Feeding the Birds

[hellywelly4]

Can I feed Scottish Porridge Oats to the birds? I bought them as everyone said they were delicious - I must have different taste buds!!
On the box it says '100% wholegrain rolled oats'

[NazNomad]

Absolutely ... the birds will love those.

[NazNomad]

... and you're in Q&P by the way, lol

[seadogg]

If you feed them dry, dont forget to keep water available.The cheapest option is the bags of oats, not the shiny boxes.. Look on the bottom shelf in the supermarket

[hellywelly4]

Thanks for the answer NazNomad - I'd just asked a quiz question, that's why. This new technology..!!!

[TheWinner]

I feed these to the bird all the time and they go mad for it.
I make it up as porridge, in my microwave them put it out for the birds. and they leave everything else and fight over it......

[NazNomad]

Do you make it up with water, TheWinner?

[TheWinner]

Hi Naznomad, No, I make it like I would make it for myself. I put the porridge oats in a bowl, add milk and microwave. When it "boils". I add a bit of sugar and stir. It needs to be quite thick, so the birds can pick it up and fly off with it. I put it out and watch them go mad and fight over it!

[trt]

TheWinner,

Dont you feel guilty by encouraging violence between the birds? :-)

[Trussell]

No! When the birds then drink water, the oats swell up inside them and kill them!

[TheWinner]

Trussell, Hi, I cook them first, so the oats have already swollen up when cooking. I think you obviously meant don't put them out dry, which I think is correct. I don't think they would eat it dry anyway, it would probably just blow away in the wind...........

[NazNomad]

TheWinner ... you shouldn't give milk to birds, they can't digest it. Best to make it with water.

[NazNomad]

Porridge oats must never be cooked, since this makes them glutinous and could harden around a bird's beak. Uncooked porridge oats are readily taken by a number of bird species.

[NazNomad]

http://www.rspb.org.u...g/whatfood/index.aspx

[TheWinner]

trt: that made me laugh.
NazNomad: I have had a quick look round my garden. (This is "tongue in cheek" and meant to be a bit of fun with you) There are no dead birds there.
The same ones come back time after time for the porridge.
I think any animal or bird, or creature, knows what they can eat that is safe.
Try feeding any animal something that has "gone off" or is something they should not eat - they just don't eat it.