The best wild bird seeds to feed your birds are those that don’t contain cracked corn. Cracked corn is a food that many birds are allergic to and can actually cause disease in them. By learning about the other types of seeds that your birds can eat, you can be sure to find a better way to feed them.
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Black oil sunflower seeds
When you want to attract a wide range of birds to your backyard, black oil sunflower seeds are an excellent choice. These seeds have high oil and fat content. They also contain calcium, vitamins A and E, and fiber.
You can find these seeds in many types of bird feeders. You can put them in a hopper, in a mesh feeder, or in a wide-mouthed tube. Some of the birds that will enjoy them include finches, titmice, house sparrows, juncos, grosbeaks, and quails.
During the summer months, you can harvest black oil sunflower seeds from your garden. Birds tend to prefer this seed because of its nutritious value. However, you should ensure that your seeds are fresh.
When you are looking to attract a variety of different birds, it is best to choose a mix of different seeds. For instance, you can offer a mix of cracked corn, safflower, and striped sunflower.
Millet
If you want to keep your backyard birds happy and healthy, try to offer them a mix of bird seed that includes Millet. This is a great source of protein, fiber, and starch. Plus, it is cheap to buy and can be offered to your birds in a variety of ways.
Millet is a grass seed that is popular with small birds. It is easy to offer to your birds through a tube feeder, dish feeder, or hopper feeder. You can also sprinkle it on the ground or put it in a hanging bird feeder.
Millet is often available in red or white varieties. Red millet is not as commonly eaten by birds as the white variety. However, it is a good food for some species, including towhees, black oil sunflower, and bluebirds.
Safflower
Safflower is a type of bird seed that can be used in a variety of feeders. It is a good source of nutrition and can help attract many types of birds.
The seed is very popular with cardinals. Cardinals and house finches will eat safflower as part of their regular diet. Some bird enthusiasts claim that blackbirds will avoid safflower. If you want to use safflower as your primary bird feed, it may take some time for the bird to get accustomed to it.
Many other birds, such as doves, juncos and mourning doves, also eat safflower. In addition, safflower is a good source of protein and fat. These seeds are great to offer in a feeder, especially for those who do not want to mess with cracked corn.
Nyjer
Nyjer wild bird seed is popular among a number of backyard birds. It is also a healthy food source, high in calories and protein.
The best way to attract a variety of birds to your feeder is to offer them several types of seeds. Birds with a large bill will typically eat a wider range of seeds than those with a small bill.
Nyjer seed is a popular wild birdseed because of its wide appeal. It is often found in blends for canary and finch birds.
A number of species enjoy eating this seed, including lesser goldfinches, purple finches and woodpeckers. Other species of birds will also benefit from the nutrition offered by nyjer.
If you are considering adding Nyjer to your bird feeding program, consider buying a specialized feeder. These feeders have a mesh that is large enough for perching birds. They are also squirrel proof, which will help to keep your feeder safe from unwanted guests.
Avoiding cross contamination
Most people are pleased to feed their birds. In fact, many may not be aware that the same foods they eat could be harming them. One such culprit is corn. Corn spoils more quickly than other seeds, and can easily be accumulated in bird feeders. Fortunately, there are a few ways to prevent your feathered friends from indulging in your bounty.
The first thing to do is to figure out which types of seeds your birds actually enjoy. There are a number of species that will happily eat a variety of seeds. For example, finches are big fans of Nyger Seed while Blue Jays will eat a variety of crackers and seeds. You can also find a variety of nut mixes for wild birds, which are often overlooked by humans.