What can I feed garden birds? Do feed them Bird-seed mixes: but avoid cheap mixes that contain barley, wheat, split peas or lentils, which tend to be eaten only by larger birds such as pigeons. Peanuts, preferably chopped and tested for aflatoxin. Sunflower seeds: black ones have a higher fat content than striped ones, so are better for birds. Sunflower hearts: these require less energy to eat than seeds with husks as the birds don’t have to de-husk them in order to eat them, and less waste is generated at feeding stations. Niger seeds: popular with goldfinches. Fat balls and food bars: add these in winter, as products containing lard and beef suet can melt in summer. Live or dried mealworms and dried insects. Cooked, unsalted rice. Uncooked porridge oats. Dry breakfast cereal, preferably unsalted. Small amounts of cake and biscuit crumbs. Mild, grated cheese. Halved apples, soaked sultanas, bananas and other fruit (soak dry fruit to prevent it expanding in birds’ guts but avoid sultanas if you have a dog as they can be harmful to them). Don’t feed them Bread, especially white bread, which fills birds up without providing them with much nutrition. Salty food, which can dehydrate them. Vegetable, chicken or turkey fat, which can smear on birds’ feathers, preventing them from being ableto preen or fly. Milk, which can cause severe stomach upsets (though a small amount of cheese is fine). Desiccated coconut, which can swell in birds’ stomachs and cause problems. Mouldy food, which can cause respiratory problems. Stale food, which can encourage salmonellavirus.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 06:04:45 +0000
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