Jim Almquist Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 I went into L & M and was surprise that seed dropped to around $16 for 50 pounds. Merry Christmas to us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayinMN Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 I still remember the good ole days when they were $8.00 a bag...lolIt is nice to see they are going down a bit though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Foss Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 Good old days? Shucks, when I started birding in 1972 in Grand Forks, N.D., you could walk into any elevator and walk out with 50 lbs for less than $5. Yeah, OK, I'm getting old. I'm darn glad it's come down though. Now that we've got a backyard full of winter birds I'm definitely gotta keep them coming in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdsong Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 Thank goodness! It was getting to be about $35 a week. I have trimmed back to black sunnies and suet only. They were eating better than I was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Foss Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 Birdsong, that's almost all I ever feed for birds in winter, anyway. Everything I have coming to the feeders (even the goldfinches, siskins and redpolls that get expensive thistle/niger seed from many bird fans), will gobble the black oil. I also feed whole corn to help keep the deer and bluejays out of the sunflower. Corn's a lot cheaper and the deer and jays seem to prefer it. Much as I like seeing deer in the yard, they can be an open drain when it comes to seed.I also put the seed out only first thing in the morning, and just what I think is enough to get through the day with a bit left over. That way the deer still come late in the afternoon but I'm not leaving 5 lbs in the feeders for them to get, just a few cups full. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shorebird Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 The grocery store here is selling sunflower chips and pieces for 14.75 a 50# bag. This has been the price for the last year.I have bird watchers come to the cabin from a long ways away and they always seem to pickup a few bags on there way home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Foss Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 shorebird, we're talking shelled chips and pieces for that price? Just seed meat pieces with no shells? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shorebird Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 A picture is worth a thousand words. When I would buy a lot of bags I would get it for a couple of dollars a bag cheaper. A lot of people would get it from me but it was easier to pick it up at the store. e Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Almquist Posted December 26, 2008 Author Share Posted December 26, 2008 That is really a great deal shorebird for a mix like that. The price I was talking about is all in the shell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdsong Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 Nice. That would eliminate some of the shell waste on the ground as well. I'm afraid to ask where the grocery store is. When you say cabin, it doesn't lend itself to being anywhere near the prairie. And for the whole corn you are putting out for the deer and jays, Steve, is that on the cob, off the cob? I should try it to keep the 14 squirrels at bay. The birds hardly have a chance to feed anymore. (What birds--they left after the sharp-shinned kept hanging around on Wednesday.) I bought some of those compressed corn things to see if that would keep them busy longer, but they only last 1 or 2 days. I'll trade you all 14 of the little beasts for a deer or two. Not really--I know they can be really damaging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Foss Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 It's off the cob. Cost is around $7 or $8 for 50 lbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny_redhorse Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 I was at L&M earlier today and saw that 50# of cracked corn was 8 bucks.....I know bluejays eat the stuff but not sure what other birds will eat it..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Foss Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 Jonny, jays will take it whole and cache it. Sparrows will eat it cracked. Deer will eat it however it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny_redhorse Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 Those deer can sure chew up seed!....I threw out about 10 pounds of black oil at a small area last week here near Hibbing(Carey Lake)...the deer ate every morsel!....I mean cleaned it up over night!....that's the end of that! ....as for the corn eating sparrows....think I'll pass on the cracked corn....sparrows can fend for themselves!....I could use it under my tires if I get stuck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayinMN Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 I got a 50# bag of sunflower seeds, a 50# bag of wild bird mix and a 50# bag of cracked corn for Christmas from my brother. He explained it like this "I didn't know what birds eat, so I bought one of each type." I guess I'm ready to feed the birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Foss Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 Jay, the wild bird mix is great for sparrows and juncos. They like the cracked corn and millet in it. That'd be a good one to save until spring sparrow migration starts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Almquist Posted December 26, 2008 Author Share Posted December 26, 2008 Quote: I guess I'm ready to feed the birds. I think your ready to feed anything that moves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Foss Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 Quote: I guess I'm ready to feed the birds. I think your ready to feed anything that moves Good one, Jim! Belly laugh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayinMN Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 I'll probably hang onto the wild bird mix till spring. The cracked corn, I'll mix a little with the sunflower seeds for the jays. I also stock piled some alfalfa bales and deer feed too.These dang animals eat better then me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Foss Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 These dang animals eat better then me. They photograph better too. Sorry buddy. Had to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shorebird Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 I live in Lancaster,Mn. That's about an hour and 15 minutes from Grand Forks.My cabin is about 1 1/2 miles from the Canadian border. 20 miles from North Dakota.They sell the seed at the local grocery store.If anyone is birding up in this part of the country...let me know. If the cabin is not spoken for your more than welcome to stay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Foss Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 I know the country well, shorebird. I lived in Forks for a long time and covered NW Minn for the GF Herald for years.Sweet landscape up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayinMN Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 Shorebird are the Elk you posted common in that area year round? What are the chances of me finding some if I drove out that way? I have been throwing around the idea of driving over that way or to Wisconsin to shoot some elk with the camera. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Foss Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 Jay, check with the DNR (probably Thief River Falls or Roseau would be the nearest sizeable DNR offices). There are a couple/three resident herds in NW Minn. year around. Also, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation probably has info on locations, but the DNR should be able to put you in pretty close to them. Well, so can shorebird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayinMN Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 I was under the impression that they "migrated" into Canada for part of the year. Maybe I am thinking of the wrong herd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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