A 40 lb bag of general-purpose wild bird seed is a good value for a yard with several feeders. The blend sold at Home Depot is described as a mix of millet, milo, cracked corn, sunflower seeds and black oil sunflower seed, meant for tube, hopper and platform feeders. Brands and recipes change, so read the ingredient panel on the bag you pick up.
Which Birds Eat This Kind of Mix
- Black oil sunflower: chickadees, cardinals, finches, titmice and nuthatches
- White and red millet: juncos, sparrows, doves and towhees, mostly on or near the ground
- Cracked corn: doves, jays, quail and cardinals
- Milo (sorghum): some ground feeders, but many songbirds pass it over, so it often ends up on the ground
Pros and Cons of a Budget Mix
Mixes with a lot of milo and cracked corn are cheaper, but birds often toss the filler seeds out of the feeder looking for sunflower and millet. That waste can attract rodents and spoil on damp ground. If you want less mess, look for a mix with more sunflower and fewer fillers, or use hulled sunflower hearts.
Choosing a Feeder
Tube feeders suit sunflower and small seeds. Hopper feeders hold a large bag’s worth and shed rain well. Platform feeders welcome ground feeders like doves and juncos, but they need frequent cleaning.
Storing a 40 lb Bag
- Pour the seed into a metal bin with a tight lid. This keeps out mice, moths and moisture.
- Keep it in a cool, dry spot. Damp seed grows mold that can make birds sick.
- Do not mix old seed with fresh seed. Toss anything that smells musty or looks clumped or moldy.
Feeder Hygiene
Clean feeders every week or two with a mild bleach solution (about one part bleach to nine parts water), rinse well and let them dry fully. Dirty feeders can spread bird diseases.
Related Reading
Compare other big bags in our Walmart 40 lb wild bird seed guide and our Chewy wild bird seed review. For a treat, see walnuts for wild birds.
Bottom Line
A 40 lb mix from a home improvement store is an affordable way to keep feeders full. Pick a blend heavy in sunflower, store it dry and sealed, and keep your feeders clean.
