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Can wild birds eat oats


What do Birds Eat? | What to Feed Wild Birds

You're always asking about what and how to feed your garden birds - such as which is the best type of food to provide or whether there's anything to avoid. Whatever food you use, always make sure it's fresh!

Bird seed mixtures

There are different mixes for feeders, for bird tables and for ground feeding. The better mixtures contain plenty of flaked maize, sunflower seeds and peanut granules.

Small seeds, such as millet, attract mostly house sparrows, dunnocks, finches, reed buntings and collared doves, while flaked maize is taken readily by blackbirds. Tits and greenfinches favour peanuts and sunflower seeds. Mixes that contain chunks or whole nuts are suitable for winter feeding only. Pinhead oatmeal is excellent for many birds. Wheat and barley grains are often included in seed mixtures, but they're really only suitable for pigeons, doves and pheasants, which feed on the ground and rapidly increase in numbers, frequently deterring the smaller species.

Warning: Avoid seed mixtures that have split peas, beans, dried rice or lentils as again only the large species can eat them dry. These are added to some cheaper seed mixes to bulk them up. Also avoid any mixture containing green or pink lumps as these are dog biscuit, which can only be eaten when soaked. 

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Other seeds and nuts

Black sunflower seeds

These are an excellent year-round food, and in many areas are even more popular than peanuts. The oil content is higher in black than striped ones, and so they are much better. Sunflower hearts (the husked kernels) are a popular no-mess food.

Nyjer seeds 

These are small and black, rich in fat and with a high oil content. They do need a special type of seed feeder however. They're a particular favourites with goldfinches and siskins and are popular with tits, greenfinches, house sparrows, nuthatches and great spotted woodpeckers too.

Peanuts

Crushed or grated nuts attract robins, dunnocks and even wrens. Nuthatches and coal tits may hoard peanuts.

Warning: Don't use salted or dry roasted peanuts. Remember, peanuts can be high in a natural toxin, which can kill birds, so always buy from a reputable dealer, such as our online shop, to guarantee freedom from aflatoxin.

Never put out loose peanuts, during spring or summer, as these pose a choking hazard if they are fed to chicks, place whole peanuts in a suitable mesh feeder.

Bird cake and food bars

Fat balls and other fat-based food bars are excellent winter food.

If they are sold in nylon mesh bags, always remove the bag before putting the fat ball out – the soft mesh can trap and injure birds.

You can make your own bird cake by:

Warning: Home-made fat balls can go soft and rancid in warm summer weather, and should be avoided.

Live foods and other insect foods

Mealworms are relished by robins and blue tits, and may attract other insect-eating birds such as pied wagtails.

Mealworms are a natural food and you can feed them to birds throughout the year. It can be quite expensive to constantly buy them, so why not try growing your own mealworms? Don't worry, you can still buy your mealworms from the professionals, consoling yourself with the thought that successful mealworm breeding is even more difficult than it sounds.

Warning: as with most foods, there can be a risk of salmonella poisoning. If you're using dried mealworms, make sure you're confident in the supplier's food hygiene practices and if uncertain, ask for their food safety certifications. Further reduce any risk by only providing small amounts that get eaten quickly and by using an appropiate mealworm feeder. You can also store dried mealworms in the fridge. Tip: Soak dried mealworms in warm water for 20-60 minutes before putting out to provide valuable moisture content and make it easier for younger birds to digest.

Waxworms are excellent, but expensive. Foods for insect-eating birds, such as ant pupae and insectivorous and softbill food are available from bird food suppliers and pet shops. Insect food appropriately offered can attract treecreepers and wrens.

Dog and cat food

Did you know meaty tinned dog and cat food are a good substitute to earthworms during the warm, dry part of the summer when worms are beyond the birds' reach? Blackbirds readily take dog food, and even feed it to their chicks.

Warning: don't use dry biscuits as birds may choke on the hard lumps. It is sometimes added to cheaper seed mixtures for bulk. Soaked dog biscuit is excellent, except in hot weather as it quickly dries out. Petfood can attract larger birds such as magpies and gulls, but also neighbourhood cats. So if this is likely to be a problem, best avoid.

