Bird Table / Feeding Station Advice

Feeding birds in the garden is great and there are various ways of doing it. Apart from placing hanging feeders around the garden you can feed birds from a traditional wooden bird table. Alternatively, you could use one of the metal pole feeding stations which incorporate a number of hooks for hanging feeders as well as a water bath and flat feeder tray. But the principal is generally the same, bird food is being provided at a single location. Both these types can be either fixed to the ground and therefore non-moveable thus leading to the build of bird food waste around them on the ground as well as the potential increased infection form avian diseases. The better alternative, I feel, is to have a bird table or feeding station that is on a base that is moveable, thus allowing it to be moved around the garden reducing the risk of infection to birds. It also makes it easier to clean up an area around the table.

Buying A Bird Table

There are two means of obtaining a bird table, one is to buy it and the second is to make your own. Bird tables can be purchased from us, but we only provide flat pack versions which need assembling (sending a ready made one by courier is fraught with problems). Because of the bulk of these items it is probably best to visit your local garden centre or pet shop and see what they have to hand that you can buy and take home safely. Making your own table is explained later.

Bird tables are essentially a flat raised wooden platform on which bird food can be placed. They should have an edge to them to prevent food falling off or being blown off as well as gaps along the side to allow water to drain off. They may have a sloping roof or not. If you do have a roof, its does help a little in keeping the food dry from the rain. A roof can also prevent larger birds from feeding from the table. So it is really a matter of personal choice whether you have a roof or not. If you are buying a new wooden bird table, make sure there are no sharp edges or if there are make sure you file them off with some sand paper.

When you use a bird table it is advisable not to put a bird bath on them as this tends to make the bird food wet.

Making Your Own Bird Table

Making your own bird table out of wood is not difficult. You essentially need a square or rectangular platform say 50cm x 50 cm or 30cm x 50cm cut out from either exterior quality plywood about 1-2cm thick or a piece of solid untreated timber. Do not use pressure treated wood. You will need to cut up some trips of wood to add as an edge which is 1-2cm higher than the table. Leave gaps in the edge to allow water to drain but also to allow you to sweep it clean when necessary. The table then needs to be mounted on a post 100 to 150 cm above the ground which can either be place in a hole in the ground. In which case the base of the post may need treated to prevent it rotting. Alternatively, you could use a metal metpost. The third option is to make a base for the post of wood which will allow you to move the table around the garden, thus reducing the chances of infection.

Alternatively, you can hang the table from a bracket or branch of a tree by attaching a hook to each corner of the table and connecting them buy a chain. Hanging chains used for garden hanging baskets may be useful - available from garden centres.

Positioning Your Bird Table

The bird table should be located where you can have a good view of it, but also positioned in a sheltered location that has a good all round view for the birds. Siting within a couple of metres of a small shrub or tree can help provide a perch with a good allround look out prior to feeding but also to dash to if disturbed.

Bird Table Hygiene

Your bird table should by cleaned regularly, food should not be left to accumulate especially in the corners. It's a good idea to brush off any leftovers/waste before you put out some new food.


	Birdfoodbypost Ltd. 14 Evans Business Centre, Hampton Park West, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 6LH Email: birdfoodsupplies@birdfoodbypost.com Birdfoodbypost Ltd. Copyright 2010. All trademarks acknowledged.	SALES HELPLINE 0844 921 0181 Local Call 9am-5pm Mon-Fri.