in winter. Why do tits eat fat

How to feed titmouse in the feeder in winter. Why do tits eat fat

It is very difficult for birds that fly to our region to spend the winter in the coldest time of the year to find at least some food for themselves. All insects hibernate. Vegetable food in the form of fruits and berries, even if it remains somewhere else, is certainly covered with snow. And if birds save them from the cold warm feathers, then there is little that can save them from hunger. Here people come to the aid of birds. They arrange feeders and feeding grounds in order to make it easier for the birds to survive the harsh season. But it is worth remembering that, striving for the best, you can inadvertently harm them, and it is important to know what can you feed titmouse in winter, and our site will talk about it today.

What can you feed birds in winter?

You need to feed them correctly and approach this process with knowledge of the matter. After all, there are several dozen species of birds wintering in our area. And representatives of each of them eat in their own way. There are birds that feed only on what a person provides them, that is, without a person, they most likely would not have survived. This group of birds is made up of sparrows, city pigeons and mallards. There are those who are able to get their own food in winter, but will not refuse our help either. These are tits, woodpeckers, nuthatches and other small forest birds. And, finally, there are birds that can perfectly do without us and which ornithologists do not recommend feeding. These include siskins, thrushes and other birds that are constantly nomadic and do not stay long in any one place. Who exactly will fly up to our feeder will largely depend on what will be poured there. And even in such a difficult time as winter, each species of birds prefers a certain food. Therefore, before feeding titmouse in winter, it is important to understand that this will need to be done until spring warming, since they can quickly get used to their new diet and the feeder itself.

It is clear that it will be very difficult for a bird accustomed to eat food provided by a person to learn to get food on its own again.

What to feed titmouse in the feeder?

First of all, you need to make a feeder. It should be in the form of a small house, inside of which there should be nothing special. It is best to hang the feeder in the yard. You should not hang it near the windows, as this can cause problems for some people: there will be a lot of garbage, and there will also be many birds seeking food to fly into open windows. Also, for safety reasons, it is better not to place feeders near highways. The space in front of the feeder should be open so that the birds can freely fly inside and notice the accidental appearance of some predator. The height at which it is best to place the feeder is about one and a half meters, so that children can pour food into it and so that it is difficult for predators hunting birds to reach it. Such predators may include, for example, cats walking around the yard.

When the feeder is ready and installed in the yard in its place, it is worth starting to think about what needs to be put in this feeder in order to please the birds, to feed them properly, and so that it does not harm them.

How to feed tits in the winter in the feeder

It is highly undesirable to put bread in the feeder, as it contains a lot of proteins and fats. It doesn't give energy. The stomach of a bird hardly digests it.

There is no need to put anything salty in the feeder. Biscuits, various muffins, as well as nuts and potato chips will harm the birds. If any cereal was stored in the house for a long time, and then any cereal deteriorated, there is no need to rush to give it to the birds. Spoiled cereals, just like us, will not benefit them.

The best food for birds can be sunflower or pumpkin seeds (not fried or salted), pearl barley, dried white bread crumbs, oatmeal. From food of animal origin, unsalted lard and butter are suitable for birds.

A mixture of three-quarters sunflower seeds can become a unique food for all birds. The fact is that these seeds are high in calories and can become the main source of energy for all birds. The fats contained in the seeds of this crop will help the birds survive extreme cold.

As for how often you need to add food, then this should be done no more than twice a day. Since we only help the birds, and do not take them on allowance, we should not be tempted to add more. Of course, they will not refuse the extra "portion", but in this way their ability to independently obtain food for themselves will be completely lost.

To prevent the feeder from becoming a place for the spread of infection, it is necessary to clean it every day, removing the remnants of feed. Also every month it is necessary to wash the bird feeder with hot water.

Do birds need to be fed in summer?

So, it is clear that birds need help in winter. But what about summer? After all, at this time of the year they can cope without our help. Lots of food around, and not cold at all. Ornithologists do not advise interfering with bird life in summer, since young chicks need natural food. Although there is no clear evidence that summer top dressing is harmful. However, if there is plenty of food everywhere, then the birds themselves will no longer often fly to the feeder to eat there.

In the summer there may not be a need for a feeder, but a drinking bowl is another matter. Birds also get hot, and it is not always easy for them to find some water nearby to drink. A man-made drinker specifically for birds will undoubtedly help them survive the heat. You can dig a small pond, and plant all kinds of plants around. Birds will be happy to fly to this place, escaping from hot weather.