Rice and cereals

Cooked rice, brown or white (without salt added) benefits all sorts of birds during severe winter weather. Pigeons, doves and pheasants may eat uncooked rice but it's less likely to attract other species.

Any dry breakfast cereal makes for useful bird food, although you need to be careful only to put out small amounts at a time. And make sure there's a supply of drinking water nearby, since it quickly turns into pulp once wet.

Uncooked porridge oats are also fine for a number of birds.

Warning: never cook porridge oats, this makes them glutinous and could harden around a bird's beak.  

Fats, margarines and oils

Lard and beef suet on their own are fine as they re-solidify after warming. And as they are pure fat, it's not as suitable for bacteria to breed on. 

Cooking fat

Warning: fat from cooking is bad for birds. The problem with cooked fat from roasting for example, is that the meat juices have blended with the fat and when set, this consistency makes it prone to smearing, not good for birds' feathers. It's a breeding ground for bacteria, so potentially bad for birds' health. Salt levels depend on what meat is used and if any salt is added during cooking.

Polyunsaturated margarines or vegetable oils

Warning: these are also unsuitable for birds. Unlike humans, birds need high levels of saturated fat, such as raw suet and lard. They need the high energy content to keep warm in the the winter weather, since their body reserves are quickly used up, particularly on cold winter nights. The soft fats can easily be smeared onto the feathers, destroying the waterproofing and insulating qualities.

Milk and coconut

Birds can digest fermented dairy products, such as cheese. Mild grated cheese can be a good way of attracting robins, wrens and dunnocks.

Warning: never give milk to any bird. A bird's gut is not designed to digest milk and it can give them serious stomach upsets or even kill them. 

Give fresh coconut only, in the shell. Rinse out any residues of the sweet coconut water from the middle of the coconut before hanging it out to stop the build-up of black mildew.

Warning: never use desiccated coconut as it may swell once inside a bird and cause death.

What not to feed wild birds – worst bird feeding mistakes

(Image credit: Photo by John Borrelli on Unsplash)

Witnessing a familiar bird visit your backyard is one of life's little joys – so it is only natural to encourage these creatures to return by leaving tempting treats around our outdoor spaces. However, according to BBC Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams, some popular bird foods are actually causing more harm than good. 

With brighter days provoking more time in our gardens, the Welsh wildlife expert urges us to consider our bird food more carefully in a bid to promote biodiversity on our doorsteps and take care of our feathered friends. 

Working alongside the British-based homes and garden retailer Homebase, Iolo Williams suggests undertaking 'small changes' in our outdoor spaces so that, collectively, we can make 'a big impact and create a home for all creatures, big and small.' As avid-bird lovers, we're taking notes on everything he has to say about feeding birds in winter and more.  

What not to feed wild birds

(Image credit: Future / Allan Pollok-Morris)

Perhaps the most important but most surprising of Iolo's tips is his suggestion that we should never feed a bird bread, as this can be extremely harmful. 'It offers very little nutrition and can fill up a bird's stomach,' Iolo declares. 

Iolo continues, suggesting milk is equally as harmful and can 'can cause diarrhea and sickness' among garden birds. Instead, he suggests leaving some water, which is 'just as important as food for the birds and other wildlife.'

See: Eco-friendly garden ideas – expert tips on creating an eco-friendly backyard

What can birds eat?

(Image credit: Photo by Rotem Vazan on Unsplash)

Instead, the expert suggests leaving a 'variety of high energy foods, such as fat balls, peanuts, mixed seeds, and sunflower hearts.'

'Water is essential for birds to clean their feathers as well as to drink. A small garden pond is ideal, but a bowl of water or even an upturned bin lid will suffice. Water is also important for mammals such as hedgehogs,' Iolo adds.

As ever, everything you put out should offer them a balanced diet.

What scraps can I feed wild birds?

