This sounds good and relatively cheap. I might give it a go, although OH will object to the lard smell. I wonder if I could do it outside on my mini camping stove that I've never used.
I'm interested reading this thread back. At the time it seems we were only putting out fat balls. Now I'm filling the feeders on a daily basis with sunflower hearts in one and mixed seed in another. The birds are voracious but I refuse to do it more than once a day - it's costing me a fortune! There's an interesting clump of shoots under the feeders too, I'd love to see what they grew into but OH keeps mowing them.
We mainly get Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Sparrows, Blue Tits, Coal Tits and Great Tits and at certain times of the year a small flock of starlings comes in and wipes out all the food. I love to see (and hear!) them though. Every now and then a little group of Long Tailed Tits comes through and like
@Kite_Rider I love them too. They don't even seem to be very worried about humans sitting nearby. I also throw a bit of food on the ground for the Robin and of course the pigeons are always hanging around hopefully.
I normally fill up the feeders after I've mucked out and some mornings I can hear the birds chattering away in the trees waiting for their breakfast to be forthcoming. It's a lot of pressure lol.
How's it going with yours
@newforest? Was the mug a hit in the end?