Birdcare by Cowell's Garden Centre

Which feeder for which bird?

  • Mesh feeders: these feeders are ideal with whole peanuts (though not during the breeding season) they are good for attracting tits, nuthatches and, if you're very lucky, spotted woodpeckers.

  • Seed feeders: these are generally made from plastic and have holes with perches below them to attract finches and other seed feeding birds.
    Specialist nyger seed feeders are good for goldfinches and siskins.

  • Fat feeders: are ideal for attracting tits in particular and are especially good during the Winter months.
    We have a range of holders by Gardman which can accomodate fat balls, not to mention an exceptional array of ornamental feeders ready-stuffed with fat and seed mixtures.

  • Coconuts: fresh coconuts are ideal to hang from a tree or bracket.
    You can also use and empty coconut shell as a fat feeder holder.

  • Seed trays: simple open mesh trays that are ideal to stop seed dropping on the ground and encouraging rats.

  • Cage feeders: if you have squirrels and large birds such as magpies, a feeder surrounded by a cage so only small birds can reach the food is the ideal solution.
    Cage feeders also offers the smaller birds some protection from attack by larger predators.

  • Hanging feeders: hanging feeders are ideal to attach to tree's, a pole in the lawn or from a wall brackets.
    Make sure your hanging feeders are out of reach of cats either from the ground or via an overhanging branch or fence.

  • Ground feeders: many birds prefer and love to forage at ground level.
    A ground hooper is the ideal solution to cater for these with seed and peanuts.
    Always remember to site ground feeders away from plant cover where cats may pray on these birds.

    • What to feed which birds

  • Live food: parents need protein-rich food to raise their chicks.
    A blue tit can feed hundreds of caterpillars and insects to its chicks during the breeding season, so try to encourage these in your garden naturally with plants or an an alternative you could use dried mealworms.

  • Peanuts: never leave out whole peanuts, or dry hard foods during the Spring or Summer months as young chicks can choke on them.
    Crushed peanuts are ideal and will attract robins and dunnocks amongst other species.

  • Sunflower seeds: these are ideal in a plastic feeder or on a tray.
    They'll attract a range of species and are safe for year round feeding.
    Sunflower hearts are also available without the seed casing for less mess.

  • Seed mixes: these can be good for attracting a variety of species, but should you wish to target smaller birds, use single seed or mixes that don't contain cereals such as oatmeal and wheat.
  • Gardman Seed Supreme is an excellent choice.

  • Nyger seed: these very small seeds unfortunately fall out of most feeders.
    Mix them with other seed in a plastic feeder or put them on a tray.
    Finches are particularly fond of nyjer seed.

  • Coconut: a fresh coconut cut in half and drained is ideal to hang it up for tits.
    Avoid desiccated coconut as this can swell up in bird's stomachs.

  • Fats: to survive the cold, small birds such as blue tits must eat a quarter of their body weight in food each day so high protein foods and fat are needed.
    Fat snax are an ideal high energy food source.

  • Natural food: plant bird friendly trees and shrubs for a continuous food supply.
    Holly and ivy are very good Winter food producers for woodpigeons, thrushes and blackcaps amongst others.
    Spindle berries play a vital role in keeping robins alive over Winter.

    • When to do what

  • Putting food out in winter probably saves the lives of up to a million garden birds a year.
    The RSPB and British Trust for Ornithology both suggest that you feed birds all year round, but some do have particular seasonal needs as above.

  • The RSPB advises making sure that bird feed is available early in the morning and late at night, especially during winter and autumn.
    At these times in particular, birds need a quick energy boost

  • In spring, live food is ideal for birds with chicks, even those that normally feed on seeds, such as finches and siskins.
    Buy mealworms, for example, to put out on a tray feeder.

  • Clean feeders regularly and often — salmonella can spread amongst your garden visitors.
    Use boiling water or buy specialised cleaning products that don't harm wildlife.
    It's particularly important to remove old or stale food from a seed tray.

