How much of bird feed do you go through every winter?

[jimmyj]

We are just having a major warm spell and the number of birds has dropped considerably. It's neat to see in the fields, where they are eating the seeds from the weeds and grasses.

 

[devildog1]

So here in the Great North East (upstate N.Y.) I have gone through about 300lbs of black sunflower seed and around 40 suet cakes. I have a quite a few Bluejays this year and for sure a lot of gray squirrels, although the Black Capped Chickadees are my favs. It have been a odd type of winter here again,not enough snow for the snow mobiles, skying and of course people who plow snow for an income. It's suppose to be into the 40's all of next week with rain in the forecast.
Devildog

 

[Thomas]

Where do you get 100lb bags? Biggest around here is 50.

Our local feed store,not box or department stores.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I feed with sunflower hearts and chip. Every critter likes it, it leaves zero mess, and although more expensive to buy, it is less expensive cost-wise because all of it by weight is food for the critters.

 

[BoylermanCT]

My squirrel feeder has been taken over by blue jays. It a 6"x6x"x4" box with a lid and opening at the bottom. I fill it up daily with 3 cups of whole shelled peanuts, whole corn and sunflower seeds. This morning there were 8 blue jays at it. 2 on it, 3 on the ground and 3 on the roof / gutters waiting their turn. Eventually the squirrels get their turn. I like keeping the squirrels around, gives my dogs something to chase each morning!

 

[Oaktree]

We feed birds only winter and spring.

Only late fall & winter here. Feeders up in mid Nov, down end of March. Some towns have laws stating birdfeeders must be down by April 1st. Bears.

 

[Thomas]

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Strange..thought NH F&G had no such law,but towns do.

 

[BTDT2]

I average about 15 to 20lbs a day right now, although we do use less in the summer, I'd say about 5lbs to 7lbs a day in the summer. We use mostly black oil sunflower, but also some smaller seeds, and I buy peanuts (shelled) as well. So far since November I have used at least 400 lbs of sunflower, 200 lbs of peanuts, 200 lbs of niger seed and over 50 suet cakes. Add to that the other seed mixes we use for the smaller birds, you get the picture.
.

OMG! I pray my wife doesn't see this. I tease her about using 2-3 lbs a day

 

[grnspot110]

We used about 250-300 lb of bird feed last winter. When I saw good deal on bird feed this fall I stacked on about 250 lb to be ready. But so far this winter is is rather different. We used less than 50 lb since November. Our feeders were inundated by birds in the past. This year not so much. What is going on here? Is it because of the winter is unusually warm without snow cover?

I'm probably not that far from you (Trenton, MO), our bird population is way down this year, except for sparrows & starlings! Mild winter & we do have a hawk around occasionally! I feed black oil sunflower seed in two hanging feeders, cracked corn with a little sunflower seed in a platform feeder to draw off some of the sparrows & suet blocks along with a hanging seed block from Orscheln's. Have only used around 60 lbs. of sunflower seed so far this season!

Shelled corn in two screen pencil holders for the squirrels.

 

[Oaktree]

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Strange..thought NH F&G had no such law,but towns do.

Basically what I said. According to F&G's website they only "recommend" that feeders be not be out from April 1 to Dec 1, though as you noted many cities and towns have made this the law.

The only state law I could find regarding feeding bears was this:
New Hampshire's Fish and Game Department regulations prohibit a person from using, placing, providing, giving, exposing, depositing, scattering, or distributing any material that results in attracting black bears if they were previously notified by the department to stop because it could cause injury to a person, property damage, or create a public nuisance (N.H. Code Admin. R. Fis 310.01).

A person who commits a violation may be sentenced to a conditional or unconditional discharge, a fine of up to $1,000, or both (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 206:19-a and 651:2).