Ingredients found in this mix will attract various backyard birds. It can be served using tube, hopper or platform feeders.
Add black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer thistle and peanuts to attract more species of songbirds. Beware of cheaper bird seed mixes containing fillers such as milo, oats and wheat to avoid cheap bird feeding mixes with inferior results.
Contents
Sunflower Seed
Sunflower seed is one of the most beloved bird foods, especially for cardinals, tufted titmice, Carolina chickadees and other songbirds that can break open its thick hulls. You can offer these seeds through various feeders or scatter them on the ground to attract ground-feeding birds.
Hulled sunflower seed — commonly referred to as “chips” or “hearts” by songbirds — is also popular with them, being less expensive and being easily offered in more compact hopper or tube feeders without creating waste at their respective feeders.
If you’re searching for an economical way to keep your bird feeders full all year round, this mix could be just what the doctor ordered! Crafted with traditional favorites that attract multiple species such as black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, white proso millet and cracked corn; as well as small amount of canola oil which helps retain moisture within dry seeds.
Millet
Millet is an aromatic cereal grass species and offers many health benefits, such as being free of gluten, high in fatty acids and high levels of fiber and vitamin B9. When cooked it makes an excellent addition to salads or grain bowls; ground into flour it can even be used in breadmaking!
Geis conducted a study that revealed American Goldfinches preferred black oil sunflower seeds, white proso millet, hulled sunflower kernels and nyjer (thistle) seeds over all other feeder seeds; they did not favor common budget bird seed blends such as safflower or milo seeds.
When purchasing bird feed, look for blends with high proportions of popular seeds like sunflower, millet and cracked corn; while avoiding cheaper blends that contain fillers like oats, wheat and rye seeds that don’t appeal as much to birds. Doing this will reduce waste as birds pick out and discard less-preferred seeds more readily; in addition, adding more popular seeds will attract more birds while making feeding less messy.
Cracked Corn
Corn is an integral component of many wild bird diets, providing energy sources like carbohydrates for ground-feeding species like sparrows, towhees and juncos.
Cracked corn consists of dry kernels that have been chopped, cut or broken into smaller bits to make eating easier for birds. It is available as part of many seed mixes or can be offered by itself; cracker corn is also popular food among chickens and can be sprinkled throughout their coop to promote foraging behaviors.
Cracked corn should be offered either as part of a mixed feeder, scattered on the ground in an open area with dirt, gravel or very short grass or under low bushes or shrubs to attract more secretive ground-feeding species. Be sure to also include some grit to help birds digest larger grains more efficiently and prevent bloating or constipation.
Milo
Milo seeds are an affordable seed that make up much of the volume in many economical commercial bird feed mixes, sometimes accounting for more than 50% by weight. Although some birds might like them, most prefer more desirable ingredients like cracked corn, wheat berries or oats – leaving behind tons of milo seed that quickly turns moldy while inviting rodent pests.
As you shop for bird seed mixes at the store, read labels carefully to evaluate which one best meets your needs. When feeding backyard flocks or communities of birds, quality ingredients will attract more species while lasting longer than low-cost fillers. The price difference between high- and low-quality wild bird seed mixes is minimal when considering all the money wasted on filler seeds; investing a few extra dollars into better ingredients could bring greater rewards in terms of an attractive feeding station and reduced visitor numbers.