  • It's particularly important to remove old or stale food from a seed tray if you have one.
    • Seed Supreme for wild birds - 3.6Kg

  • Use on bird tables and in seed feeders
  • attracts greenfinches, chaffinches, siskins, dunnocks, doves, blackbirds, and other species
  • 3.6kg (8lbs) approx 4.4 litres

  • Our Price - £3.99

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    Seed Supreme for wild birds - 10Kg

  • Use on bird tables and in seed feeders
  • attracts greenfinches, chaffinches, siskins, dunnocks, doves, blackbirds, and other species
  • 10kg (22lbs)

  • Our Price - £9.99

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    Seed Supreme for wild birds - 12.75Kg

  • Use on bird tables and in seed feeders
  • attracts greenfinches, chaffinches, siskins, dunnocks, doves, blackbirds, and other species
  • 12.75kg (28lbs) approx 2.2 litres

  • Our Price - £11.99

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    Seed Supreme for wild birds - 20Kg

  • Use on bird tables and in seed feeders
  • attracts greenfinches, chaffinches, siskins, dunnocks, doves, blackbirds, and other species
  • 20kg (44lbs

  • Our Price - £15.99

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    No Mess Seed Mix - 3.6Kg

  • No mess from the discarded seed husk.
  • Blended to appeal to a wide variety of birds.
  • Use on the ground, bird tables or in seed feeders.
  • Split / uneaten seed will not grow
  • Attracts blue tits, greenfinches, chaffinches, siskins, dunnocks, nuthatches, doves, blackbirds, song thrushes, buntings and sparrows.
  • 3.6Kg (8lbs)

  • Our Price - £5.99

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    No Mess Seed Mix - 10Kg

  • No mess from the discarded seed husk.
  • Blended to appeal to a wide variety of birds.
  • Use on the ground, bird tables or in seed feeders.
  • Split / uneaten seed will not grow
  • Attracts blue tits, greenfinches, chaffinches, siskins, dunnocks, nuthatches, doves, blackbirds, song thrushes, buntings and sparrows.
  • 10Kg (22lbs)

  • Our Price - £14.99

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    No Mess Seed Mix - 12.75Kg

  • No mess from the discarded seed husk.
  • Blended to appeal to a wide variety of birds.
  • Use on the ground, bird tables or in seed feeders.
  • Split / uneaten seed will not grow
  • Attracts blue tits, greenfinches, chaffinches, siskins, dunnocks, nuthatches, doves, blackbirds, song thrushes, buntings and sparrows.
  • 12.75Kg (28lbs)

  • Our Price - £15.99

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    No Mess Seed Mix - 20Kg

  • No mess from the discarded seed husk.
  • Blended to appeal to a wide variety of birds.
  • Use on the ground, bird tables or in seed feeders.
  • Split / uneaten seed will not grow
  • Attracts blue tits, greenfinches, chaffinches, siskins, dunnocks, nuthatches, doves, blackbirds, song thrushes, buntings and sparrows.
  • 20Kg (44lbs)

  • Our Price - £22.99

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    Peanuts - 1.8Kg

  • Use in mesh peanut feeders.
  • Low moisture content to help prevent mould.
  • Top quality attractive kernels sourced from premium crops.
  • Attracts great tits, blue tits, coal tits, greater spotted woodpeckers, and many other species.
  • 1.8Kg (4lbs)

  • Our Price - £5.49

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    Peanuts - 3.6Kg

  • Use in mesh peanut feeders.
  • Low moisture content to help prevent mould.
  • Top quality attractive kernels sourced from premium crops.
  • Attracts great tits, blue tits, coal tits, greater spotted woodpeckers, and many other species.
  • 3.6Kg (8lbs)

  • Our Price - £7.99

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    Peanuts - 10Kg

  • Use in mesh peanut feeders.
  • Low moisture content to help prevent mould.
  • Top quality attractive kernels sourced from premium crops.
  • Attracts great tits, blue tits, coal tits, greater spotted woodpeckers, and many other species.
  • 10Kg (22lbs)