Don't put out raw vegetables – birds are not able to digest many of these kitchen scraps. However, you can put peas and sweetcorn out for them, as well as cooked potato, and some fruits, such as apples and pears – you may see birds snacking on fallen fruits in your garden naturally. 

Raw meat is also not something birds can eat, although they will eat meat fat – and they will enjoy cheese.

As ever, put bird food out of reach of cats and dogs and, of course, rats.

Can birds eat raisins?

Yes, birds can eat raisins, sultanas and currants, too, but it is a good idea to soak them in dry weather. A note here for dog and cat owners: dried fruits are amongst the food that birds enjoy but which can be harmful to your pets. Always check before you feed birds that you are not putting out something that will make your pet ill.

Can birds eat porridge oats?

Yes, birds can eat porridge oats, but they need to be dry – cooked (or wet) and they will stick to and set around birds' beaks. Birds can also enjoy other dry breakfast cereals, but, as with bread, these shouldn't be your first option because they will fill up birds' stomachs like bread does, and provide little nutrition in return.

How to attract birds to a garden

After revealing the two crucial things that birds need to avoid, Iolo highlighted another mistake that may be harming a bird's wellbeing in our garden. 

'Many people cut ivy from trees, believing that it kills its host. In fact, ivy is merely using the tree for support and is one of the most beneficial plants for wildlife. It is an evergreen and, as such, provides shelter for several species of birds, insects, and mammals throughout the year. Birds such as wood pigeons, blackbirds, and overwintering blackcap love ivy berries,' Iola warns. 

(Image credit: Photo by Cathy Holewinski on Unsplash)

See: Small garden ideas – maximize a compact gardening space

Iolo's advice comes after the UK charity Royal Society for the Protection of Birds revealed that the last year had seen more than half of Brits more aware of the nature around them. Therefore, creating a safe sanctuary for birds is more important than ever before. Following this, Louise Midgley from  Dobbies also suggests creating a shady shelter for birds to stay cool protected while in your garden. 

Armed with this expert advice, we look forward to welcoming these therapeutic creatures safely into our gardens throughout this spring and summer, and beyond.

Megan is the News and Trends Editor at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes. As the News Editor, she often focuses on emerging microtrends, sleep and wellbeing stories, and celebrity-focused pieces. Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US while studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site. She currently lives in London with her antique typewriter and an expansive collection of houseplants. 

FEED THE BIRDS IN WINTER

Friends!

Colds are coming, and we traditionally begin to feed the birds, laying out food in feeders and hanging lard on trees. THE BOTANICAL GARDEN-INSTITUTE ACCEPTS BIRD FEED AND PROTEIN. We have a lot of feeders in the Arboretum, and in winter we regularly monitor their fullness. Well-fed birds survive the cold more easily and are more likely to survive until spring.

Feed the birds in winter!
Let from all over
They will flock to you like home,
Stakes on the porch.
Their food is poor.
A handful of grain is needed,
One handful - and they will not be afraid of winter.
How many of them die - do not count,
It's hard to see.
But in our heart there is
And the birds are warm.
Is it possible to forget:
Could fly away,
And they stayed for the winter
Along with people.
Train the birds in the cold
To your window,
So that without songs it was not necessary
We welcome spring!
Alexander Yashin
What can you feed the birds in winter

In winter, each type of bird eats a certain type of food. The species composition of visiting birds will also depend on what you pour into the feeder. The following are the main foods that can be used in winter top dressing:

1. GRAINS - MILLET, OATS, WHEAT

The favorite food of some birds are the seeds of various plants, especially cereals. Sprinkling millet or oats into the feeder will attract sparrows, goldfinches and other grain-eating birds. Birds in winter can be fed with wheat bran, hard oatmeal, poppy seeds, pearl barley. Some birds eat corn and watermelon seeds, which must be crushed beforehand. If you are interested in breeding useful birds in your garden, then in the fall prepare weed seeds - nettles, quinoa, burdock, thistles, and pour them into the feeder in winter. But keep in mind that this will be only an insignificant addition to the main feed. it is more correct to plant mountain ash, viburnum, hawthorn, buckthorn, bird cherry and other berry trees and shrubs on your feeding area.