We watch birds every day, we are so used to them that we rarely even pay attention to them. Like, they fly there for themselves and let them fly. But you need to think about what role they play in nature. Our parks and gardens are turning green, thanks in large part to the birds. They help plants by destroying great amount harmful insects. They delight us with their sweet appearance, their sonorous singing caresses our ears.

"Tits need special attention, sparrows are the usual friends of the gardener, they don’t skip summer, they collect insects and pests, and in winter they know where to profit. And it is more difficult for titmouse to survive in winter ...

Titmouse are forest dwellers, it is more difficult for them to adapt in winter.

The most common type of tits - the great tit - does not make reserves for the winter, it can be very difficult for her without top dressing.

Out of 10 tits, only 2-3 survive until spring. Out of 10 sparrows, 9-10 sparrows survive until spring.

A conditioned reflex is quickly formed in titmouse - they clearly remember where the feeder is located and when a fresh portion of food appears. Therefore, feeding them is a pleasure!

Somehow it remained in my memory from childhood that titmouses can be given lard in winter. And what else besides fat can you feed these birds?

What do tits eat in winter, what to feed?

In late autumn and winter, the insectivorous titmouse switches to plant food. Feed for tits in winter is not suitable for any:

Delicious garlands for birds: we string dried fruits, berries, nuts, hang them in the garden.

Sunflower seeds, melon, pumpkin, watermelon. The seeds must not be roasted. Sunflower seeds can be hung directly with the head (circle with seeds).

Lightly crushed walnuts

Peanut

Raisin

dry cherries

Hop cones

chokeberry

Grated hard boiled egg yolk,

Butter

Unsalted bacon (in weather -5 and colder),

Lightly salted cheese, cut into small cubes (with a side of 3-5 mm).

What else do birds eat in winter? Some species of tits make stocks for the winter, but the titmouse that most often settles for the winter near our houses - the great tit - does not make stocks for the winter.

Berries: red and black elderberry, mountain ash, hawthorn, shadberry, blueberry

Seeds of vegetable and industrial crops: sunflower, hemp, rye, corn, wheat, oats

mistletoe berries

Weed seeds: horse sorrel, burdock and others

Tree seeds: beech, hazel (hazel), pine, spruce, linden, maple, lilac, birch

For the garden, the presence of titmouse is very desirable, it collects a huge number of harmful insects. After all, she usually has a large family.
How to attract titmouse to settle in your garden?

In winter, we hang feeders

In the spring - we hang titmouses

Planting hedges."

With the advent of winter for tits come Hard times, and it is in our power to help our feathered friends survive until warm days, supplying them with food as far as possible. But you need to do it right so as not to harm ...

The content of the article:

General rules for feeding tits.
The best meal.
Why is the titmouse fat?
Table number 1: what can and cannot be fed to tits in winter.
Table No. 2% of what can and cannot be fed to wintering birds.
Table number 3: Fried and salty foods should not be given to birds.
Creative design ideas for chickadee food. We craft with children.

Tits feeding rules

First of all, it is important to remember: this is only about feeding, so there should be enough food for your feathered wards to eat it at a time. An enhanced diet is justified only in severe frosts. It may seem cruel, but if you give your titmouse too much food, they will quickly get used to the "easy" life and lose the ability to search for food on their own.

For arranging a bird dining room, it is desirable to find a secluded place located high enough above the ground so that rodents and pets do not reach it. Time the feeding to a certain time, and the smart titmouse will quickly learn the daily routine. And the last thing: if you have already begun to feed the tits, do it until the very spring, do not force your pets to circle over the feeder in vain.

Months when tits (and other birds wintering in the city) need to be fed:

from early November to mid-April.

It is important to consider that the titmouse needs to adhere to a certain “diet”. Prohibited:

Any bread baked with yeast, which causes fermentation in the stomach,
Fried foods, all salty, spicy, sweet.
Raw cereals, dairy products, potatoes, cabbage, peas.

The best treat for a yellow-breasted tiny bird will be:

Any raw seeds: pumpkin, sunflower flax;
Dried berries of mountain ash, hawthorn, cranberries, lingonberries;
Crushed almonds, peanuts walnuts (also raw);
Finely crushed hard-boiled egg, apple pieces, unleavened bread.
And, of course, fat. More about this

Why is the titmouse fat?

