Bird Food Types

There are many types of food and seeds that can be fed to the birds, many of these are listed below.

It is important when storing food to keep it in a cool dry place, away from mice and rats. A steel cupboard is a good store if there are mice about as they generally cannot gnaw through such thick steel.

Peanuts

Peanuts have been used to feed wild birds for many years. They are energy rich, high in protein and oils. By their size, peanuts are best provided in a mesh feeder (normally a hanging feeder) this prevents birds from taking the whole peanuts away. Whole peanuts can choke some birds especially young birds in the nest. Avoid feeding the birds with any peanuts that are mouldy.

Peanuts are a favourite with Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Great Tits, Starlings, House Sparrows.

Sunflower Hearts

Sunflower hearts are high in energy, high in oil and they are easily digestable; they are the inner seed of the Black Sunflower seeds whose husks have been removed. The husks having been removed means that the birds can feed more quickly and they do not leave a mess of husks behind. They are now the stable diet of feeding wild birds, but not the cheapest food to buy.

Black Sunflower Seeds

Black sunflowers are high in energy and are a favourite with Greenfinches and tits. However, if sunflower hearts are also provided, the black sunflower seeds may by ignored by the birds.

Niger (Nyjer) Seed

Niger seed, sometimes spelt nyjer, is a favourite of Goldfinches and Siskins. Niger seed is the seed from thistles, it is a small black seed that is long and narrow and has a high oil content. To prevent wastage this seed really needs to be dispensed from specialist niger seed feeders which have very small holes that Goldfinches and Siskins are experts at extracting. Ideal for birds with delicate bills.

Seed Mixes

Bird seed mixes come on all sorts of combinations of single seed types (sometimes referred to as "straights") mixed together for various purposes. For example some seed mixes are wheat free as some people do not want to encourage pigeons which like wheat. Other seed mixes can be made up for ground feeding birds such as thrushes, or mixes for softbills such as dunnocks and robins. But to be honest, I find whatever you put out to some extent the birds will eat it all, different species eating different components of the mix.

There is a wide range of seed mixes from a number of suppliers. These mixes are a great way to feed a wide variety of species all at once.

The Vine House Farm mixes are either based on Black Sunflowers or Sunflower Hearts.

Canary Seed

A rich source of protein for wild birds which is rich in oils. Loved by finches and House Sparrow..

Oats

Oats are a rich source of proteins and minerals and like our porridge oats are good for birds during the winter as they have a high fat content.

Rape Seed

Favoured by finches.

Red Millet

Red Millet is rich in iron and protein. Popular with finches and Tree Sparrows.

Wheat

Wheat is a cereal grown worldwide for human consumption as well as for animal and bird feeds. A favourite with Woodpigeons, Collard Doves, Pheasants and Wildfowl.

White Millet

White Millet is a rich source of carbohydrate for wild birds, especially favoured by House Sparrows, Reed Buntings and Greenfinches. A popular seeds for many seed mixes.

Fat Balls & Suet

Fat balls and suet are a popular way of giving the garden birds an energy boost in the winter and spring breeding season. Fat balls are a mixture of suet and various seeds. They often come netted in a ball, but it is preferable to buy them without nets or to remove the nets before placing them in a feeder. This is because small birds can occasionally get tangled up by their feet in the nets leading to them becoming stressed.

Suet pellets are high in energy and very easily digestable. A number of manufacturers have now added additional flavours to the pellets including peantus, fruits and insects.

Dried Mealworms

Live mealworms are high in levels of protein and fats but with the development of freeze drying technology all the goodness can be retained in dried mealworms without all the inconvenience associated with keeping live food. Mealworms also contain insectivourous proteins which are essential for the growth of fledglings. Dried mealworms can be soaked for few minutes in warm water to re-hydrate them.

Robins love mealworms live or dried and with a little patience they will feed from your hand.

Live Food

Live food is an obvious attraction to birds, but needs you to keep them in the fridge which many people may find a little unpalatable. However, they are also available in a dried form which makes keeping them easier. Mealworms and Waxworms are the most come live foods.


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