PET and animal owners across the country are flocking to a unique business in Clarecastle. Banner Bird Seed is gaining a reputation as a source of quality produce at affordable prices, with unrivalled knowledge from its owner Bertie O’Doherty.
Banner Bird Seed recently launched a new website, bannerbirdseed.com/, displaying its impressive product range which includes top quality bird and pet food, poultry feed, specialist dog and horse bedding, vitamins and health products for birds, bird nesting & cage accessories, home-mixed wild bird seed, Nyger seed and more.
For those hoping to learn about caring for their animals, a visit to Bertie in Lissane, Clarecastle is well worth the trip. Bertie is well known in aviary circles as a prominent bird breeder while his insight on animal health has also made him a go-to for greyhound owners in County Clare and beyond.
However, domestic pet owners will also learn a wealth of knowledge from Bernie when it comes to caring for your pet, and his product range extends to ensuring the best for your dog, cat, rabbit, or bird.
Along with carrying quality dog food brands including Gain, Pedro and Red Mills, Banner Birdseed sells bags of mixed breakfast cereal for greyhounds, dried meats, and frozen meet including venison and chicken. “The venison tripe is great for a young dog or any sick dog, it’s very good for the gut,” notes Bertie.
Bertie stocks Bluefrog wax-coated bedding for greyhounds, horses and dogs, which is completely dust-free and hypoallergenic.
BIRD SEED
Bertie specializes in wild bird seed and the Ennistymon native swears by his specially-crafted, aniseed-rich wild bird seed, which is sure to attract a selection of finches to your home garden.
Bertie tells The Clare Echo, “I mix my own wild birdseed which I put aniseed into, it has a little more ‘umph’ in it than the commercial one. The aniseed is good for the birds in the winter and it helps promote a good molt and there’s omega-3 in it for conditioning.”
He encourages customers to bring their own bucket to suit their needs, so there’s no obligation to purchase large bags of feed. “Whether it’s Nyger seed or peanuts, wild bird or even cage and aviary, I can cater for.”
Banner Bird Seed carries a selection of bird cages, food products from Beatties and Versele-Laga to Frazers, while to protect your birds he carries the latest meds including Exolt, which protects birds from mite.
Bertie established the business in recent years after experiencing difficulties in trying to source products for his own birds. “Any time I wanted seed myself for any product, I had to go Limerick, Cork, Waterford or Dublin so I said to myself, ‘if I’m looking for it someone else is looking for it’.”
With relationships now built up with suppliers in Ireland, Belgium, Holland and Italy, Bertie goes to great lengths to make sure he delivers for his customers, particularly with those difficult-to-source products which has led to a country-wide customer base for the Clarecastle business. He also insists on an affordable pricepoint. “I have items here you probably won’t get elsewhere in the Republic. The likes of the American siskin seed, it’s a very light seed and I’d be the only one from what I know, stocking that. Things that are unique and hard to get, I make an effort to get them.”
Speaking about his passion for animals, particularly songbirds, Bertie explains, “I love the birds myself. As long as I can remember my father always bred birds at home. It’s amazing what you learn out in the wild, he’d show me where the linnets used to nest.”
To speak to Bertie, call 086 100 72 58. For a full range of products, visit https://bannerbirdseed.com.
