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Usually if I order on Monday they’d get to my house by Wed. If I order on Monday from Rainbow that’s in CA, I usually get them on Thursday, one day later. I’ve never used Nature’s Way. I’ll have to look them up. The only othe thing that bugs me about Grubco is their phone etiquette….they are abrupt.
Tammy
Well, they went halfway to redeem themselves by volunteering to ship it next day UPS without me having to exorb the extra shipping cost. Although I think I deserved something a little more than that. There excuse was that my credit card wouldn’t go through and they didn’t have the right phone number but I feel that’s not totally true. They could have gotten the number off of caller ID and I’ve used my card several times this week with no problem. Oh well.moving on.
Tammy
Kirk, I have found that red millet is not a house sparrow’s favorite food. They seem to ignore it. In my opinion cracked corn isn’t a good option either. I use white millet only or mixed seed with a lot of white millet in it and little to no red millet. Try that. Some people use bread. The winter months isn’t the best time to trap but soon it will be better. It takes awhile for you to catch the first one but after you have the first one the others will trap easier.
You have to keep the first one as a decoy in your holding area and try to keep it alive as long as poosible by supplying with food and water because it will be what draws the others in.
I often catch my first one with a inbox Van Ert trap and then I put that HOSP in the holding area of the repeating trap as a decoy.
Put the trap right under where you see the HOSP (house sparrows) perching a lot. If it doesn’t work one place after a few weeks then put it somewhere else.
So first change to white millet or bread but not red millet. People use the fishing line, or string on their feeders but personally I don’t like to do that. They get used t it and I’d rather save it for the bluebird nest boxes. Get back with us and maybe we can give you other suggestions.Tammy
The “after the first egg is laid” rule is for both reasons,the HOSP might get used to the spooker but mostly the bluebird might be scared away if the spooker is up earlier. The egg bonds her to that box.
You can successfully experience watching bluebird babies grow with HOSP around but sooner or later you’ll find you have to trap. It could be right away that you run into HOSP wars or it could be 3 years down the road…But it will happen.Tammy
Sorry if I repeat anything that was already said. I just skimmed everyone’s posts.
Yes, remove nests after it’s used. It’s best for the bluebirds. Gets rid of any critters living inside and also keeps the nest low in the box. And the bluebirds seem to prefer to make a new nest at least at my house. No need to supply nesting material. Although sometimes purple Martin landlords sprinkle pinestraw on the ground in case they want to use it. (White soft pine needles)
Like Carol said, put the mealworms in a white or clear glass or smooth plastic small container. Not a large bowl. Something with shorter sides. A glass pie plate might work.put it where they can look down on it. Put it close to where they perch. Use live ones at first so they can see them moving around. It takes a while. You have to be consistent and patient. Then once they find them…move them gradually wherever you want to feed them. Mine is near my back door. After they get hooked you can try the rehydrated ones.Tammy
I agree. They will take anything. Give them time. Here in about February the HOSP start searching for boxes, even though it’s too cold for nests. Once that starts happening you’ll see them visiting your boxes. Obviously don’t put your inbox trap in until you see one going in and out of the box.
Tammy
I had a pine warbler too this year!! I had to get on a facebook group and Kenn Kaufman confirmed it for me. I haven’t seen it since Feb. It was eating my suet too. Congrats!! Fun to see new birds.
Tammy
Thanks, Dana. Actually I haven’t seen them since my husband told me they came around. :( If you are feeding suet or dried mealworms successfully I’d just stick with that. Mealworms get pricey and are just a bother sometimes.
Carol, Merry Christams to you too. It’s been very cold here for the past few days. But that’s expected here.
Tammy
I keep mine in my regular fridge too. They are on the bottom or sometimes second to the bottom shelf in the back. :)
Tammy
Latigo! Hi! The forum is really really slow since we’ve moved. I keep hoping people find it again….maybe this coming nesting season it will happen. So glad to hear from you.
Tammy
I love seeing my bluebirds in the winter. Unfortunately I’ve been out of town for awhile so by the time I get back home they probably won’t be used to coming around any more. The past two years they’ve only been here occasionally during the winter. Before that they were regulars.im thinking someone else is feeding them in the winter months now too.
Tammy
