FYI It's not just cats that like Felix!

[bobbys girl]

Should you ever rescue a fledgling Jackdaw (or any other member of the crow family) they love Felix AGAIL.

LONG story short, it was rescue him or let the cats get him. I (foolishly) thought that he was near enough to fledging that a day or two in an old budgie cage and he would be off, HA! He's too fond of the good life. I tried to feed him with worms etc but he prefers Felix AGAIL.

We call him Kavka (Czech for Jackdaw I believe) Don't know what we are going to do with him - cats can't believe their eyes.

Please note OH's poo-splattered top - it's worse now.

[Kay]

very intelligent birds, jackdaws, and easily tamed, obviously

better lock up your jewellery

[Lilith]

Aww bless him! i think you've got him for keeps now - he might leave you when he's old enough to mate but I wouldn't be surprised if he comes back after nesting season...

As for catfood, I've found everything likes it, from tadpoles to tortoises (though tortoises shouldn't have it - I was a kid and discovered my two had a craving for meat but modern advice is very different) but I reckon it must be as good as anything, with vitamins and all, for a young jackdaw

[Crewella]

Awwww I wondered how he was getting on, he looks to be doing well on it!

[Jacks]

We put scraps of Felix AGAIL on the bird table for the birds. Saves binning unused food and they love it - Magpies, Starlings and Pigeons in our case... We had a really scruffy skinny Magpie frequenting the garden who waited for his AGAIL every day. He's now looking much healthier and has a mate

[Kay]

Cat food can be a lifesaver for a sole parent bird with a nest full of hungry chicks

[bobbys girl]

Cat food can be a lifesaver for a sole parent bird with a nest full of hungry chicks

That's good to know, especially as Kafka likes the meat and leaves the jelly and the cats prefer the jelly - win-win, nothing goes to waste. Feed cats first then scraps to the birds. Thanks Kay.

Can't believe it but I had a water fight with a bird yesterday. Kafka decided to have a bath in a plant pot saucer, he was splashing so much we all got wet so I started squirting water at him with the syringe I used to feed him water.

[Crewella]

I'd love to have seen that!

[Kay]

I put tinned cat food out in winter for the blackbirds if the ground is frozen - they roost later than most other birds, so dusk is a good time - as soon I leave with the empty tin a good dozen or so blackbirds come hopping out of the bushes

[Walesgang]

We put uneaten cat food out for the birds too. Our main diners are the crow family - jackdaws, magpies, rooks .......

They certainly loiter when we take a bowl full out to scatter!

[Ruth B]

I hadn't heard of using cat food for birds, but it does make sense for any that are omnivorous such as members of the crow family. I had heard of it being the best option for leaving out to feed hedgehogs thought.

[Walesgang]

'Our' hogs get their own food!

On the odd occasion that doesn't all go, that goes to the birds too!

[bobbys girl]

We used to get hogs in our garden in England, but there are none here in this part of NI - unfortunately!

My Brother-in -Law always fed his dog with cat food - his reasoning - dogs will eat any old rubbish but a cat can't be fooled. So cat food has to be better quality. Kafka thinks so.