Invention?

[Kathryn]

Has anyone creatively invented a solution to this problem?

I have a few birds that are really food dish divers..tossing seed out of their dishes to get the favorite morsels. In the process much of this good seed is tossed to the cage floor and onto the paper liners and wasted.

Is there a tray or platform that can be attached under the food dish to catch this nice seed before it is soiled?

I've thought about separating out the favorite morsels into one dish but who wants to spend hours doing that! :omg:

I'm thinking about hanging the dish in a corner and attaching a cloth hammock under the food bowl to catch the spilage.....

Any other suggestions?

[Buy A Paper Doll]

I can't think of anything you could use that wouldn't get pooped on ... a cloth hammock tucked under a food dish would make a nice little nesting spot for any hens you happen to have though.

I give mine mostly Nutriberries that don't fall through the grate. If they haven't been pooped on they can be recycled.

As for the seed that goes to waste, I save it and put it in a feeder for the "outside" birds.

[linda040899]

Any other suggestions?
You might try a deeper dish! :D I'm very serious with that suggestion. If they scratch and toss, the seed at least stands a chance of staying in the bowl!

[bellarains]

Kathryn,

There have worked well for me, as I always have a lovie who likes to "kick it up" in the food dish, Link: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=5995&N=2003+2012

I also have some of the smart crocks, and I do love them, but the lock crocks are deeper, and don't allow them to do kick out the food.

My only other suggestion would be to buy what they like best, and give it in a separate dish, but then you'd still have some in your regular seed mix. You could make your own, and keep it separate, but that would be work:rolleyes:

[Cathy]

Kathryn, I keep a large coffee can and dump the left over seeds and empty the paper in the bottom of the cage into the can every day. I only fill my bird dishes with about 2 tablespoons of seed mixture per bird per day because I don't want to try to blow out seed hulls and prefer to give them fresh seeds every morning. I have a separate dish that is always full of pellets because they don't throw it around. I have another dish for fresh food that I sit in the bottom of the cage.

Every few days I throw the coffee can with the leftovers to my outside birds. I think that they really appreciate it! I also feel like I am doing my part to help wild birds.

[Kathryn]

Thanks Lori and Linda,
I ordered the deep lock crocks and even some cleancrocks. Will try those. I've been using some larger hanging cups but one acrobatic bird can push those up off the bars...and two birds have decided to sleep in them.

I thought about just serving the special seed separately, but with 16 birds, seems like each bird has a choice seed.:omg:

Yes, I feed the outside birds the left overs too. I use an ice cream bucket to hold the seeds I collect until ready to disperse to the wild birds.

Heather,
My husband rigged me a baffle for my pole using a five gallon bucket. He cut the rim and handle off and then cut a circle in the very middle of the bottom of the bucket the same size as the pole. He secured a hoseclamp around the pole, then slipped the bucket on bottom up with the hoseclamp inside the bucket. Then he reattached the bird feeder to the pole. Squirrels and rats may shinney up the pole but can't get past the baffle to the seed:happy: Also put one on the bird house pole to keep snakes from getting into the nests.