2. SUNFLOWER SEEDS

The most versatile food for wintering birds. It can be eaten by both granivorous birds and tits, nuthatches, woodpeckers. The large amount of vegetable fats inside sunflower seeds makes them an important source of energy in cold winter conditions. If there is monotonous food in the feeder, sunflower tits will look for additional protein animal food.

3. SALO, MEAT

These products can also be used for winter bird feeding. They are very fond of tits, nuthatches and some other species of birds. But it is worth remembering that only unsalted lard or meat can be offered to birds. As a rule, pieces of bacon are strung on twine, which is hung on tree branches. Top dressing from fat or meat should be placed in such a way that it does not go to crows, magpies, jackdaws, as well as cats and dogs.

You can put a small piece of butter in the feeder. On especially frosty days, this product will help the birds survive.

4. DRIED ROWAN AND HAWTHORN, ROSE HIP, VELLOW

Berries of mountain ash and hawthorn attract the most beautiful winter birds - bullfinches and waxwings, mountain ash.

Dried berries and fruits. Make a bunch of dried fruits and berries. Using a needle, put pieces of dried apples, pears, plums, apricots on a strong thread, form a lump and hang near the feeder. You can offer the birds the pulp of a pumpkin. Cut through "windows and doors" in it, so that the birds can get inside. They themselves will choose what to try - seeds or pulp. Tie a small pumpkin by the tail with a strong rope and hang it from a thick branch.

Apples that start to spoil should also not be thrown away. Cut the apple in half, put it in a feeder or hang it on a wire.

5. MAPLE AND ASH SEEDS

The seeds of these trees are also called lionfish. Most of them fall from the trees and become inaccessible to birds. Lionfish are harvested in autumn and hung on feeders. Bullfinches, waxwings and some other visitors to bird canteens like to eat them.

6. FOREST NUTS, CONES, ACORNS

Cones are the main food of crossbills and woodpeckers in winter.

Jays have been stocking acorns since autumn, hiding them in secluded places. In winter, hidden food is a good help. Having prepared cones, nuts and acorns since autumn, you can attract not only woodpeckers and jays, but also squirrels to your feeder.

7. CALCIUM SUPPLEMENT

During the nesting period (not necessarily in winter), garden guests still need to be fed foods that contain calcium. You can put pre-boiled, ground eggshells or pieces of chalk to the feeder.

WHAT NOT TO FEED BIRDS

  1. It is strictly forbidden to feed birds with fried, salty (salted fat or meat), sour foods.

  2. You can not give fresh white and especially rye bread, these products cause fermentation in the goiter of the bird.

  3. It is also impossible to feed birds with citrus fruits, banana peels, peanuts, spicy foods, pieces of pies and whites, chips, potatoes.

Publication date: 11/17/2021

What can and cannot be fed to birds in winter? Products from our table. Photo — Botanichka

Feeding wild wintering birds in your garden or park is not just an act of mercy to our smaller brothers, but also a contribution to the future harvest. According to ornithologists, one tit can save up to 10 trees from pests per season, and one feeder provides food for up to 50 tits! The fact that sunflower seeds are most often poured into the feeder is known even to a child. But there are many different kitchen wastes that can also become a source of food for birds. Some foods on our table are perfect for birds, while others can do more harm than good. Let's take a closer look at what you can and cannot feed birds.

What can and cannot be fed to birds in winter?

What is the best food for feeding wild birds?

The high nutritional value and high calorie content of the food will give the birds a lot of energy and provide them with fat reserves that will help the birds survive the cold winter nights. Therefore, you need to feed the birds in your garden with quality food.

Most types of garden birds will enjoy sunflower seeds, nuts, and live or dried mealworms. For convenience, you can use ready-made specialized high-quality mixtures for birds. At the same time, choose a food containing a large amount of sunflower and millet seeds. Mixtures with a lot of unappetizing fillers, such as wheat and corn, are not very attractive to birds.