In order not to freeze, a small bird needs a fairly thick fat layer, and lard is the most best product who can help her do it. But it should be remembered that fat should only be fresh. The product is salted, smoked, fried, etc. will do more harm than good by disrupting the digestive process.

Product Lists

Table number 1: what to feed the TITS in winter

Table number 2: what to feed WINTER BIRDS

Table number 3: Fried and salty foods CANNOT be given to birds

Feeding tits in winter with children

Feed tits and other birds in winter with your children! For a child, this can be an exciting activity that will teach you how to protect nature. To interest the baby, try to arrange the bird's dining room in the most original way. Here are some ideas:

Fat swing: hang an oblong piece at both ends on a branch, and the titmouse will not only have lunch, but also ride with pleasure, arousing admiration from the audience;
A brave bird will not refuse to take a treat right from your palm, you just need to be patient;
Create with your child any figures from fat, cutting them out with a knife;
Treat the birds with a “barbecue”, stringing products on strings (pieces of bacon, berries) and hanging them in this form on the branches;
Collect pine cones, spread with peanut butter and roll in unroasted and unsalted sunflower seeds, crushed nuts, dried berries. Hang delicious cones on the branches, and they will be a great treat for your feathered friends!

And finally, come up with bird delicacies yourself, calling on your imagination and using the knowledge gained from this article!

Everyone knows a small bird with a yellow belly, white cheeks and a black head. By these signs, most recognize the tit. Her wings have a grayish-blue tint, and her back is olive, sometimes, too, with a bluish tint. Color, depending on the type of tit, varies slightly. Also, a black spot adorns the chest of these birds, continuing, already in the form of a strip, and on the stomach. By this strip, you can determine whether it is a female or a male. In males, it is wider, and in the opposite sex - on the contrary.

Titmouse belong to the order of passerines. These birds are very mobile and curious. Also, they have enough good memory. If you start feeding them and do it at least once, then the titmouse will definitely fly back to the same place.

Where do tits live?

These birds are inhabitants of forests, meadows. They also nest along the banks of rivers. City representatives choose parks and groves. IN countryside, can make a nest both in the garden and in the wall of a house or other building. They can live on any tree. And in the forests they live in both deciduous and coniferous.

Tit in flight
Tit in flight

With the onset of cold weather, tits try to settle closer to humans. This makes it easier for them to find food for themselves. And they eat quite often and a lot.

The tit bathes

Tits can live in abandoned hollows, and in a house specially made for them by a person. They can also make their own nest. During construction, almost everything that falls into their beak is used. It can be blades of grass, and wool, and cobwebs.

Feeding offspring

Twice a year, in spring and early summer, tits take care of procreation. While the female hatches the first clutch, the future father of the chicks diligently brings food to her nest. Then, when she hatches the next brood, he will feed both the first ones and the female. By autumn, the whole family will huddle together in one flock. Chicks are fed by tits, mainly caterpillars and midges, drag slugs and all sorts of beetles, spiders. They have to carry food for the chicks very often, almost non-stop.

Tit cub

What do tits eat at different times of the year?

They also eat berries, peck out seeds from sunflowers. They can feed on seeds of weeds, birch, spruce and other trees. They will also gut the cone to crack the nuts. They can eat tits and an animal that has a small size. In cold winters, tits can eat carrion.

Titmouse eats carrion in winter
Tits and woodpecker at the feeder
Tit with seeds
Tits sort things out

But, winter is coming. It's getting harder and harder for the titmouse to feed. Most of them do not make stocks for the future. A titmouse can hide what is dragged into the nest and not eaten in a day. But, for a longer period, they are not stored. Although, not all species are so careless. Many of them successfully find and destroy other people's supplies.

Tits will peck at frozen berries left on the branches in winter, pick up what they find in the snow. They will also get frozen insects from the bark of trees and will definitely feast on them. In most cases, they will try to move closer to people, as there they will find more food. Yes, and many will specially build feeders for them, in which they will put delicacy for the bird.

What and how can you feed tits?

The digestive system of birds is not adapted to what humans eat. Therefore, when feeding them, you need to know what can be put in the feeder and what cannot. Do not leave food there that has begun to deteriorate. This can be very harmful to the birds. Smoked, fried and salted foods are of great harm to them. If fed with bread crumbs, then only from white bread. Black can be deadly for them.

