Cracked corn is a mainstay in many wild bird food blends. It attracts ground feeding birds as well as squirrels and other playful wildlife; additionally, it can help divert them away from bird feeders.
Cracked corn makes an inexpensive filler for bird seed mixes, yet does not provide much in terms of protein or other essential nutrients. As such, it is usually combined with more nutritious items like millet or sunflower seeds in order to increase nutritional content and provide more complete food products to birds.
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It is a good source of energy
Cracked corn provides energy-rich sustenance to many wild birds. Birders can save money on more costly seeds by mixing cracked corn in with other seeds in bird feeders; however, cracked corn should only be fed as part of an overall balanced diet; feeding too much may attract unwanted visitors like pigeons and grackles!
Birders should provide more than just cracked corn to attract a variety of species, such as proso millet. This inexpensive seed attracts small birds such as native sparrows, painted and indigo buntings, house finches, purple finches, cardinals, and blue jays.
Suet, a rendered animal fat mixture that includes various seeds and dried fruits, is another popular food option. Suet provides vital energy supplement during autumn and winter when birds need more energy, making it popular with chickadees, nuthatches, wrens and woodpeckers as a protein source.
It is a good source of protein
Cracked corn is a staple filler seed for many bird feeder mixes and is especially loved by ground feeding birds such as Blue Jays, Cardinals and Doves. Squirrels and chipmunks also love eating cracked corn in backyard environments; birders may prefer feeding cracked corn separately so playful squirrels and other animals don’t distract them at their regular bird feeder.
Cracked corn can provide an important source of protein. However, depending on the seed mix you select for feeding wild birds, cracked corn may not be optimal if your goal is attracting ground-feeders like juncos and towhees.
Cracked corn should only be provided as a supplement in your bird feeder, along with seeds and pellets of various species. Other high-protein foods, like peanuts, are available and should also be mixed into premium bird feed or offered separately to attract birds like jays, titmice, chickadees and nuthatches.
It is a good source of fiber
Corn is an excellent source of energy and protein for birds, offering energy in the form of energy-rich fiber and abundant protein sources. As an add-in to other seed mixtures or just added directly into bird feeders it attracts many common backyard species while simultaneously filling your wallet! Easily available direct to garden or via local feed stores it makes a cost-effective filler that easily attracts all sorts of backyard birds!
Cracked corn is a favorite among Mourning Doves, Blue Jays and Black-billed Magpies – as well as being an essential component of inferior bird seed mixes intended for use with hopper or platform feeders. Furthermore, cracked corn attracts forest birds such as Ruffed Grouse, California Quail and Ring-necked Pheasants!
Cracked corn doesn’t float, so for optimal results it may be best to place it in a feeder specifically designed to attract ducks, geese or other water birds. Or combine it with foods that do float like peanut kernels, tree nuts or shelled pumpkin seeds for additional variety.
It is a good source of fat
Birds need lots of energy to fly, which is why cracked corn is such an ideal source of fats and proteins for birds. You can use cracked corn alone or mix it with other seeds in your feeders – it will likely attract blue jays as well as squirrels, chipmunks and other ground-feeding animals!
Cracked corn can draw in numerous birds to your yard, from doves and sparrows to ground feeders like California quail. The latter bird is easily identified by its distinctive crest that looks like a comma.
Cracked corn is an integral component of most wildlife mixes, and can be added to hopper, platform or tube feeders to attract ground-feeding species like juncos and pheasants as well as squirrels and other pests. By offering cracked corn as part of its feed mix, cracked corn also acts as an effective deterrent from potential animal pests coming near your feeders.