Avoid seed mixtures containing beans, peas, rice and lentils. Only large species of birds can eat them in a dry form, but these very rarely fly to the feeders. But prepared bird food and sunflower seeds are not the only suitable foods you can feed birds with.

By using kitchen waste as bird feed, you are using excess food for a good cause. But you could just throw them away! By turning waste into bird food, you have nothing to lose. And the birds at the same time enjoy a wide variety of food, flying to the feeders again and again.

Attention: do not forget that specialized mixtures or sunflower seeds should serve as the basis of the diet when feeding birds. If birds didn't eat anything other than kitchen waste, they wouldn't be able to get enough nutrients for healthy growth and energy. At the same time, malnutrition can lead to health problems, such as obesity or deformed feathers. To avoid harm, offer food waste in limited quantities.

The most frequent visitor to the feeders is the common great tit, which is able to eat a variety of types of food. © Ludmila Svetlitskaya

The best products for birds from our table

Fruits and berries without seeds or stones

Many fruits, berries, raisins, fresh grapes and even bananas and oranges can be used to feed birds. They are sure to love this meal. While many birds will enjoy fruits in hot countries, those birds that stay with us for the winter will also get the opportunity to feast on a vitamin supplement.

Arrange sliced ​​apples, tangerine slices, banana slices, grape halves and melon peels inside feeders, hang them on thorns or thin tree branches, and the birds will certainly appreciate the treat. Crushed or dried fruits and berries (such as cranberries) can be strung on a string to create a garland that will not only feed the birds, but also decorate the garden.

Boiled Rice

Leftover cooked brown or white rice often ends up in the kitchen, and rice porridge will also appeal to wild birds in your garden. Some species of birds, such as pigeons and turtledoves, are able to eat both raw brown and polished rice. However, other species are unlikely to enjoy it, as the grains will seem too hard to them.

Pasta

Leftover cooked pasta can also go into the feeder. In this case, the pasta should be soft, and before serving, they should be cut into small enough pieces so that the birds can hold them in their beaks. However, never give birds pasta that has been seasoned with rich sauces, hot spices, or melted sticky cheeses.

Vegetables

In the wild, birds eat a wide variety of plant foods, and sliced ​​vegetables can also be a welcome treat for them. Birds can be offered pumpkin, frozen green peas or corn (before putting them in the feeder, they should first be thawed). Pieces of canned vegetables from vegetable mixtures can also be occasionally offered to birds.

Salo

Due to its very high calorie content, lard is one of the best products on our table that can be offered to birds. This is an excellent winter food for birds! Lard is found in bird treats combined with a variety of ingredients, allowing it to be used to attract different types of birds.

Treats made from seeds, nuts, seeds and melted lard can be shaped into various shapes such as balls, bells and rings to enhance your bird feeding experience. You can also cut the lard into sticks or grate so that even more birds can taste it. Attention! Only unsalted lard is used to feed the birds!

Read also our article Flower garden for birds.

Lard as top dressing should be unsalted. © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

Boiled potatoes

It may seem implausible, but not only people but also birds like to eat potatoes. You can feed the birds leftover fried potatoes from your table, offer them mashed potatoes or a whole boiled potato. These dishes are guaranteed to be popular with your feathered friends. However, avoid processed potatoes such as potato chips.

Peanuts and various nuts

Peanuts are a high-calorie, high-fat food that attracts many wild birds, including jays, sparrows, and tits. Because nuts don't freeze to become hard, they're perfect for winter feeding, whether you offer shelled or shelled peanuts.

But never offer birds peanuts with any additives, or with chocolate or other coatings. Also be aware that peanuts can contain large amounts of a natural toxin that causes bird deaths. Therefore, it is ideal to buy a peanut that is designed specifically for feeding birds (can be found at a pet store). Other nuts such as almonds, walnuts and pecans are also attractive to birds. All nuts must be raw (not fried).

