Dangling fat balls put an end to growling little bird bellies. In order for the shy guests in their plumage to accept the food on offer, a bird-friendly location is important. Read here the best tips on how to hang fat balls correctly in the bed and on the balcony.

Fat balls should be hung out of the reach of cats

Hanging fat balls in the garden - tips & tricks

In the winter hobby garden, fat balls (€9.99) benefit hungry garden birds because the natural sources of food have dried up. You can buy the high-energy dumplings ready-made or simply make them yourself. Because the rich buffet is aimed at extremely shy guests, it depends on the right location. How to properly hang fat balls in the garden:

  • In half shade to shade, protected from rain and wind
  • Ideally hanging freely in a treetop with a free approach path for small birds
  • Hanging on the thin branch that carries a maximum of fat balls and tits
  • Extra tip: hang up fat balls without a net so that small claws cannot get caught

If you hang up fat balls in the garden, there should be no hiding places nearby for cunning cats and predatory martens. When choosing a location, give preference to a well-visible box seat so that you and your children can enjoy the numerous visits of happy birds.

Hang fat balls on the balcony - Here's how

Balcony gardeners do not abandon hungry birds in winter and hang fat balls on them. Important criteria when choosing a location ensure carefree, safe feasting for the feathered guests:

  • Hang fat balls on the north, west or east balcony
  • Location protect from direct sun
  • Inaccessible to ravens, magpies and pigeons
  • Extra tip: either 50 to 80 cm in front of the window or more than 5 to 10 m from the window

To protect against a collision with the balcony window, stickers are very helpful. If the distance between the fat balls and the pane of glass is less than one meter, birds are particularly alert when approaching. There is a high risk of accidents if you hang the dumplings at a distance of between two and five meters from a pane of glass.

Hang fat balls theft-proof - this is how it works

If you hang fat balls in the bed or on the balcony, uninvited guests are not far away. Winged thieves, like ravens, make the dumplings disappear at night and in the fog. In the garden, martens, raccoons and other furry predators eat the greasy morsels. This is how you thwart dumpling thieves:

  • Suspend fat balls in a metal feed spiral
  • Fill several food dumplings into the feed dispenser without a net and hang them up
  • Extra tip: Buy cheap fat dumplings in buckets (100 pieces) and store in a cool, dry place

The metal fat ball holders with spirals or metal rods offer the birds a safe, comfortable place to sit. The food dumplings stacked inside are only accessible to small bird beaks.

tips

If you're hanging a nest box (€49.85), fat balls are the perfect source of food for stressed bird parents. Fat balls with a mix of grains, berries, insects and cereal flakes are suitable for all garden birds. Grain eaters such as sparrows, tits or woodpeckers will find what they are looking for here, as will soft food eaters, especially thrushes, robins, blackbirds or wrens.

Category:

Animals in the garden