If you have just moved to a new location or you simply have no idea what to feed wild birds, there are a few things you can do. Here is a list of a few of the most common food items that you can feed to your feathered friends.
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Safflower
Safflower is one of the best bird seed choices. These seeds are rich in protein and fats. They also have a bitter taste that discourages squirrels. If you are trying to keep these pesky birds out of your backyard, try adding safflower to your bird feeding supplies.
Most species of birds enjoy safflower seeds, but not all. A few species, including blackbirds, house sparrows, and European starlings, don’t like them. While many birds will take up safflower as a source of food, you will find that a few will simply crack the shell open and swallow the seeds whole.
Rapeseed
Rapeseed is a plant that is popular among birds. The seed is known to be good for them. Its four-petaled yellow flowers are a bit spiky. They are eaten by finches, doves, and quails.
The seed itself is quite large. In fact, if you put a few pounds of this in a bird feeder, the birds will probably take it all. This seed is also high in vitamin E, magnesium, calcium, and zinc. But, it is not the best overall seed.
There are many kinds of seed. If you want to attract a wide variety of birds, you might try sunflower. Or, you could buy hulled sunflower chips. Or, you could mix in other bird seeds.
Canary seed
If you want to attract wild birds into your backyard, you should consider providing them with a wide variety of bird food. This will ensure that they get all of the nutrients that they need.
The best way to do this is to buy the most desirable birdseeds. For instance, a good all around seed is the sunflower. It will draw the most variety of birds. You can place these in an open tray or a mesh feeder.
Another good bird seed is the safflower. These small seeds have a high oil content. They are hard for even a small bird to crack.
White millet
If you’re looking for a way to attract a variety of wild birds, consider adding millet to your backyard birdseed mix. Not only will it increase the number of species you can attract, but it will also provide the birds with essential nutrients.
Millet is a small round seed that can be found in both red and white varieties. It’s a favorite of ground-feeding birds. These include juncos, towhees, doves, and quails. However, it’s important to choose the right type of millet to attract the birds you want.
White proso millet is a better choice than red millet. Red millet is less attractive to most birds, while white proso millet is more appealing.
Frozen or tinned peas and sweetcorn
If you want to attract a variety of wild birds to your garden, you can put out frozen or tinned peas and sweetcorn. However, you must watch for unwanted creatures.
When feeding birds, you must make sure they receive a balanced diet. Birds need foods that are highly nutritious and unprocessed. Adding too many additives and processed foods can be harmful and could even kill them.
You can feed your bird friends by providing seeds, grit, fat, a bird bath, and kitchen scraps. They also enjoy fruits and vegetables.
Cooked eggs
A number of birds enjoy eating cooked eggs. They are a nutritious meal and offer many health benefits.
Eggs are a good source of calcium. The eggshell is an important source of grit for the bird’s digestion. It’s especially popular with bluebirds, orioles, and tanagers.
Eggs are also an inexpensive food that is packed with protein. Birds will eat all three parts of the egg.
If you don’t feel like cooking, you can offer your birds fruit. Fruit is an excellent food source for birds and is especially popular with soft-billed birds. You can also feed them dried or soaked fruit.
Milo seeds
If you want to attract a variety of wild birds, you might consider feeding them milo seeds. Milo is a grain and is one of the most common “filler” ingredients in commercial bird seed mixes. However, most of the birds you’d want to feed won’t eat this kind of seed.
Although it’s cheaper than many other types of birdseed, milo is not the best bird food. It’s also a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus. This means that the seeds may become moldy and attract rodents and other pests.
