- Feeding wild birds is a popular pastime around the world.bird food image by tomcat2170 from Fotolia.com
Feeding and watching birds is a pastime the whole family can enjoy. When kept clean to avoid the spread of disease, feeders for wild birds can be a helpful source of food to birds and a source of entertainment for you. It is important to feed birds only food that is appropriate for them to eat. - Sunflower seeds attract many kinds of birds.sunflower seeds image by waltart from Fotolia.com
Sunflower seeds are often a primary component of bird food. They are inexpensive and readily available. The provide good nutrition because they contain iron and fiber in addition to a composition of 20 percent protein and 30 percent lipids. Millet and flax are often used as filler for birdseed mixes, but they are ignored by many birds and end up going to seed in your yard; so a mix with little or no millet is best. Pumpkin, cottonseed and safflower seeds are examples of other seeds that are used for bird food. - Corn consists of 60 percent starch and 4 percent oil.corn image by dragan veselinov from Fotolia.com
Of the grains, corn is the most widely used in bird food. Shelled and cracked, it is consumed by many different types of birds. Unfortunately, there are a few problems with giving corn to wild birds. It is eaten by invasive and pest birds, and other wildlife such deer, raccoons and squirrels. It is also prone to going bad quickly and becoming contaminated by aflatoxins. Don't buy corn for birds in plastic bags or let it get wet or put it in any container that could hold in moisture. Put it out in small amounts that will be eaten quickly.
Barley is another grain commonly found in bird food. - Peanuts contain 25 percent protein or more.peanut image by Radu Razvan from Fotolia.com
Peanuts are another popular bird food. However, like corn, they can also become food for invasive bird species, squirrels, and other animals that shouldn't be fed by humans. Peanuts must also be kept dry and used quickly to avoid contamination by aflatoxins. Peanut butter can be given to birds in a mix in cooler weather, but it can become rancid quickly in hot weather. - Fruit's high sugar content appeals to some birds.raisins image by AGphotographer from Fotolia.com
Dehydrated fruit is sometimes added to bird food mixes, particularly cherries and raisins. Dried fruit should be chopped into very small pieces before being fed to birds. Any fresh or dried fruit or even a small amount of jelly is all right for birds to eat, but birds in northern climates may not be used to fruit and therefore take some time to learn that it is a food item.
Seeds
Cereal Grains
Nuts
Fruit
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