If you’re a bird enthusiast and wish to attract more birds to your feeders, some economy wild bird food might be the solution. This product offers an affordable way to attract the best birds without breaking your budget.
Some cheap wild bird seed mixes often contain fillers that birds won’t eat! Here’s how to steer clear of these common fillers in wild bird foods.
Contents
Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds are a beloved snack among bird species, providing them with energy during cold months when insects may be scarce. Plus, sunflower seeds contain protein and fat which many birds struggle to find during wintertime.
They provide essential nutrients like vitamin E, zinc and folate – making them a nutritious addition to any healthy diet.
These fruits and vegetables are packed with antioxidants that may help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, protecting against heart disease. Furthermore, they supply thiamine which aids in metabolism and helps protect against certain diseases like diabetes.
Seeds are high in dietary fiber, which aids digestion and helps keep the bowel regular. Furthermore, they contain health-promoting compounds like lignans, phytoestrogens and isoflavones which may reduce the risk of breast cancer or osteoporosis.
General Purpose Seeds
General purpose seeds are an economical way to attract a wide variety of wild birds to your backyard. Though more expensive than other seeds, they provide year-round food sources for all your feathered friends.
General purpose seeds such as black oil sunflower, millet and peanuts are the most accessible options when starting out. These are easy to locate and a great place to start when researching nutrition for your baby.
These varieties may be cheaper and easier to purchase than more expensive varieties, however they contain filler ingredients which wild birds do not enjoy. If you are new to bird feeding, invest in a high quality wild bird seed mix for optimal success.
Kaytee’s economy wild bird food is made with black oil sunflower seeds and Nyjer thistle seed, both of which provide high fat and protein for wild birds. Available in various sizes to appeal to finches, doves, and other ground-feeding birds alike, Kaytee’s economy wild bird food will leave your garden happy!
Millet
Millet is an ancient grain that has been consumed for thousands of years. It requires minimal upkeep and drought resistance and provides plenty of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
As a C4 plant, it has superior water efficiency compared to C3 plants like rice or wheat, allowing it to be grown in hot weather without using excessive amounts of water. This makes it an ideal summer crop.
This grain, with its round and white seed, attracts many birds such as quail, sparrows and pigeons. Mourning doves and dark-eyed juncos also enjoy it.
If you want to attract more wild birds to your feeders, try offering a seed mix that contains white proso millet and black oil sunflower seeds. These two seeds are the most popular wild seeds in Georgia, so combined they will attract most types of bird that visit your seed dishes.
Peanuts
Peanuts are a favorite food of cardinals, jays, nuthatches and other wild birds due to their high energy content that provides fat that keeps birds warm in cold weather.
Peanut seeds are an excellent source of calories, protein, calcium, potassium and fiber for birds. Not only that but adding some variety to your bird food makes it more appealing to birds!
The peanut is a legume (bean or pea family) of the Fabaceae plant family and an important crop around the world. Its ability to fix nitrogen reduces the need for fertilizers containing nitrogen and increases soil fertility.
Peanut plants produce a nut-like fruit, or peg, that grows into the soil on its stem and side branches. When buried, this peg swells into an enormous peanut pod which is then removed and its seed (called a peg) dried or roasted for use as an edible nut.