Feeding backyard birds a high-quality wild bird seed mix can have a dramatic impact on the number and variety of birds you attract. A quality seed mix should contain high-grade ingredients with optimal amounts of essential vitamins and nutrients for maximum success.
Avoid inexpensive wild bird seed mixes containing milo and other filler seeds that birds don’t eat as these offer low protein and fat content.
Contents
Black Oil Sunflower
Sunflower seeds are an indispensable component of many bird feeders, and black oil sunflower seeds in particular are often popular due to their high fat content and wide array of birds they attract, such as finches, chickadees and tufted titmice. Their thin shells allow birds to easily crack them open for snacking. Sunflowers are an annual flowering plant with giant seed heads composed of hundreds of individual blooms.
Feed seeds in hopper or tray-type feeders to increase nutrition. Soaking overnight will increase their nutritional content while keeping the seeds hydrated – try one of our eco-friendly seed sprouters!
Millet
Millets such as finger millet, foxtail millet, sorghum, jowar and proso can significantly contribute to food security in harsh climatic zones due to their adaptation [122]. They grow well even under marginal soil conditions with variable photoperiods and rainfall patterns.
They boast high protein and essential amino acid contents like lysine, threonine, valine and arginine; in addition they’re packed full of dietary fibre to combat constipation, bloat, cramping and improve bowel movements for an overall healthier digestive system.
Millets should be cooked before being consumed for human consumption, usually by boiling one cup of grain with enough water for 20-25 minutes or by soaking overnight. For added nutty flavor, the grains can also be toasted in a dry pan for 3 to 4 minutes prior to cooking.
Peanuts
Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is an arachis species and staple crop in many countries, providing protein-rich energy sources as well as important trace minerals and vitamins such as Vitamin E, B6, and Zinc.
Peanuts or combinations of peanuts and other seeds attract many strong beaked songbirds, such as jays, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and wrens. You can offer these goodies on a platform feeder or tube feeders.
Common low quality seed mixes contain significant quantities of milo, wheat and red millet seeds that birds tend to avoid eating. If left lying around unattended they often become damp and moldy before being passed unattended to wild birds as food sources.
Sunflower Chips
Sunflower seeds provide an abundant source of fats, proteins and vitamins – popularly enjoyed by finches, chickadees, grosbeaks and nuthatches alike. Unfortunately, whole sunflower seeds tend to develop messy seed hulls over time that pose health hazards to birds while also being dangerous trip hazards for people.
Easily combatting this mess requires using hulled sunflower chips as they will attract a wider variety of songbirds than any other seed can, making it the go-to option among backyard birders. Sunflower chips are also more nutritious than their shelled counterpart, providing a nutritional boost with each bite and great additions to homemade seed breads and muffins!
Woodpecker Mix
Woodpeckers are one of the most captivating backyard birds, as their tapping on trees aerate soil for plants, insects, and arthropods to flourish in. Give these curious birdie guests something extra tasty with our high energy mix of nuts and fruits!
Woodpeckers love this filler-free blend, while cardinals, chickadees, grosbeaks, jays and titmice also find it irresistibly tasty! Wheat- and filler-free formula makes this feed more appealing than conventional varieties for wild birds.
As these mixes do not contain hulls, they are more vulnerable to damage from weather elements. To reduce this risk, use hopper feeders or seed catchers with cover to shield the seeds from rain, wind and snow; additionally they should be fed in areas free from squirrels – choosing a mix that adheres to surfaces can deter these annoying rodents from taking too much out of your feeder!
