Welcome to Silkysteps forums - early years resources and online community. Please find help and support for preschool planning, ideas and activities for children's play Get in touch for help, resource suggestions and to support the site with a donation
Silkysteps - click to visit the home page Buy & download printable activity ideas for children, young people and adults What's new - find all the latest updates and activity adds Plan ahead with links to England's early years foundation stage framework Shop with amazon.co.uk and meet all your setting's needs

Go Back   Silkysteps early years forum - planning ideas for play > Preschool themes and topics > Popular early years themes and children's topics of interest > Birds

Birds All things feathery ... add flight, talons and species to your topic activities ...

Handbook support for work based learners undertaking level 3 Early Years Educator

Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Unread 10-21-2006, 05:19 PM
Miss Muffet's Avatar
Miss Muffet Miss Muffet is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,490
Miss Muffet is on a distinguished road
Bird Cake

Here's a recipe for a fatty bird cake for feeding our feathered friends over the coming winter months (Sorry:sorry: - it's not actually a cake made of birds like it sounds!!)

A selection of nuts ie:
Sunflower seeds; Pine nuts; Almonds; Peanuts - crushed into small pieces so the birds don't choke!
Millet
Block of dripping/lard

Mix up the seeds and nuts in foil trays/yogurt pots/etc. Melt the fat in a saucepan and pour over the seeds to bind together. Place in the fridge to set then pop outside and watch the birdies come a-flocking! :stork-bab

If you make more than one tray, it keeps quite nicely in the fridge for a few weeks.

You can try moulding it into shapes to hang from trees/washing lines too: Let the mixture set until it is gooey and maleable - but not hot! Have some loops of string cut ready (to hang them with!), scoop out the mixture and either mould into balls (adding string) with hands or press into cookie cutters to make fun shapes!

Remember to leave fresh water out, birds still need to drink. Also, cheese, bread, fruit, and cooked vegetables will be very welcome, but clean up regularly so you do not attract rats! Use any seeds or nuts you have, but don't use salted nuts and avoid adding dessicated coconut as it swells in the birds stomachs!
Reply With Quote

-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
  #2  
Unread 10-21-2006, 11:07 PM
Chelltune's Avatar
Chelltune Chelltune is offline
Squirrel ~~hoards of knowledge...~~
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 405
Chelltune is on a distinguished road
Default

I don't leave bird food out now (except hanging nuts) as there was a rat in our back garden last year. DS told me to look at the mouse, I thought he meant on TV. He said, 'no, in the garden'. I looked out and there was a rat frolicking quite happily up and down the garden.

I have also seen one in my parents garden. Apparently decking is a great environment for rats to live under. We have a large deck. I am worried about putting food out incase it attracts them.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Unread 10-22-2006, 12:11 PM
Ruthierhyme's Avatar
Ruthierhyme Ruthierhyme is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,633
Ruthierhyme has disabled reputation
Default

It's a scary fact that we all live so close to rats .. had a chat recently about how certain councils are charging, even Older residents for the trapping/baiting & subsequent removal of rats .. I'm pretty certain it used to be a free service !
__________________
..................................
Find out what's new on silkysteps
&
the cost of ad blockers
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Unread 10-22-2006, 12:13 PM
Ruthierhyme's Avatar
Ruthierhyme Ruthierhyme is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,633
Ruthierhyme has disabled reputation
Default

We have Peanuts, bread & other bird food out as love seeing them around .. have to watch out for the squirrels in some places though lol
__________________
..................................
Find out what's new on silkysteps
&
the cost of ad blockers
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Unread 10-22-2006, 03:42 PM
Miss Muffet's Avatar
Miss Muffet Miss Muffet is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,490
Miss Muffet is on a distinguished road
Default

It's perfectly fine to put food out for the birds - just clear it away each night and make sure the feeding area is cleaned and you shouldn't get a rat problem.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Unread 10-22-2006, 04:49 PM
joshie's Avatar
joshie joshie is offline
Horse chestnut ~~revealing great treasures...~~
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 165
joshie is on a distinguished road
Default

i put out nuts in the birdfeeders, i like doing it, esp at this time of yr - feel sorry for them cos they cant go t tescos and buy themselves a bag of nuts of brid seed! :bubble:
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Unread 10-22-2006, 07:02 PM
Ruthierhyme's Avatar
Ruthierhyme Ruthierhyme is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,633
Ruthierhyme has disabled reputation
Default

LoL
__________________
..................................
Find out what's new on silkysteps
&
the cost of ad blockers
Reply With Quote
Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:17 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.