It is best to give them what they eat in their natural environment: sunflower seeds, pumpkins, watermelons. You can, if available, frozen berries, nuts. Some of the "human" products, however, can be left for the birds. The main thing is that they are fresh. If fed with fat, then - not salty. Do not give them millet. You can put dried fruits in the feeders. Suitable for feeding tits and cheese, hard-boiled egg. Just remember to grind them. You can rub on a grater, or finely chop. Still, porridges from rice, buckwheat, barley are suitable for them. It is not necessary to pour raw cereals, it should be boiled.

Tit at the feeder

Building a bird feeder is not difficult. You can use anything for her. It is not necessary to arm yourself with a hacksaw for this. You can simply make a "bird canteen" from any package of juice or other products. Suitable and circumcised plastic bottles. Of course, if there is a desire and time, then it is best to make the feeder more spacious and comfortable from wood.

Once having found food for themselves, tits will fly to this place again. And, if you regularly feed them, then they will fly constantly. Tits are very curious and courageous creatures. Therefore, they can fly into an open window. And if they also find something to eat there, they will definitely drag it away. And, although tits get used to those places where you can eat and to the people who feed them, not everyone dares to sit on their hands.

A little more interesting about tits

Their name was not at all due to the presence of bluish hues in their color, as some people think. They were called tits because of their songs. And they love to sing, especially males. The repertoire of these singers contains a lot of different sounds.

Tits on a sunflower

In autumn and early winter, tits are a little quieter. But, as soon as the cold begins to come to an end and spring approaches, the tit trills begin to sound more often and louder. These birds have their own melodies for every season.

When spring is just around the corner, males begin to call on females to build nests. And they call them with songs. By this time, the male has already chosen a place for construction. But the female will take care of the nest itself. This is purely her task - the arrangement of housing.

A lot of people feed winter period birds. And, not in vain. After all, in winter it is much more difficult for them to get food for themselves. And if the bird at least once remains hungry at night, then it will not live until morning. But there are so many benefits from them: they destroy pests and please with their chirping. So why not help them in a cold and difficult time of the year for them?

Bullfinch in winter.

However, you need to know some rules and features of how to do it correctly. After all, otherwise, human virtue can be fatally destructive for our feathered neighbors on the planet.

A little about the features of feeding birds

The very first thing that everyone who wants to help the birds needs to know is that you need to feed it, and not take it upon yourself. full responsibility about food. Why? Yes, everything is very simple: the bird will definitely remember the place where food will be left for it and will fly there constantly. And, if food is always available, then she will simply lose the ability to get food for herself.

As a result, it may turn out that a person will abandon this occupation. It doesn’t matter for what reason: maybe he just won’t have time, or it will be connected with the move. A person will not even think about accustomed birds. And they can die of hunger because of this.

In addition, there is also a danger that birds, having ceased to obtain food for themselves on their own, may lose the intake of many useful and necessary substances for them, which they can only get by eating naturally.

Also, if you do feed, it would be best to accustom the birds to dinner in the feeder shortly before dark. So it will be possible to be sure that they will be full at night, which means that they will not freeze until morning.

The next feature is that not all products can be put in the feeder. Some of them are very harmful to birds. Many can cause them fatal harm. But more on that later.

And in this regard, it is worth knowing which birds will visit the feeder in order to choose the right food for them. Even better is to choose a menu that can suit all possible feathered visitors.

Mostly tits, sparrows, goldfinches, siskins and some other species fly there to feast. Basically, these birds are insectivorous. They do not fly for the winter, because they know that they can also get frozen insects from the bark of trees. However, despite this, there is still much less food for them in winter. These birds, in addition to insects, feed on grain, seeds, and berries. In summer and autumn, there are plenty of them for good nutrition. But in winter, no.

Feeders and woodpeckers can visit. And, of course, crows and magpies will not mind eating free treats. So, if it is supposed to feed precisely small birds, then you need to pay attention to the size of the future feeder. It will need to be made such that large birds cannot penetrate there.

Birds such as sparrows and tits perceive the neighborhood with a person calmly. They are usually regular visitors to the "bird canteens". These birds are city dwellers.

And if there is a desire to feed goldfinches, siskins or nuthatches, then it is best for them to place feeders outside the city in a quiet and peaceful place.

