Ace Hardware Wild Bird Seed

Short answer: Ace Hardware is a convenient place to buy wild bird seed, and its mixes can work well if the first ingredients are black oil sunflower seed or sunflower hearts. Because brands and blends vary by store, read the bag rather than relying on the brand name.

What to look for on the bag

• Sunflower first. Black oil sunflower seed is eaten by the widest range of birds, including chickadees, cardinals, finches and nuthatches.
• Few cheap fillers. Red milo, wheat and large amounts of cracked corn are often left on the ground by many songbirds and attract pigeons, squirrels and rodents.
• White millet is good for ground feeders like juncos and sparrows.
• Nuts and suet cakes add fat and calories in cold weather and attract woodpeckers.
• Fresh, dry seed. Avoid bags with webbing, a musty smell or moisture damage.

Match seed to birds

• Black oil sunflower: the best all-around seed.
• Safflower: cardinals and grosbeaks like it, and squirrels often do not.
• Nyjer (thistle): goldfinches and other finches, in a special feeder.
• Peanuts and suet: woodpeckers, jays and nuthatches.
• Sugar water is for hummingbirds, not a seed mix. Sweetened seed claims on bags do not replace a proper nectar feeder, so make nectar from four parts water to one part plain white sugar and clean the feeder often.

Feeding tips

1. Use a clean feeder and wash it every couple of weeks with a mild bleach solution, then rinse well.
2. Put out only as much as birds eat in a few days to prevent mold.
3. Store seed in a sealed metal bin to keep out moisture and rodents.
4. Offer fresh water, especially in winter.

If you see sick, fluffed-up birds at your feeder, clean it and take it down for a couple of weeks. Local wildlife groups can advise on outbreaks.

Related reading

See Ace premium wild bird food, Walmart 40 lb wild bird seed and wild bird seed at Tractor Supply.

Bottom Line

Buy Ace Hardware bird seed by the ingredient list: sunflower first, minimal fillers, fresh and dry. Match seed types to the birds you want, and keep feeders and storage clean.