Oatmeal and flakes

Oatmeal is also great for many birds. Oatmeal can be a good source of nutritious food for the birds in your garden. Moreover, such top dressing is easily available and is often available in our kitchen. But still, it is best to use raw oats, including oatmeal, for feeding birds, as boiled oatmeal can harden around the bird's beak.

Cereals

Millet attracts mainly house sparrows, pigeons, finches and cane buntings (if they winter in your area). However, many ornithologists do not recommend feeding birds with millet, as it has few nutrients and quickly oxidizes in the open air, which is not good for birds. In its raw form, millet and wheat are suitable for birds. And almost any cereal boiled without salt can be used, including buckwheat.

Eggs and eggshells

Boiled chicken eggs can be added to the feeder as they contain many important nutrients for birds. Crushed eggshells are also good for birds, as they are an important source of calcium for all kinds of birds and help the digestion process well.

Pumpkin seeds

When cutting pumpkins, we often end up with a whole mountain of seeds, why not offer them to birds? Pumpkin seeds are very nutritious for birds, especially in autumn when they need more energy to migrate, molt and store fat to withstand the cold. Pumpkin seeds are high in carbohydrates and fats. They are a good source of protein, various micronutrients and nutrients that are essential for a complete diet for wild birds.

Raw seeds, just removed from the pumpkin, can be immediately poured into the feeder, or pre-dried. It is not necessary to grind the seeds, the birds themselves will cope with this task, tearing off pieces of the peel to get the pulp.

Rare species of birds can be seen near the feeders, for example, the grosbeak, which loves nuts. © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

What should not be fed to birds?

Fruit pits or pome seeds

As mentioned above, most fruits are suitable for feeding birds, but it is important to avoid fruits that contain seeds or pits. If you are going to feed the birds in your garden with apples, pears, apricots, peaches, nectarines, or plums, be sure to completely remove any pits or seeds beforehand. The seeds and pits of these crops contain the toxic compound cyanide, but the seeded fruit is absolutely safe for birds to eat.

Dairy products

The digestive system of birds is not designed to properly digest milk. Eating dairy products can lead to stomach upset or even more serious health problems for birds, so never put a saucer of milk in the feeder.

Bread

Although bread is generally not harmful to birds, it is better not to feed them with bakery products in large quantities. Not only do they have a very low nutritional value, but they can also ferment in the digestive system of birds. This can lead to digestive problems up to the death of birds.

A small amount of dried crumbs will not bring any harm to birds. But it is better to use whole grain or white bread, while it should not contain spices and sweet additives. Moldy bread should never be offered to birds!

Chocolate

Just like us, birds can find it hard to resist chocolate or chocolate-containing products. However, even in very small amounts, chocolate can be toxic to birds. This is because chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which can cause birds to vomit, diarrhea, increase heart rate, leading to hyperactivity, seizures, and sometimes even death.

Salt

Salt is an important mineral for many birds. But just as an excess of salt is not good for humans, it is also bad for birds. And even just a little salt is potentially toxic to a small bird. For example, just one salty cracker or cracker can upset the water and electrolyte balance in the tiny body of a bird. This can lead to severe thirst, dehydration, kidney failure, and ultimately death of the bird.

Onions and garlic

Many people think that onions and garlic, like other vegetables, are good for birds. However, both raw and cooked, they are toxic to many animals and birds. Onions contain sulfur compounds that can irritate the mucous membrane of the mouth and esophagus of birds, causing ulcers. Garlic contains allicin, another chemical that causes anemia and weakness in birds. So from spicy it is better to treat the bird with a small piece of pepper, rich in vitamin A.

Raw meat

Many birds are carnivores, but do not offer them raw meat in any form, including ground meat or meat scraps. The fact is that these products deteriorate very quickly, and very dangerous bacteria multiply on them, which can kill birds. In addition, meat top dressing can attract unwanted guests to the garden in the form of mice and rats.

Store-bought snacks

Bread and crackers, any chips or crackers, biscuits, corn flakes, goats, popcorn or puffed rice are poisonous to birds and should never be used to feed birds.

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