How to train to hand feed?

[BaseballPhotographer]

I'd like to train a few birds that are always in my back yard how to hand feed. I have NO CLUE where to start. Can I get some tips/hints/ or tricks from you guys that know what your doing PLEASE? ANY help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much,
Stephen

[gymell]

Here's a great book on the topic: Hand-Feeding Backyard Birds: A Step-By-Step Guide (http://www.amazon.com/Hand-Feeding-Backyard-Birds-Step-Step/dp/1580171818).

Basically birds won't come to your hand unless they are motivated to. And only certain birds will do it. Also you need to have a lot of patience. Do you already have bird feeders set up? Start by just standing out there and let the birds get used to you. Gradually get closer and closer until eventually you can stand right next to the feeder. I've found that chickadees, and downy woodpeckers are the best candidates. Also hummingbirds and red breasted nuthatches are very bold. White breasted nuthatch less so. It helps if you wear sunglasses to obscure your eyes since birds are very sensitive to being stared at (with good reason!) I seem to have better luck when wearing a hat, don't know why.

One thing I found last summer is that chickadees LOVE mealworms. I put out a mealworm dish, got them used to it, and then I'd stand out there with my hand over the dish. They would just come down to my hand and grab the mealworms. They were very motivated because they had a nest and were taking the mealworms right back to the chicks! Here's a capture from my webcam of me out there one afternoon. Notice I have sunglasses on, and my hand is right above the dish. The chickadee is perched on the top of the feeder pole, getting ready to come down to my hand.

http://www.pbase.com/gymell/image/97520113/original.jpg

[canonloader]

I would start by taking all the feeders in one night after they are in bed. Then be out there in the morning when the chickadees start moving. Sit in a chair and put seeds on your knee. Black Oil Sunflower seeds or shelled peanuts are best to make them come in. Give it a half hour. Then put the feeders back out and do it again the next day. They are not going to come to your hand if there is a bunch of food already out they can get to. :)

You should already be spending time in a chair out near the feeders to get them use to you.

[EveryMilesAMemory]

Liz, with the amount of feeders you have, I would think the birds in your area have trouble flying they are so well feed....LOL

I thought I had a few of them in the back yard with 4!

I'm gonna have to try this hand feeding bit

[HokkaidoStu]

They aren't going to come to your hand if there is food in the feeders.

If they're used to the feeders and the feeders are empty just stand nearby with some sunflower seeds in your hand and they'll come.

As already stated you need to stand nearby the feeders beforehand to get them used to you before you try this.....

[canonloader]

I'm glad this came up again. This morning at daylight I went out to put seeds and peanuts out. I have to ration them now, cause I have deer coming into the yard every night and cleaning out the feeders if I just fill them up. They seem to love sunflowers, and there are three or four that wander in through the night.

So I went out this morning with Sunflower Seeds and peanuts and before I put them out, I stood next to the Lilac tree with 6 or 7 chickadees all talking at once, waiting for breakfast, and decided to try this. Wow, that didn't take long. About a minute for them to screw up their courage and Bam, right to the hand for peanuts. Of course, I am use to this at the park, but those guys were already trained. Nice to know it works here too. This is the start of a great relationship. :)

[EveryMilesAMemory]

Hey Mitch, we were having trouble with the deer coming in to empty the feeders at night too.

I had my wife walk the dogs only right around the feeders and mark the territory real good, and so far the deer have stayed away.

If you have a dog, might want to give it a try and see if it works?

[canonloader]

Nope, no dog. I did think about going out there after dark and marking it myself though. :)

[EveryMilesAMemory]

They say that it works to mark you campsite while camping, so maybe give that a try.

[canonloader]

I might not have to now. I have just looked outside and no tracks after rationing the last two days so there is nothing there for them by dark time. They are smart and won't waste the energy to come out of the woods when there is nothing for them. :)