Kentwood, Michigan

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Question: Why are my birds kicking out so much seed?

Answer:  Most manufacturers of bird seed will put fillers in their mixes to drop the price of birdseed, but what you don’t know is that you are paying for seed the birds won’t even eat! There are few seeds that our outdoor birds love and those seeds are Oil Sunflower, Striped Sunflower and Safflower. At Wild Birds Unlimited our seed blends concentrate heavily on those seeds and are specifically formulated for birds in our region. So you don’t get any waste, just good food the birds love!

Question: What kind of seed is best to put in my feeder?

Answer: Our Specially formulated Grand Rapids Maximum Birdseed Blend (GR Max for short) is the best formulated seed for the birds in our region. It contains a mixture of Oil Sunflower, Striped Sunflower, Safflower, Peanut Splits and Fruit Flavored Suet Snacks. All you birds will enjoy this blend and it will also help keep them nice and warm for the winter season. Stop by Wild Birds Unlimited to find out more about our wild bird seed blends!

Question: Do I really need to keep water out in the winter time?

Answer: yes, it is important that birds have a fresh water source because if they try and eat the snow it will lower their body temperature.

Question: Why are my birds flying into my window? How can I prevent them from doing that?

Answer: Birds, notoriously cardinals and robins, fly into windows for a couple of reasons. One reason being that birds are territorial and they may see their reflection in your window and think it’s another bird so they will try and chase it out of their territory. Another reason being, simply, that they see the outdoors reflected in the window and they think they can fly through it. What you can do to protect your birds is to put decals on your window to break up the reflection so they know the window is there. Stop in to Wild Birds Unlimited to learn more.

Question: How can I keep my woodpeckers from pecking on my house? Why are they pecking in the first place?

Answer: Woodpeckers peck for two reasons. One reason, they are looking for bugs in the wood on your house, that occurs normally in the spring. The other reason, they are looking to make a home on the side of your house. There are several different options available to you to help cut down on this activity. If they are looking for food the answer is simple, put out a feeding station for your woodpeckers that offers suet which is a high energy favorite of the woodpeckers. Another option would be to put up holographic scare tape in the area that they are pecking to scare them away. If they are trying to create a home, try putting up a woodpecker box in the area for them. Stop in to Wild Birds Unlimited to learn more.

Question: I have so many starlings and grackles and they are eating my suet like crazy! What can I do?

Answer: Upside Down Suet feeders are your best option to keep the starlings away from your suet. These feeders are specifically designed to keep starlings, grackles and other pest birds away from your suet by hanging the suet upside down. This allows your other birds such as woodpecker’s, nuthatches and chickadees to have a chance at the suet.

Question: I’ve kept my starlings and grackles off my suet, but now they are eating all my seed! What can I do?

Answer: If you are having problems with starlings and grackles eating your seed try offering safflower seed. Safflower is a more sour seed and your larger birds don’t like it. Their taste buds are more developed than you smaller birds and can taste the sourness, but the smaller birds love it! So try offering safflower, and start enjoying bird feeding again. Stop by Wild Birds Unlimited to learn more.

 

Question: Why aren’t my Goldfinches eating the thistle I bought last year? Isn’t it still good?

Answer: The answer is, no, your thistle isn’t good year after year. Thistle unlike other seeds, has a six week shelf life. If kept any longer than this, you may see a decrease in activity, or you goldfinches may stop eating it all together. Avoid buying thistle in large quantities; or in bins with open lids as this will encourage thistle to dry out faster. Also, avoid buying thistle at pet stores because you don’t know how long their thistle has been sitting on their shelves. Lastly, store thistle in a cool dry place, as with all seed, to avoid spoilage. Stop by Wild Birds Unlimited to learn more.

Question: How can I keep my tube feeders from clumping up at the bottom of the inside of the tube?

Answer:  Tube feeders are notorious for doing this. The best way that we at Wild Birds Unlimited have found to keep your feeders fresh is to use Feeder Fresh® . Just put feeder fresh at the bottom of your feeders and watch the crystal pellets soak up the moisture instead of your seed, then when it comes time to clean out your feeders you don’t have all that nasty build up in your tube feeders.   You may also be interested in learning that Wild Birds Unlimited has our own exclusive line of WBU Feeders with Quick Clean Base® ! No messing with screws to clean your feeders, just a nice quick clean, easy out base! Stop by Wild Birds Unlimited to learn more.

 

Question: I have moths in my seed! How do I get rid of them? Does this mean my seed has gone bad?

Answer: These are seed moths, and they are common, however usually during the warm summer months are when you will normally notice them. Their larvae are already in the crop before the seeds are harvested, but don’t worry, they aren’t harmful, and it DOESN”T mean that your seed has gone bad. However, these moths can be pesky. Try putting out moth traps that contain a pheromone block in order to trap these guys. Stop By Wild Birds Unlimited to learn more.

Question: How can I keep squirrels from eating my birdseed?

Answer:This is a very broad question with many answers to it. The simplest answer would be, try offering safflower seed. Safflower is a more sour seed that your squirrels don’t like, but the birds do! If Safflower doesn’t work, try putting Hot Pepper powder in your birdseed to deter these pesky critters. The birds can’t taste the powder and it is safe for their digestive system. If you are still having problems with your squirrels try baffling your already existing system or build a new system you can baffle. The experts at Wild Birds Unlimited are here to help, and we would love to help you fight off these pesky critters. To learn more, stop by today.

 

Question: Where did my Orioles and Hummingbirds go? Why aren't they coming to my feeders anymore?

Answer:  In the spring when orioles and hummingbirds first arrive there is a flurry of fluttering activity at your feeders as these birds stock up on food to prepare for nesting season, and refuel from their northward journey.  However, around early to mid-june the activity around your feeders slow down as these birds retreat to the woods and treetops looking for high protein foods such as grubs and spiders.  Hummingbirds love spiders, and this becomes one of their main food sources during nesting season, and orioles favor any kind of worm they can find in the treetops.  But don't get too discouraged, this won't be the last time you will get a chance to glimpse these beautiful birds. Keep your feeders full with all of their favorite foods so that you can be sure to catch a glimpse of them as they start to move south for the winter.

 

If you have any questions feel free to contact us! Click here to ask your questions.