peanuts for a robin

[john lewis]

wondering what food to put out for the local robin. apparently they like
cheese, but several sites warn not to give salted peanuts. some of the
peanuts you buy in a packets now (ie waitrose) are not very salty, im
wondering if its okey to give them if you soak the peanuts in water, to get
rid of the salt; or whether there is still too much salt?

tried to email the rspca but they want your life history of details before
they allow you to ask a question.

[Phil Cook]

Post by john lewis
wondering what food to put out for the local robin. apparently they like
cheese, but several sites warn not to give salted peanuts. some of the
peanuts you buy in a packets now (ie waitrose) are not very salty, im
wondering if its okey to give them if you soak the peanuts in water, to get
rid of the salt; or whether there is still too much salt?
tried to email the rspca but they want your life history of details before
they allow you to ask a question.

Feed them bird food rather than human food
http://www.birdfood.co.uk/product_details.php?area_id=2&nav_id=24&prd_id=1122

Having said that my local s-mkt does unsalted nuts for cooking use.

[Pete]

Post by Phil Cook
Feed them bird food rather than human food
http://www.birdfood.co.uk/product_details.php?area_id=2&nav_id=24&prd_id=1122
Having said that my local s-mkt does unsalted nuts for cooking use.
--

Your local pet food stores is your best source.
We get both wild bird seed and pea nuts in suppliers bag quantities. (20-
25kg bags)

You can go for smaller bags of course, but from the same source.

regards
Pete
www.thecanalshop.com

[Jake]

On Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:10:10 -0000, "john lewis"

Post by john lewis
wondering what food to put out for the local robin. apparently they like
cheese, but several sites warn not to give salted peanuts. some of the
peanuts you buy in a packets now (ie waitrose) are not very salty, im
wondering if its okey to give them if you soak the peanuts in water, to get
rid of the salt; or whether there is still too much salt?
tried to email the rspca but they want your life history of details before
they allow you to ask a question.

Salted peanuts (such as KP) are for humans. Birds need "raw" peanuts.
Lots of places sell so-called bird peanuts cheaply but if you really
care, you should get "bird approved" peanuts from a reputable source -
they will cost a bit more but they will have been screened for
bacteria that can kill certain birds, particularly chaffinches.

Don't bother with the RSPCA. They will ultimately (if they bother)
respond that there is no-one in your area to advise you but please
send a massive donation......

Visit www.rspb.org.uk or, if you can't find another local source for
bird food, http://shopping.rspb.org.uk/. Be warned though that the
RSPB will probably charge more than a local garden centre. Places like
Homebase and B&Q sell the Gardman range which is OK.

['Mike']

Post by Jake
On Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:10:10 -0000, "john lewis"

Post by john lewis
wondering what food to put out for the local robin. apparently they like
cheese, but several sites warn not to give salted peanuts. some of the
peanuts you buy in a packets now (ie waitrose) are not very salty, im
wondering if its okey to give them if you soak the peanuts in water, to get
rid of the salt; or whether there is still too much salt?
tried to email the rspca but they want your life history of details before
they allow you to ask a question.

Salted peanuts (such as KP) are for humans. Birds need "raw" peanuts.
Lots of places sell so-called bird peanuts cheaply but if you really
care, you should get "bird approved" peanuts from a reputable source -
they will cost a bit more but they will have been screened for
bacteria that can kill certain birds, particularly chaffinches.
Don't bother with the RSPCA. They will ultimately (if they bother)
respond that there is no-one in your area to advise you but please
send a massive donation......
Visit www.rspb.org.uk or, if you can't find another local source for
bird food, http://shopping.rspb.org.uk/. Be warned though that the
RSPB will probably charge more than a local garden centre. Places like
Homebase and B&Q sell the Gardman range which is OK.

ChapelWood are good as well £6.99 for 2 Kgs at an expensive Garden Centre
and another one is Tom Chambers, but I forgot what we paid for them. Not as
good as the former though

Mike

[Bob Hobden]

"Jake" wrote...

Post by john lewis
wondering what food to put out for the local robin. apparently they like
cheese, but several sites warn not to give salted peanuts. some of the
peanuts you buy in a packets now (ie waitrose) are not very salty, im
wondering if its okey to give them if you soak the peanuts in water, to get
rid of the salt; or whether there is still too much salt?
tried to email the rspca but they want your life history of details before
they allow you to ask a question.

