In case you’re still wondering, @AngelaR , you can make fat balls. I used to in the UK.
I bought mixed seeds and lard. Melted the lard, mixed in the seeds and poured it into little yogurt pots. Easy to decant (maybe dip the pot in hot water to help).
I’ve seen people put a bit of string in the pot first, to make a hanger, but I never bothered.
Thank you @Porridge . It’s about time I had a go. Very cold here for the poor little chaps…
You can make a fab fat and seed feeder thing if you use eg a any convenient container and put a bit of string or wire up the middle and wrap a bit of chicken wire around the outside so they can hold on to it. Obv only a good wheeze if you have those things lying around.
I’ve put fat balls and seed out every day since late September. The birds came looking earlier this year and they’ve clearly needed it.
I think I have about 30 small birds as regular customers now. When I first walk out in the garden in the morning I hear flutterings from near their food plate and wax balls hanger. That reminds me to replace the 1 fat ball eaten yesterday out of the 3 in the fatball holder, and top up the birdseed.
They organise themselves on the tree where their food is like planes coming in at Heathrow - in a stack. They join at the top then queue moving donwards as each new bird comes out of the bottom of the stack to the food when the previous one has finished.
The really good news is that the cat has listened and now no longer sits near the tree waiting to pounce.