Marriages Wild Bird Food is an all-season, high value seed mix designed for hanging feeders or ground feeding. It contains wheat, cut maize, yellow millet, black sunflower seeds and Pro-tec Health Aid; plus it’s high in oils and fatty acids which support healthy body development while reducing cholesterol levels.
Contents
Nyjer Seeds for Birds
Nyjer seeds (Guizotia abyssinica) are a favorite among backyard birds. This daisy-like African plant produces tiny black seeds that are oily and packed with essential nutrients.
Nyjer seeds make an excellent food source for smaller birds, such as finches. Their sharp beaks make them perfect for cracking open the shells of nyjer seed grains.
Bird food also supplies birds with essential oils and fatty acids that are beneficial for their health. They help lower cholesterol levels, inflammation, and rheumatism symptoms.
It’s essential to use fresh nyjer seed when feeding it to birds. Older seeds may spoil or dry out, so throw them away after giving your birds a meal.
In addition to thistle seed, nyjer is an ideal attractant for winter finches – especially goldfinches. These tiny birds enjoy eating this daisy-like flower which spits out a small black seed.
Energy Balls for Birds
Energy balls for birds are an excellent way to provide your garden’s wild birds with essential calories during wintertime. Made of fat and protein, these treats give birds the energy they need to stay warm and survive the chill.
These muffins are simple to make and can be stored in a Tupperware box or old biscuit tin. Plus, they’re eco-friendly as there is no baking required and no wasteful packaging involved.
Peckish Natural Balance energy suet fat balls are perfect for feeding in bird feeders or on bird tables, made with a high-energy blend of wheat, beef tallow, sunflower seeds and minerals. Add them to any garden to attract blue tits, great tits and house sparrows alike!
These snacks can be made with inexpensive lard or suet and mixed with seeds. Other ingredients you could add to the mixture include rehydrated raisins, currants and sultanas or small chunks of apple or pear for extra flavor and nutrition.
Sunflower Seeds for Birds
Sunflower seeds make an excellent addition to bird feeders and offer a nutritious source of food for many backyard birds. With 55% water, 20% carbs, 51% fat in the form of oil and 21% protein content, sunflower seeds offer high nutritional value as well as B vitamins, vitamin E magnesium phosphorus and zinc.
Black sunflower seeds make an excellent food source for most songbirds, such as chickadees, finches, nuthatches and titmice. Their thinner shell makes them easier to open than striped seeds with larger holes and provides more nutrition.
Additionally, colored seeds contain more calories per seed than their striped counterparts and are ideal for smaller species or birds with soft beaks.
Sunflower hearts make an excellent food choice for wild birds as they don’t require the husk to be removed, meaning they’re ready to consume and will save the birds a lot of energy. This is particularly helpful during wintertime when birds try to conserve energy by eating less.
Seed Mixes for Birds
A high quality wild bird seed mix should contain only premium seeds and grains that birds prefer. Low quality mixes often include too many fillers like milo, cracked corn or other grains which birds are less likely to eat.
Finding a high quality bird food mix requires checking the ingredient list on the package. Usually, it will state what proportion of each seed is included in each mix.
Additionally, a superior bird seed mix should be fresh and free from excessive dust, empty hulls or inedible debris. Furthermore, it should be packaged securely to protect it from water, insects or pests.
If you’re new to wild bird feeding, a great starting point is selecting an organic mix with high amounts of protein and fat. This is particularly important during molting or migration when birds need extra energy for their journeys. With proper nutrition, strong, healthy feathers will develop naturally during these times.
