Cole’s line of premium wild bird seed brings nature right into your own backyard. Richard and Nancy began testing in their own yard after store bought birdseed failed to bring in songbirds they desired. It quickly became an incredible “mom and pop” success story!
Contents
Millet
Millet seeds are an economical choice when it comes to feeding songbirds on the ground, making millet an excellent addition for budget-minded birders. Free from additives or fillers, millet will draw painted buntings, quail, sparrows, towhees and juncos from all directions – plus tube, mesh and platform feeders make a perfect home for this seed!
Milo and other red-tinged, high-protein filler seeds that attract cowbirds should be avoided as these can quickly become breeding grounds for bacteria and fungus that contaminates fresh seeds in your feeders. Although such waste seed may save money with packaged mixes, backyard birders usually don’t require their inclusion. Milo should also be kept out as these could quickly become breeding grounds that contaminate other feeders with its waste seed causing serious issues for future use.
Cole’s wild bird feed products offer only high quality seed ingredients with no additives or growth promoters to promote natural bird health in your backyard. We know it takes more than artificial additives for birds to remain healthy – that’s why Cole’s Wild Bird products only include pure seeds to provide them with nourishment naturally.
Sunflower
Sunflower seeds are the go-to choice of nearly all songbirds when it comes to eating seeds, from individual birds or in mixes. Just be wary of any that include red millet, oats or wheat fillers as these might not appeal as much.
Safflower seeds are popular with nuthatches, woodpeckers and cardinals; its thick shell can only be opened by birds with strong bills – which could mean that safflower is the answer if squirrels or large “nuisance” birds become an issue for you.
Mixes of raw peanuts, sunflower hearts and seeds are an all-time favorite among backyard birders. You can offer these treats in trays, hoppers or acrylic window feeders. However, beware of peanuts in their shell as these attract squirrels; additionally any mixtures containing red milo (a cheap filler that birds quickly discard).
Rapeseed
Rapeseed is the seed produced by Brassica napus variety napus, a member of the mustard family. It can be grown for oil production as well as a cover crop to prevent soil erosion, produce biomass energy sources and suppress weeds.
People use rapeseed or canola oil for cooking, roasting, frying and other industrial processes due to its low saturated fat content and omega-3 fatty acid profile, which may help protect against heart disease.
Rapeseed/canola oil features an extremely high smoke point, making it suitable for high-heat cooking methods like frying and sauteing without risk of burning. Furthermore, it is an ideal choice for salad dressings and marinades.
Canary Seed
Canary seed is an annual crop with shallow roots. It needs similar climate and soil conditions as wheat, yet is less heat and drought tolerant. Canary seed has high shatter resistance and can be straight-combined without much worry of premature harvesting; however, due to tiny hairs that irritate people’s hands when handling, canary seed goes through a polishing process before being lubricated to make handling more comfortable; additionally the Crop Development Centre at University of Saskatchewan has created an “ungrabrous canary seed variety”, called “glabrous canary seed” with none of these bothersome hairs!
Canary seeds boast high protein and potassium contents comparable to bananas, with more calcium than milk – all making them an ideal feed for wild birds. In addition, canary seeds are packed with the enzyme lipase that aids fat reduction – try mixing 1/4 cup of canary seeds with one cup of water overnight to soak and reap their full benefit.