Salted peanuts (such as KP) are for humans. Birds need "raw" peanuts.
Lots of places sell so-called bird peanuts cheaply but if you really
care, you should get "bird approved" peanuts from a reputable source -
they will cost a bit more but they will have been screened for
bacteria that can kill certain birds, particularly chaffinches.

Don't bother with the RSPCA. They will ultimately (if they bother)
respond that there is no-one in your area to advise you but please
send a massive donation......

Visit www.rspb.org.uk or, if you can't find another local source for
bird food, http://shopping.rspb.org.uk/. Be warned though that the
RSPB will probably charge more than a local garden centre. Places like
Homebase and B&Q sell the Gardman range which is OK.
------------------------------------------------

The best bird seed we found after quite extensive trials was Mayfield
Premium, and it had to be the premium variety (less corn more varieties of
seed).

[Bill Grey]

Post by john lewis
wondering what food to put out for the local robin. apparently they like
cheese, but several sites warn not to give salted peanuts. some of the
peanuts you buy in a packets now (ie waitrose) are not very salty, im
wondering if its okey to give them if you soak the peanuts in water, to
get rid of the salt; or whether there is still too much salt?
tried to email the rspca but they want your life history of details before
they allow you to ask a question.

Here is an extract from the RSPB site:-

quote>

Peanuts
These are rich in fat and are popular with tits, greenfinches, house
sparrows, nuthatches, great spotted woodpeckers and siskins. Crushed or
grated nuts attract robins, dunnocks and even wrens. Nuthatches and coal
tits may hoard peanuts. Salted or dry roasted peanuts should not be used.
Peanuts can be high in a natural toxin, which can kill birds, so buy from a
reputable dealer, such as our online shop, to guarantee freedom from
aflatoxin.



unquote>/



Bill

[Martin Brown]

Post by Bill Grey

Post by john lewis
wondering what food to put out for the local robin. apparently they like
cheese, but several sites warn not to give salted peanuts. some of the
peanuts you buy in a packets now (ie waitrose) are not very salty, im
wondering if its okey to give them if you soak the peanuts in water, to
get rid of the salt; or whether there is still too much salt?

Almost certainly still too much salt. But why feed the birds with human
food grade roasted peanuts? They are better off with the uncooked ones
intended for birds which are much cheaper anyway in with the pet foods.

Post by Bill Grey

Post by john lewis
tried to email the rspca but they want your life history of details before
they allow you to ask a question.

Here is an extract from the RSPB site:-
quote>
Peanuts
These are rich in fat and are popular with tits, greenfinches, house
sparrows, nuthatches, great spotted woodpeckers and siskins. Crushed or
grated nuts attract robins, dunnocks and even wrens. Nuthatches and coal
tits may hoard peanuts. Salted or dry roasted peanuts should not be used.
Peanuts can be high in a natural toxin, which can kill birds, so buy from a
reputable dealer, such as our online shop, to guarantee freedom from
aflatoxin.
unquote>/

I don't doubt if you try hard you can find aflatoxin laced peanuts but
it is more of a problem of bad storage. I think the RSPB are being more
than a bit precious in promoting their own brand of overpriced peanuts.

In particular badly stored Organic(TM) peanut butter is risky. It is one
example where the natural toxin is so bad that a preservative even a
slightly dodgy one is better for you than having the fungus growing.

Regards,
Martin Brown

[Christina Websell]

Post by john lewis
wondering what food to put out for the local robin. apparently they like
cheese, but several sites warn not to give salted peanuts. some of the
peanuts you buy in a packets now (ie waitrose) are not very salty, im
wondering if its okey to give them if you soak the peanuts in water, to
get rid of the salt; or whether there is still too much salt?
tried to email the rspca but they want your life history of details before
they allow you to ask a question.

No it's not OK to give birds salted peanuts, even washed ones. Ordinary
peanuts (the ones with skins on) can be bought quite cheaply from Wilkinson
by the kilo bag and will be much appreciated by the birds.
I chop them up for table feeders like robins.
Tina