Using Elderberries

[David Swain]

Lots of ripe elderberries about at the moment. Wild birds obviously go for them (you can tell by the colour of their droppings) but does anyone use them for their birds, if so what are the benefits and how do you prepare/store/adminster them?

[THE FIFER]

IVE GOT A LARGE ELDERBERRY TREE IN MY GARDEN FULL OF BERRIES, BEEN CUTTING SOME DOWN AS ITS GETTING TOO BIG, DON'T KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM JUST CROPPED UP A FEW YEARS AGO, AND GROWS LIKE MAD, I DO NOT USE BERRIES FROM IT I JUST THROUGH THEM AWAY AS I HOPE TO GET THE TRE OUT ALL TOGETHER SOON.

[jimmy white]

I HAD AN ELDERBERRY TREE GROWING AT MY LAST HOUSE, THE PIGEONS USED TO EAT THESE , ONLY WHEN RIPE, TRIED TO STOP THEM , BUT COULDNT, BUT THE THING WAS , ALLTHOUGH IT TURNED THEIR DROPPINGS RED IT DIDNT SEEM TO DO THE BIRDS ANY HARM,,,,,,SO MAYBE SOME OTHER THOUGHTS ON THE SUBJECT??

[Guest]

i gave a bag of berries to guy told him to boil them and to put in the drinkers,

next day i asked him if he did what i told him to do he said he made wine with the berries :-/

[Guest]

no i would'nt drink that rose he did, hes a pisshead

[Guest REDFOXKRAUTHS]

YOU CAN BUY Elderberries JUICE OUT THE BODY AND RIDEWOOD CATOLOGE FOR PIGEONS IT MENT TO BE GOOD STUFF

[Guest]

grapefruit seed extract is a definately recommended or cider vinegar to keep nasties away including ybs. But I have never tried elderberries. Mind you I like all natural products so probably beneficial.

[Guest REDFOXKRAUTHS]

yer  you are write

[THE FIFER]

the wild birds are going daft with the elderberries in my garden.

[Peckedhen]

An old fancier told me to give elderberries to my birds last year, I tried but they were not interested in them so, I crushed some in their water. Boiling would destroy the vitamins in them!!

[THE FIFER]

I HAVE LOADS OF THEM MUST PICK SOME AND PUT THROUGH THE BLENDER, WOULD THIS BE OK  TO PUT IN DRINKING WATER

[Guest TAMMY_1]

I HAVE LOADS OF THEM MUST PICK SOME AND PUT THROUGH THE BLENDER, WOULD THIS BE OK  TO PUT IN DRINKING WATER

 

definately   i do this with the young birds and its great and if you try to buy it costs a fortune, what i do is use about a pound of them and mix in the blender with a pint of water then put this in 10 litre can and fill up with water and then put this in the drinkers

[Guest REDFOXKRAUTHS]

ill use that tip thanks

[mO]

Elderberry. great as a prevenative of YBS also add cinnomon.

First pick ya berries, the bush is poision except the flowers and the berrys.

I cut a head of berries into a bucket, then use a fork to remove the berries from the stems.

then scold with boiling water.

allow to cool. press the berries and extract the juice with a fine sieve.

add ground cinnomon to whats left, dilute to a burgundy colour and bottle.      keep in a fridge.

Dilute when using to a nice rosey colour.

IF NOWT ELSE ITS A GOOD SOURCE OF VITAMIN C.

I have used the above for quite a few years, all home made nun pence

 

NONE DEAD yet.

Also berry ICE cubes just add one to a 5lt drinker.

[THE FIFER]

cheers tammy

[Chatrace]

You can put them in a baggie and freeze them right on the stems . The icecube idea is also good  for keeping them a long pierod of time. let the thaw in the frig when you take them out of the freezer to help keep them from going mushie. We have found it is good for treating the YB sickness

[Chris Little]

Used Elderberries in the past

 

Got them from one of the homebrew websites , dead cheap for a packet

[THE FIFER]

the tree in my garden is getting large, i cut a lot down last week with loads of berries on it this tree just started growng here a couple of years ago.tooK a pick of it will get it on later,  OK TAMMY

[Sajfos]

Do any Forum Members have a recipe for a Tonic from the above or any similar juice/herb tonic ?

 

Steve..

[Guest]

what i do is take four soupspoonfulls of elderberries put them into a cup of warm water and leave them over nite then strain all the juice out and put into a gallon of water oncce twice per week  ;D ;D

[Sajfos]

Thanks SAMMY .

[chickadee]

What is this tonic for?

[Guest]

what is any tonic for a wee pick me up  

[Wiley]

lead to believe elderberry juice good as a prevention of young bird sickness

[Guest]

try just picking the berries wash them and hang in the loft birds love them but be prepared for a purpal floor if you want to keep it just boil them and drain into a plastic bottle and freeze better with small bottles and you can remove from freezer one at a time