Feeding Wild Birds

Not sure which forum so this one will have to do. Most people on our allotment feed the birds, I think it's some sort of wierd idea we have that if we feed them they will leave our veg alone. Should we still be feeding fat balls to them are they really for winter feed, any twitchers out there your help would be appreciated.

The woman in the shop gave me a funny look when I asked do you have fat balls!!!

 if we feed them they will leave our veg alone

I reckon it is more to do with attracting birds, some of which will also devour bugs in vast quantities.     My garden is alive with birds & the only real menace are the blackbirds which are capable of fairly major excavations in search of worms & grubs.

We feed peanuts year round.

I feed the birds all year round but only fat balls in winter as they need it to keep them warm.

I don't feed peanuts during nesting time/summer in case they feed to the young ones.  At the mo i've got two great tits nesting in the Rosa Rugosa's and they are toing and froing to the bird table which it would seem is ideally placed for them.  They are picky feeders though seeming to prefer sunflower seeds.  Just as well i've planted some sunflowers for the birdies.

We feed all year niger seed,peanets and sunflower hearts,stopping feeding at breeding season would seem a bit harsh if local birds are partially relying on it.Also nesting times seem earlier,one pair of blackbirds are on clutch no.2 at the moment and there were fledgling bullfinches last year in september.