If you are wondering what to feed your wild birds, there are a few things you can do to attract them. Suet, millet, Flaked maize, sunflower seeds and other seed blends are ideal for attracting birds. Suet is also a great choice for attracting birds if you want to watch them in their natural habitat. Suet attracts many different species and is particularly appealing to songbirds.
Contents
Suet attracts birds
You can offer your feeders with suet year-round, but you should take some precautions. For one, the suet may melt if the weather is too hot. The fat will also be susceptible to mold, so keep that in mind. Also, suet attracts squirrels. If you want to keep your suet feeders free from the rodents, you can purchase squirrel-proof feeders or install them on a pole with a baffle.
Millet
Some birds only eat certain types of millets, but the rest will readily consume it. It is better to mix millet with sunflower seeds to increase the variety of backyard bird species. Birders scatter millet around a garden, and it’s a great way to attract migrating birds. You can also search among the millet for rarer species. Ideally, birds will eat only 5 to 6 teaspoons of millet per day.
Flaked maize
The most common question we get asked is what should I feed my wild birds? One of the most important things to remember is that different species of birds have different nutritional requirements, and that the right food is important to attract and feed them. Flaked maize is a great option. You can also buy bird seed mixes in supermarkets. Ideally, you should buy a mix that includes flaked maize, sunflower seeds, and peanut granules. Blackbirds, finches, and other smaller birds are attracted to smaller seeds, while greenfinches and house sparrows prefer peanuts and sunflower seeds.
Sunflower seeds
You can encourage the growth of a wide variety of birds by providing them with sunflower seeds. Black oil sunflower seeds are the most popular type of seed for many species of wild birds. These seeds have thick hulls and can be hard to open for smaller birds. During certain seasons, cowbirds can be troublesome and may ruin your seed feeders. Choosing striped sunflower seeds will prevent these nuisance birds from damaging your feeders.
Peanut butter
While peanut butter is a delicious treat for many species of birds, there are a few pitfalls to watch out for. It can be dangerous to birds if they get too much of it and cause problems in your garden or backyard. However, peanut butter can be an easy treat to offer wild birds, and you can easily get some in your yard or garden. Here are some ways to get more peanut butter into wild birds’ diets:
Mealworms
A great way to give a bird a treat is to feed it mealworms. Mealworms are a cheap and nutritious source of protein. Mealworms contain about 30 percent protein when alive, and 50 percent when dried. The mealworms you buy can be repurposed, and you can buy them from a bird food supplier or buy them in bulk. Feeding mealworms to wild birds is a great way to feed these tasty and nutritious insects to your favorite feathered friends.
Fruit
When choosing fruits to feed your bird friends, remember that not all fruits are good for them. Apples, for example, are best. But be sure to avoid jelly or jam because they are packed with unnecessary sugar and can lead to digestive imbalances. Apples are not the only food that birds enjoy: you can also feed them a variety of other fruits and vegetables, like seeds, rinds of melons, and windfall fruit.
Jelly
Many people offer jelly to their wild birds for feeding. Birds tend to prefer dark colored jelly, such as currant, grape, and blackberry. Jelly for birds that is commercially prepared is best for this purpose because it contains no additives or preservatives. Be wary of sugar-free jellies, which contain sucralose or aspartame as sweeteners. These substances are indigestible for birds.
Pasta
While it is safe to offer pasta to wild birds, it is vital to understand how to prepare it. Wild birds do not digest salt, so uncooked pasta poses more of a structural risk. Birds may eat cooked pasta, but uncooked pasta is just as nutritious. In addition, uncooked pasta can be left in the cage for longer periods of time. Here are some simple tips for serving pasta to wild birds. We hope these tips help you make the best possible choice for your birds!