The female bullfinch flew to the feeder.
Tits and a woodpecker at the feeder.

We make a bird feeder

Making a bird feeder is not difficult at all. And, this can be done from almost any handy material. Not only planks can be used, but also plywood, plastic bottles and much more. But, it is very important not to forget that in winter it snows very often. And from him the feeder can simply get wet. Then you have to make a new one. So, it’s better to immediately make one that can last all winter. So, the material for it must be chosen moisture resistant.

When making a feeder, remember that it will be convenient for the birds to eat from it. They must be free to get food. Of course, there should not be any sharp and cutting parts that the bird can get hurt on.

You should also take care that the future feeder is as well protected as possible from snow getting into it and from the fact that the food can be scattered by the wind. But, with all this, one must not forget about its convenience for birds.

It is best to place feeders on the branches of trees. You can mount them on buildings. They should be located higher. So it will be better for the birds to notice it and also, it will be safer for them. After all, during the meal, a predator can sneak up, and the bird may not notice it.

What can not be put in bird feeders?

So, the feeder is ready. Now you need to fill it with a treat for the birds. What can be included in them and what not? After all, some products can be deadly for birds!

First, consider what absolutely can not be left as a treat for them. Firstly, in no case should you feed them products that have expired, musty, sour and fermented products. You can not feed them fried, too salty.

You can not pour sunflower seeds into their feeders. But many do this, not knowing about their harm to birds. You can not feed many of them with bread. Mostly small birds. A small amount of dry bread crumbs, however, is acceptable, especially for tits. Also, without fear, you can feed pigeons with bread. For others, it will cause indigestion. Pigeons are not afraid of this, due to their larger size. And the tit is almost omnivorous. And her digestive system is more receptive to many foods that are not suitable for others.

Almonds and fruit seeds can cause poisoning in birds. Also, do not pour millet for them. Mushrooms and potatoes, as well as rice, are difficult to digest. Therefore, they should not be placed in feeders either.

Do not feed birds with products containing acetic acid and preservatives, various food additives, seasonings and spices. Naturally, canned food for their nutrition is also unacceptable. And, you can not leave for them food intended for pets: cats and dogs.

All of these foods listed here are very dangerous for birds. Some of them can cause poisoning, others - indigestion.

Sunflower tits.
The blue tit eats fat.
Rocky nuthatch eats in hand.

What can you feed the birds?

What is suitable for subcorking birds in winter? You can leave barley and oatmeal for them in the feeders. They will be safe for everyone. If you put bread crumbs, then they should be from a wheat roll. Also, they must be dry. Also, you can not pour only them. They must be mixed with something else. The only exception here is feeding pigeons. Many simply paint a loaf of bread for them, which they eat with pleasure.

Much more varied menu for tits. They can be treated with unsalted bacon, and hard-boiled eggs. The main thing is to grind the product. You can feed them with cottage cheese.

Since the birds feed on seeds and berries in their natural environment, it will be a good surprise for them to see this in the feeder. However, not all seeds should be poured there. About those that cannot be given to them, it has already been written above.

What are possible? Ideal for them are melon seeds, watermelons, cucumbers and zucchini, eggplant. Before serving these bird seeds, they should be washed and dried well after being removed from the vegetable. And only then it will be possible to feed them with birds in winter. Stocks of such food should be stored in a dry place. If it is supposed to feed small birds and pumpkin seeds are used for this, then they must first be crushed. After all, they will be too large for them, and the birds will not be able to chop them on their own.

Birds love to feast on dried fruits. You can cut into slices and dry apples, pears for them. Moreover, such a treat can simply be strung on a thread in the form of a garland and hung on a tree. Birds will peck at her with pleasure. You can also add dried rose hips to this composition. But other berries, such as rowan, for example, should not be plucked from a tree and then given to birds. They will peck at them from the branches anyway.

Oats are well suited for winter feeding of birds. Also, millet. It would be nice to add to the main feed and eggshell. Of course, it does not need to be left in the feeders entirely. They need to be crushed, crushed. Such a food supplement will help strengthen the bone tissue of birds.

So, food can also be useful for them. And in general, it is very good to make mixtures from the listed products. So the bird's menu will be varied, more tasty and healthy.

Photo of a bullfinch in winter on a mountain ash.
Bullfinch male on a mountain ash.