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do you sell anything that you can feed to starlings

1 year, 1 month ago

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12234

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Starlings are a highly intelligent breed that has been maligned and charged with the offenses of other birds (mainly grackles). They eat a mainly insectivorous diet (yes, that means they eat all the nasty catepillars and beetles that plague farmer and gardener alike). So, if you see a flock desending on a field of grain or some such, be thankful... they're not after the grain, they're after the bugs eating the grain!!

To answer your question about the diet more fully, it would be easier if I knew if you were keeping one as a pet or feeding the wild ones. For the wild ones, anything with a high insect, high fat content would be great .... look at the same things being fed to woodpeckers. (There's a suet cake with mealworms #GS-16607 and a seed/nut/fruit woodpecker diet #GS-16446 and any of the dried bugs.) They will eat some seed, but they don't prefer it. Also, cat or dog food that has chicken or turkey as its first ingredient would also be appreciated by them [either wet it down or break it up]. I use Innova Prime cat food personally because it's sky high protein/fat content allows me to put lots of "goodies" in the mix without sacrificing the bird's needs.

The cat/dog food is usually the basis for a home kept starling as well. Add bugs, especially wax worms [#GS-79065] the canned wax worms are a bit better since they don't wander off. The Quiko Classic Egg Food [#CC-18169] is another great addition. There's a softbill diet typically for mynahs but great for starlings as well [#CC-416815], that's usually a winner as well. Beyond all that remember that they need a high protein, high fat diet. I aim for 30% protein and 15-20% fat. They are usually fruit lovers too, especially small, dark colored fruits like cherries, blue berries, etc.

Hope I managed to answer your question.

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10 months ago

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Froyden

Chicago

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I do not think you should feed starlings! They are an invasive species that drive out and kill native birds. I have found dead swallows and sparrows in nest boxes that have been stabbed through the eye by starlings. It is permissible to shoot starlings in many states.

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11 months ago

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SugarDaddy

Hockinson, WA

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Thank you for your question. We carry Suet Plugs, item# 31046 & 35071, that can be fed to Starlings. cmc

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1 year ago

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DRS1

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do you have food for doves

1 year, 2 months ago

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marianne1

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Marianne1 - i have fed the doves plain wild bird seed before and they loved it. At one point i switched, for
all the birds. to the black oil sunflower seeds which are smaller in size and the doves just adored them.
I put them in a large wooden feeder filled with a mesh liner. This was placed on the ground and they
all fed around it. I had about 8-10 of them feeding aound the ground feeder.

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1 year ago

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Angelline

THE SOUTH

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Thank you for your question. We do carry a Dove food. Below, we have included a link to this item.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...

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1 year, 2 months ago

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DRS1

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How do I keep Starlings and Grackles from eating all my birdfood?

The Starlings and Grackles eat the peanuts, suet, and even the black-oiled sunflower seeds and the safflower seeds, which I read that they did not like. I don't want to be mean to these birds, but they devour all the food and the little birds and song birds cannot get to the food. By the time they do, all is eaten. Please help. Your advice is appreciated.

1 year, 2 months ago

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sera

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Purchase feeders where the birds have to hang upside down in order to eat. This isn't a guaranteed cure, but it does help. Woodpeckers and bluejays don't mind being upside down, but the other birds don't like it very much.

You can also withhold food for a couple weeks, but then you might lose the birds you wish to have around your yard permanently.

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10 months ago

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mindjazz

Houston, Texas

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Thank you for your question. We suggest not feeding corn. Corn is the preferred food of Starlings and Grackles. We suggest feeding the Premium Fruit & Berry Cuisine Bird Seed and Safflower Seed. These foods will attract smaller songbirds. Using a feeder designed for smaller birds will also help. Here are links to these two foods and the feeders we offer:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/wild-...

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1 year, 2 months ago

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DRS1

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Can you point out the smaller feeders that you sell that would accomodate the smaller songbirds and keep the Starlings and Grackles away?

Thank you for anwereing my question previously about the Starling and Grackle problem. You suggested the type of seed and the smaller feeders that I would need. I just need a little more direction with the typed of feeders to look for. I really appreciate your help and suggestions.

1 year, 2 months ago

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sera

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The only feeders I can think of are ones with cages around them, such as the thistle dome cage for finch size birds. I don't know what birds you're trying to feed.

I have starlings and grackles too, and they're voracious eaters. There are permanent solutions but website guidelines don't allow me to write them.

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10 months ago

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mindjazz

Houston, Texas

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Thank you for your question. We would recommend a squirrel-proof feeder with smaller wire spacing to keep the Starlings and Grackles away from the seed. Please refer to the links below for some recommendations.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...

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1 year, 2 months ago

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DRS1

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How do I keep woodpeckers attracted to my feeding station?

I have put out suet for the woodpeckers and other birds, then the starlings and grackles came and devour it everyday. Now, I don't have any song birds visiting except sparrows and the above birds. I have bought a caged suet feeder and hung it on my tree, and the next day it was on the ground with two cakes of suet gone. I put an upside down suet feeder out and the same thing happened, besides the starlings learning how to eat it upside down. If I feed woodpecker food that will be devoured, too. I know I sound redundant, and appreciate all suggestions, but I am seriously thinking about getting rid of all my bird feeders and station and calling it quits. I have had hawks visiting, then rats from a neighbors yard, then the starlings and big grackles. I think this may be my last question. Thanks for listening and all your helpful suggestions.

10 months ago

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sera

Michigan

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This may not be a solution to exactly what you want, but, it will help you in being able to select out what size birds are able to eat your bird food. The best "squirrel-proof" feeder that I have ever found is the one called "Squirrel Buster Plus". The way it works, is you set it to a 'weight' at which the feeder ports are securely closed over if a bird (or squirrel) over that weight lands on the footrest. You could SET IT SO that ONLY BIRDS THAT ARE LIGHTER-WEIGHT THAN STARLINGS & GRACKLES can feed from it. (The booklet shows you where to try settting it to keep out particular birds). You may end up excluding most woodpeckers from feeding from it, too, but, will allow you to get the songbirds. It IS a pricey feeder, but, I feel that it is worth it, after having gone through other supposedly squirrel-proof feeders that didn't permanently keep the squirrels out. I own 2 of these feeders, &, have had the first one for about 5 to 10 years with NO squirrels or "undesirable' birds getting in. However, it is not bearproof, &, I have had to replace the tube section 2 times due to bears in the early spring or late fall.

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4 months, 2 weeks ago

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loyalcustomer

central VA

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Only two options are available that I know of. Stop feeding all the birds for a couple weeks; in which case the woodpeckers may never return. Woodpeckers are not loyal and go where the food is. The other option is to rid yourself of the starlings and grackles permanently, but I know you don't want to go with the method you mentioned in another question.

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10 months ago

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mindjazz

Houston, Texas

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