That’s it, will cheese be bad for my garden birds? I’m pretty sure it’s not good for the cat, even though she likes it. It’s got to be inappropriate for the pond fish too. How about the hedgehogs, they’ll eat anything won’t they?
It might be a bit salty for wild animals. I wouldn’t, but it depends how much cheese we’re talking about - a couple of ouces cut small and scattered, if there’s water available, is probably OK.
How much cheese? Is it not fit for human consumption?
I’m quite sure raccoons will eat it if you leave it out.
Wild birds are rather good at knowing what they should regard as edible. Unless your cheese has been laced with some poison, it’s most unlikely to cause harm.
rats like cheese.
The real question is how you have leftover cheese in the first place. I did not know such a thing existed.
If this can be leftover, anything can.
This is not so much about cheese, it’s more about the entire food chain. Moldy (green) cheese… put it out, it will attract bugs and birds will feast on bugs. Win win.
It shouldn’t be a problem. Salt would probably not be a concern unless they were eating a huge amount of it (and seed-eating birds need salt since they don’t get that much in their normal diets.)
So I shouldn’t be so worried about getting non-salted seeds for my dove? I have to do a custom mix for the little brat, since any of the pre-mixed bird foods suitable for her beak have a lot of millet, which she rejects by throwing it all over the place and the cleanup gets tiresome.
I agree. The cheese will not affect the birds at all, since the rats will eat it all before the birds have a chance at a nibble.
[QUOTE=OldGuy]
I’m quite sure raccoons will eat it if you leave it out.
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I’m in the middle of England not many raccoons round here, though I think one or two have been spotted, runaway pets or zoo escapees?
The rats seem to prefer the city centre, I’ve seen the odd mouse but they’d have to beat all the various flying scavengers to the goodies.
I’ve (accidentally) done a variation on this. Old cat food tins attract flies. Flies lay eggs -> maggots -> bird food. Yummy!
I’ll put some of the cheese out lunchtime and see if any birdies keel over, in any case…
It’s not against any religion
To want to dispose of a pigeon
Put out some cheese, and you will be amazed at how many mice live on your property. Seriously, they are out there in hordes.
Are you talking about salted seeds intended for snacks by people? Those may well have more salt than is needed.
Seed-eating birds like macaws need to seek out clay licks for salt (like deer and other herbivorous mammals) because most vegetable matter lacks sodium chloride. (Sodium chloride is used by animals mostly for nerve and muscle conduction, which plant of course don’t use.)
This. Leftover cheese is an oxymoron.
Agreed. No such thing.