If you’re looking for a great feeder for your backyard birds, shelled peanuts may be the perfect option. This delicious treat is especially popular with blue jays and other jay species. However, shelled peanuts are also popular among red-bellied woodpeckers and squirrels, so you’ll need to be prepared for some unexpected visitors. For more information on feeding peanuts to blue jays, read our article on the best blue jay bird feeders.
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Kaytee(r) Shelled Peanuts
Kaytee Peanuts in a Shell are an excellent food source for wild birds because of the high amount of protein and fat they contain. Peanuts promote growth and overall good health, and the rich taste is highly appealing to woodpeckers, nuthatches, cardinals, and other birds. You can serve these tasty treats in platform feeders or wide mesh feeders, and watch your wild birds flock to your yard for a meal.
Brown’s(r) Shelled Peanuts
A couple in New Jersey was recently prosecuted for illegally feeding peanuts to wildlife in their backyard. While the community environmental health specialist argued that peanuts were not a natural food for birds, this was not the case. Several species of birds enjoy peanuts, including the elusive cardinal, which loves them as a snack. The best peanuts for birds are those in the shell, as they contain high amounts of fat and protein. Providing a high-quality source of calories and energy, peanuts are also easy to store for the winter.
Although peanuts are easy for larger birds to handle (jays, jackdaws, crows, and magpies), smaller birds are more apt to find them difficult to crack open. In addition to presenting a convenient source of food, shelled peanuts also give birds a better chance of avoiding predators. Birds can enrich their feeding experience by stringing or pushing peanuts into holes.
Virginia or Runner peanut varieties
The peanuts in the U.S. are primarily of two varieties: Runner and Virginia. Both varieties produce the same seed, but the Runner type is more commonly used in the production of peanut butter. Virginia peanuts are the largest in kernel size and are typically processed in the shell. They are commonly grown in North Carolina. However, it is possible to grow both types. Runner peanuts tend to be easier to harvest than the Virginia variety.
Both Virginia and Runner peanut varieties are easy to grow and are highly nutritious for wild birds. They contain a high amount of oil and protein and provide a fast energy boost. When supplying peanuts to wild birds, it is important to use a wire mesh feeder. Virginia peanuts are tested for mould and come in convenient 5 litre tubs. Peanuts are a favorite food of blackbirds and sparrows.
Squirrels love suet with peanuts
Squirrels prefer a mixture of nuts and seeds, such as peanut butter or bird seed. Many people make suet cakes with peanut butter as a base. Others simply substitute peanut butter for suet. Peanut butter can be stuffed into the hole of a log feeder or spread on tree bark. Nuthatches, woodpeckers, and blue jays all love peanut butter as a snack.
Nuts are another favorite of squirrels, who often clean out the feeders after a feeding session. In the Southeastern U.S., large ant-eating woodpeckers will frequent suet feeders. These woodpeckers can eat whole peanuts and carry them away. Nuts are also a great source of protein for smaller birds. You can buy suet with peanut butter in jars, sticks, and tubes.
The suet can be made from crushed peanuts or a mixture of crushed peanuts. Insect-eating birds love suet, including Ruby-crowned kinglets and Carolina Wren. Whether you feed squirrels or not, they will love the food. Peanuts and suet are a delicious and nutritious treat for wildlife. You can buy suet with peanuts online or at a local feed store.
