Because birds tend to prefer black oil sunflower seed, look for blends that contain plenty of this ingredient. Furthermore, avoid ones containing milo or other seeds which are rarely eaten by most backyard birds.
Raw peanuts attract robins, dunnocks and wrens but must be offered in an animal feeder or net onion bag to prevent choking. Suet (beef fat) attracts woodpeckers and chickadees.
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Black Oil Sunflower Seed
Black oil sunflower seeds attract an array of songbirds. They work well in hopper, platform and tube feeders and may even be sprinkled onto the ground to feed ground-feeding birds. Furthermore, these kernels come pre-shelled, cutting down on waste left behind at your feeder by birds.
Find a seed blend with more white milo than red milo; this way you will save both money and reduce wasted seed.
Peanuts
Raw peanuts are popular with robins, dunnocks, greenfinches and house sparrows and should only be placed out during cooler seasons as they can present a potential choking hazard for smaller birds. Instead try offering nut butter on a log or feeder net bag instead; fat balls also make good winter treats but should only be given out under cooler temperatures as they could go rancid quickly.
Sunflower Hearts
Sunflower hearts and chips are an effective way to attract many species of seed-eating birds, particularly during nesting season. By having their tough black husk removed, these seeds become easier for small and soft-bill species to devour.
Ground feeding birds such as Dunnocks and Robins tend to favor these feeders for feeding on the ground, making them suitable for use with hopper, tube and platform feeders.
Millet
Millet is an easy way to attract birds of various species such as sparrows, dunnocks, finches and reed buntings. Used with cracked corn and black oil sunflower seed in combination for no-mess bird food options that won’t attract wheat/barley grains used only by pigeons and doves (often added as cheap bulk-fill) that only attract these two birds.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is an energy-rich food source for wild birds in winter months when other food sources become limited. Add oatmeal to any bird feeder to provide them with energy-packed nourishment!
When creating oatmeal treats for birds, raw oats should always be used because cooked ones may be difficult for the birds to digest.
Birds find food made of oats mixed with fat such as suet or lard particularly tempting, making this mixture ideal for hanging from tree branches. You could try shaping it into balls to attract birds.
Lard
Lard attracts Downy, Hairy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers as well as chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, Carolina Wrens and other songbirds, providing shelter during harsh winters when Starlings have stripped all berries away.
Melt lard and mix it with quick oats, bird seed, yellow cornmeal, flour and chopped raisins until combined. Form into fat balls before chilling them for at least one hour before serving on a pine cone feeder.
Beef Suet
Suet is the raw beef fat found surrounding cow’s kidneys, commonly sold pre-packaged as cakes or nuggets in supermarkets. Additionally, suet can also be used to craft traditional British pastries such as steak and kidney pie and jam roly-poly.
Homemade suet is easy and will attract woodpeckers, wrens and insect-eating birds such as black-capped chickadees. Suet cakes and nuggets can be customized in various shapes and sizes to fit into various feeders.
Cheese
Cheese is an increasingly popular component of wild bird feed. The high levels of fat help birds stay warm and provide much-needed energy, with mildly grated cheese often being enough to attract robins, wrens and dunnocks. But never offer raw cheese to wild birds as they cannot digest milk resulting in stomach upsets for them.
Fruit
Feeding fruit to your bird feed attracts robins, waxwings and other songbirds. Skewer halved oranges or other fruits on spike feeders or soak raisins in water for several hours before placing near other feeders; or purchase mixes that include dried fruit. Nuts are loved by blackbirds, dunnocks and finches; mix whole or chunked peanuts into your mix to attract blackbirds, dunnocks, finches as well as wheat/barley grains which attract pigeons/dover/pheasants/pheasants/pheasants/pheasants/pheasants etc.
Sugar
Orioles and tanagers that specialize in fruit can benefit from fresh orange halves or a sugar solution made by mixing one part white sugar to four parts boiling water. Soak raisins or currants overnight for additional fruit offerings. Some blends even include dried fruits.
Make sure your feeders are kept clean and stocked with fresh seed. Oily seeds quickly go rancid; to extend their shelf life it’s best to store them somewhere cool and dry.
