Meal feeder suggested by bluebird nut

[Love my blues!]

Question- Got the BBF1 mealworm feeder because Mockingbirds & Robins have taken over my mealworm feeder(s). Put it up right next to previous feeders & couldn’t get any takers. Then, I propped the top open to see if they’d try to go in that way first. The only ones that kept trying were the Mockingbirds. Suggestions?

Nicole

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

I have a cage feeder like that one and it works great – I have had it so long that I don’t remember if it took some time or not. Don’t remove the top, as that defeats the purpose of the feeder, which is to exclude the large birds. I believe they will get the hang of it – give them some time – they won’t want to miss out on those tasty worms, but don’t feed them outside the feeder – make them go in.

[Love my blues!]

Thanks, Carol. Wasn’t feeding anywhere else except from that feeder & still didn’t get any takers. Just opened top temporarily to get them used to feeder be4 closing top. Someone else got theirs acclimated that way. Will keep trying!

Nicole

[The Original Bluebird Nut]

It can take them a little while to get used to the sight of the feeder and become comfortable with it. Make sure your mealworms are super-wiggly. It might help to replace the glass cup with a light-colored dish (plastic butter tub?) to begin with, as the worms show up against a light colored background. Propping the lid open is a temporary thing, not meant to be done permanently. I have gotten bluebirds used to the feeder by doing that for a day or even just a couple of hours. Be persistent, don’t feed outside the new feeder – you CAN teach an old bird new tricks!

Central NY
TMB Studios

[tamsea]

They will learn, Nicole. It just takes time. Sometimes a couple of weeks. Do they still perch on the old feeder? If so put a few mealworms right inside the grid or even on the lip (when you know they are around) and see if they see them while they perch on the old feeder. The other birds can snag those mealworms so it’s only when the bluebirds are around.

Tammy

[Love my blues!]

Really appreciate the feedback, Cher & Tammy! Temporarily took it down, but will try all of the above.

Nicole

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