  • Our Price - £19.99

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    Peanuts - 12.75Kg

  • Use in mesh peanut feeders.
  • Low moisture content to help prevent mould.
  • Top quality attractive kernels sourced from premium crops.
  • Attracts great tits, blue tits, coal tits, greater spotted woodpeckers, and many other species.
  • 12.75Kg (28lbs)

  • Our Price - £22.99

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    Thistle Seed - 1.8Kg

  • This oil rich seed is a firm favourite with all Finches.
  • For use in thistle seed feeders and on bird tables.
  • Attracts Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Coal Tits, Siskins, and Bullfinches.
  • 1.8Kg (4lbs)

  • Our Price - £5.49

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    Thistle Seed - 3.6Kg

  • This oil rich seed is a firm favourite with all Finches.
  • For use in thistle seed feeders and on bird tables.
  • Attracts Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Coal Tits, Siskins, and Bullfinches.
  • 3.6Kg (8lbs)

  • Our Price - £10.49

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    Thistle Seed - 12.75Kg

  • This oil rich seed is a firm favourite with all Finches.
  • For use in thistle seed feeders and on bird tables.
  • Attracts Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Coal Tits, Siskins, and Bullfinches.
  • 12.75Kg (28lbs)

  • Our Price - £27.99

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    Robin Seed & Insect Mix - 1.8Kg

  • A seed belnd with dried insect and suet specifically designed for this much-loved garden bird.
  • Helps to substitute the Robin's favourite feed of bugs & fat in times of hardship.
  • 1.8Kg (4lbs)

  • Our Price - £5.99

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    Robin Seed & Insect Mix - 6.8Kg

  • A seed belnd with dried insect and suet specifically designed for this much-loved garden bird.
  • Helps to substitute the Robin's favourite feed of bugs & fat in times of hardship.
  • 6.8Kg (15lbs)

  • Our Price - £19.99

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    Fat Snax - Pack of 6

  • Extremely popular high energy food source.
  • Especially beneficial during cold spells.
  • Attractive to Robins, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Starlings, Finches and Siskins.
  • Feed from bird tables or a wild bird food hanger.

  • Our Price - £1.99

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    Fat Snax - Bag of 25

  • Extremely popular high energy food source.
  • Especially beneficial during cold spells.
  • Attractive to Robins, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Starlings, Finches and Siskins.
  • Feed from bird tables or a wild bird food hanger.

  • Our Price - £4.99

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    Fat Snax - Tub of 50

  • Extremely popular high energy food source.
  • Especially beneficial during cold spells.
  • Attractive to Robins, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Starlings, Finches and Siskins.
  • Feed from bird tables or a wild bird food hanger.

  • Our Price - £7.99

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    Co-Co Fat Feeder - Pack of 6

  • Traditional bird feeders, filled with high energy suet and seed.
  • Attractive to Robins, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Starlings, Finches and Siskins.

  • Our Price - £5.99

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    Superior Feeding Station

    The ultimate Feeding Station Kit with feeders, Kit includes: -

  • Four way hanger with two seed feeders, one peanut and one suet feast feeder.
  • Bird bath support ring and bird bath.
  • Micro mesh feeder tray.
  • Heavy duty feeder pole.

  • Our Price - £24.99

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    Delivery from Cowell's

    At Cowell's we use a local courier service to deliver any orders outside a 30 mile radius of the Garden Centre.

    Please ensure you advise us of any special instructions regarding your delivery.

    For any enquiries regarding your delivery please feel free to contact us on T: 0191 286 3403.
    Click here for further terms and conditions regarding shopping on-line with Cowell's

    Need More Advice? - Ask us, we’d be pleased to help
    With compliments of :
    Cowell’s Garden Centre - Main Road, Woolsington, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE13 8BW
    T: (0191) 286 3403, F: (0191) 271 2597, E: info@cowellsgc.co.uk, W: www.cowellsgc.co.uk

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