I think I can put in a new perch but I would like to add more feeders to my one lone bird feeder.
Asked on Mar 16, 2017
Hometalkers, I need Bird Feeder and Bird Seed Advice!
by
Stacy Davis
+22
I live in Virginia, if this helps. This is the first year that I have had a bird feeder. It was one left by the previous owners and absolutely falling apart. But, I am still getting beautiful birds. 
And greedy me... I want more!!! I went to Lowes and Walmart and was overwhelmed by the selection of bird feeders... the house type, the tube type and the gazebo type. What is the best for a novice bird lover.
And greedy me... I want more!!! I went to Lowes and Walmart and was overwhelmed by the selection of bird feeders... the house type, the tube type and the gazebo type. What is the best for a novice bird lover.And then I had the same problem with bird seed. Fruit and Nut blend? Black Oil Sunflower? Blend for songbirds? What is best and budget friendly? I kind of live in the country and need to refill it often.
Thank you in advance for all your advice! I need it! 
I have found a really great blog detailing bird seed. I suspected that a lot of what I was buying was filler seed but this article explained about it in more depth... http://northcoastgardening.com/2015/02/diy-bird-seed-blends/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+northcoastgardening+(North+Coast+Gardening)
I don't want to waste my money on filler seed that the birds are going to throw out onto the ground and attract rodents. So, I have already found valuable information about what not to buy.
It also explains that when you are first starting out, you don't know what birds live in your neighborhood. Experiment with a variety of seeds and once they start appearing, then you can tailor your seed purchases to what your birds like to eat.
It really is more of a science than I had realized... this is going to be a fun learning endeavor.
***I have gotten some great tips in my comments so make sure you check them out!!!!! They deserve special notice. 
***
***Thank you everyone!!! I went to Tractor Supply and got stocked. And that FUNNEL SCOOP, the best thing ever!!! Their black sunflower seed was even cheaper than Walmart. I had so much fun looking at the selection there of feeders and seed. I think I may have fallen down a hole of a new hobby... 
I am working on getting some Virginia bird books from the library. My husband laughed and said, "Isn't there an app for that?"
I am working on getting some Virginia bird books from the library. My husband laughed and said, "Isn't there an app for that?"
I think this is a dual squirrel feeder...
New tube feeder filled with Black Oil Sunflower Seeds.
My DIY Squirrel baffler slinky did not work at all. 
But, it looks pretty so I am leaving it in place. I highly suspect that the perch was broken by a fat squirrel and not a bird, at all! My pole was such a buy. We have a store here called AND THAT! I love that store and since this pole was missing some solar doohickey on the top it was really marked down for us to $8.
But, it looks pretty so I am leaving it in place. I highly suspect that the perch was broken by a fat squirrel and not a bird, at all! My pole was such a buy. We have a store here called AND THAT! I love that store and since this pole was missing some solar doohickey on the top it was really marked down for us to $8. 
Watching the birds at the new feeder...
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Here he leaps from the pole to the feeder...
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Here is the squirrel... See how he flicks his tail so triumphantly?
On the bags of bird seed they tell you exactly what types of birds like what seeds.
As above, feeding can get into your blood and lead to birding! So, one of the first things to buy is a book picturing regional birds that also details a bit of their habits, feed, nesting needs, etc. After a lot of trial and error, we feed solely black oil seed and suet. We also offer meal worms when bluebirds arrive, and oranges and grape jelly for Orioles, Don't forget cane sugar for the hummers, and of course, several bird baths. We use large wooden and plexiglass I rectangular feeders that are open on the bottom of both sides...There is an approximate 3-inch lip that the birds can stand/feed in. The seed is eaten by a variety of song birds, doves and woodpeckers. Suet is also eaten by all of the birds. The oranges and jam are also visited by all of the birds. The hummingbird feeders are also visited by Orioles and woodpeckers. We also keep diaries of first birds seen of the season and when the birds leave. We do not feed cracked corn because we do not like the noise of starlings. I purchase all of my sunflower seed from Tractor Supply, especially when they have their great sales on 40 or 50 pound bags of seed. Suet can be purchased in boxes of 12. Good luck. There is great joy in feeding/birding, both singly and as a family. Good luck!
I think feeding the birds is great and it is so enjoyable to watch them but you have to be aware that you could have a problem with rats. Not sure of the area you live in but we had a bird feeder and wound up with rats in our roof😖 We live on the west coast of B.C. Canada so had to take the feeder down😞
i live in athens georgia. i get the same 4-5 kinds of birds at my feeder. i have bought every kind of food but i believe it's the placement of my feeders. my yard is very small and near the road so i think the birds get scared. however i do feed the crows. i buy cheap oatmeal cookies and they love them. my suggestion is keeping your feed in a metal trash if kept outside can so the squirrels can't get to it. they will eat right thru plastic. good luck.
Staying away from the seed mixes will help keep sparrows and black birds away. Tractor supply is a good place to shop,but we've found it to have alot of trash in it. If you have a co-op,you'll find better quality. You can also offer unsalted peanuts to cardinals and jays. We have squirrel stations with corn and nuts, but they'll always be a problem! Lol. Finch feeders with thistle-check often for wet,molded seed. Goldfinches are beautiful. Fruit is a good addition. I stick half an Apple or orange on a screw. Any suet type is welcome to wood peckers and chickidees. Water is very important! Robins love to take baths. Bluebirds love live meal worms. Add birdhouses. It can get expensive. Sit back and enjoy.
I also live in Fredericksburg, VA and my birds eat pretty much whatever I put out for them. I usually buy wild bird mix from Lowe's or Kaytee brand from Target. I always have cardinals, chickadees, juncos, bluejays, finches, crows, grackles, a red headed woodpecker and occasionally a couple of goldfinches. I also shake some on the ground for the mourning doves. I don't have a lot of squirrels so they don't seem to be a problem. Once in a while there will be crows but not very often. Here is a picture of my feeder that I purchased at Lowe's with a cardinal on it.
I love to feed the birds, but since we have bears around the area, I had to stop! 🙁
I didn't like feeding the grackles and blackbirds who seem to take over bird feeders here in Norfolk. I keep to safflower seeds. Chickadees, finches, cardinals love it. Doves will eat it on the ground. But the blackbirds don't like it so it isn't a problem. I get 50lb bags delivered via Amazon.
I bought a copy of Peterson Field Guides Eastern Birds a few years back and I was able to identify the different birds from that. Since I own the book, I am able to document on the pages of the different birds when I have seen them. It can probably be purchased on Amazon.com or any of our local book stores. I hope you enjoy watching them as much as I do.
I bought a squirrel proof feeder forgot the name of it but it absolutely works try googling squirrel proof feeders
Just a suggestion. The first time I bought birdseed, I brought it into the house. Huge mistake!!! It got or had kitchen moth weevils in it. That was two years ago and I still haven't managed to get rid of the nasty things.
Store it outside!