Contents
Sunflower Chips
Sunflower chips are dehulled sunflower kernels designed to create an easier-to-eat alternative to oil seed, drawing in many of the same species such as chickadees, woodpeckers, nuthatches, jays and goldfinches. As these dehydrated kernels do not sprout and require no shell cracking for consumption they help prevent your yard from being overgrown with weeds.
Harvest the heads when they contain approximately two-thirds of seeds and dry them stem-up in a warm, ventilated area. Secure it to a rod, hook, or hanger using twine or string to protect from pests during drying and prevent its further spread.
This mess-free mix features hulled sunflower seeds, millet and peanut pieces in an ideal combination for tube, hopper and platform feeders. Chickadees, Juncos, Goldfinches, Nuthatches, Sparrows and Titmice will love this tempting treat that contains no red millet, rye or wheat which sprout easily to form an unsightly pile under your feeders; nor rape seed or flax which are toxic to birds.
Millet
Millets, an inexpensive grass species commonly known for preventing soil erosion and improving its health, is widely used as summer cover crops to prevent erosion and maintain soil health. Millets can easily be grown at home with little effort needed, making them readily available at wild bird stores, agricultural feed stores and garden centers.
White proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) is an especially beloved food source for ground-feeding sparrows like Dark-eyed Juncos and Spotted Towhees, both being ground-feeders themselves. You can offer it through hopper or platform feeders, or scatter it across the ground directly for them to discover and dig up themselves. Plus it makes an excellent addition to no mess seed mixes!
Millet can serve as an excellent alternative to rye and wheat due to its drought tolerant qualities, improved soil structure and suppressing weed growth. When stored properly using oxygen absorbers in cool dry places it will keep for years. Millet prefers neutral pH soil conditions but will grow well on acidic or alkaline ones provided that drainage is adequate – however it is susceptible to leaf spot and ergot issues.
Peanuts
Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) are beloved treats among wild bird species. Special machines harvest these nuts each autumn before being processed into feed and sold commercially for feeding purposes.
Peanuts provide birds with plenty of energy during winter when their bodies require additional calories to stay warm, not only offering protein and other essential nutrients but also offering much-needed calories to help stay alive.
Large birds such as jays, crows and grackles prefer whole, in-shell peanuts for snacking while smaller species such as chickadees and titmice prefer peanut hearts or chips that have already been broken up for easy swallowing. Both types can be fed individually or combined together into homemade suet mixes; peanuts also form an essential component in many quality seed blends for birds.
Canary Seed
Canary seeds’ unique nutty taste makes them ideal for use in bread, cookies and nutrition bars. In addition, their consumption has long been used as a dietary supplement for weight loss as they promote fat breakdown in the body while being high in both fibre and protein as well as potassium which aids fluid retention.
Canary seed is a cool season crop that thrives in Saskatchewan, and Canada is one of the leading exporters. It thrives under conditions with long days, cool nights and moisture-retaining soils for optimal success.
At the early heading stage, an insecticide application may be necessary to control aphids; while in wet summers fungicide may be applied for Septoria leaf mottle control. Canary seed is shatter resistant and suitable for straight combining; however, its presence of minute hairs causes skin and eye irritation, so dust masks should be worn when harvesting and handling certain varieties; to solve this problem the Crop Development Centre has designed “itchless” or glabrous varieties – an option they call theirselves
