what to feed birds in winter from the kitchen

Besides, you can feed birds in winter from the kitchen like small pieces of eggshells, pecans, cheddar cheese, almonds, stale bread, mealworms, etc. 3 Best DIY Bird Feeding Ideas In Winter Having a few feeders around the house is a great way to attract and keep the birds that visit your garden.

Full Answer

Why it is important to feed birds in winter?

These foods will give them enough energy to make it through the winter with happy bellies:

• Black oil sunflower
• Peanuts
• Nyjer seed
• Suet mixes with fruit or seeds, i.e.: Positively Peanut Suet Wild Berry Suet Suet and Seed
• Peanut butter
• Nutritious seed mixes with white millet

What foods do birds like during the winter?

To keep your winter backyard birds from going hungry when snow flies:

• Fill your feeders with the best winter bird foods to provide nutritious energy.
• Provide natural food sources with fruit-bearing shrubs and fruit trees for birds.
• Allow leaf litter to accumulate for the food it can provide ground-feeding birds.
• Keep winter bird feeders clean to avoid spreading disease among hungry birds.

More items...

What are the best bird feeders for winter?

Feeding backyard birds in the winter can give them an extra boost of needed fat and energy on those frigid windy days, according to naturalists with the Missouri Department of Conservation. Backyard bird watching is also good for people, it can improve ...

What is the best bird food for winter?

Top 10 Foods for Winter Bird Feeding

1. Homemade bird treats. You can come up with your own recipes for winter bird treats. ...
2. Fruit. Humans are supposed to eat at least three servings of fruit every day. ...
3. Mealworms. Most feeder birds, except goldfinches, will eat mealworms if you offer them. ...
4. Cracked corn. ...
5. Safflower. ...
6. Nyjer/thistle seed. ...
7. Good mixed seed. ...
8. Suet. ...
9. Peanuts. ...
10. Black-oil sunflower seed. ...

What can I feed wild birds from my kitchen?

What to Feed Birds from the KitchenApples.Bananas.Squash Seeds, Melon, and Pumpkin.Raisins.Bread and Cereals.Various Nuts.Cooked Pasta and Rice.Eggs and Eggshells.More items...•

What can I feed birds if I don't have bird seed?

Other bird seed alternatives to offer to birds include fruit and vegetable seeds, dried fruits, peanut butter and/or jelly, apples, pears, nuts, and unbuttered popcorn.

What kind of human food can birds eat?

Best Types of ScrapsBaked goods: Stale or dry bread, bread crusts, donuts, cakes, cookies, and crackers are all appealing to backyard birds. ... Cheese: Stale, hard bits of cheese will readily be eaten by birds.More items...

What can I feed birds outside?

Offer sunflower seeds, nyjer (thistle) seeds, and peanuts in separate feeders. When using blends, choose mixtures containing sunflower seeds, millet, and cracked corn—the three most popular types of birdseed.

How do you make homemade bird food?

Make your own wild bird food cake⅓ cup sunflower seeds.⅓ cup nyjer seeds.⅓ cup grated cheese.½ cup dried fruit, soaked overnight.½ cup unsalted peanuts.1 cup lard or beef suet.Hanging bird feeder(s) suitable for fat balls.

Can you feed birds bread in the winter?

Birds should not be offered many of the foods humans eat. Bread (fresh or stale): provides no real nutritional value for birds; moldy bread can harm birds. Chocolate: toxic to birds, just as it is to dogs and cats (it contains theobromine); never offer birds any foods containing chocolate.

Is bread OK for birds?

Bread. All types of bread can be digested by birds, but ideally it should only be just one component in a varied diet. Bread does not contain the necessary protein and fat birds need from their diet, and so it can act as an empty filler.

Is cooked rice good for birds?

Fact is, rice cooked or uncooked won't hurt wild birds at all. The rumor is that uncooked rice hits the bird's tummy and then swells causing its stomach to explode. It's simply not true. It's not hot enough in a bird's stomach to actually “cook” the rice.

Can birds eat breakfast cereal?

Rice and cereals 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.

Can birds eat uncooked oatmeal?

Yes, birds can eat raw porridge oats. Oats are a very nutritious grain and good for birds in moderation, especially in the winter months. Many birds enjoy oats, especially blackbirds.

Will birds eat carrots?

Carrots are another vitamin-rich fresh food that is a favorite of many pet birds. 2 Containing high levels of beta-carotene, carrots can go a long way in supporting optimal eye health, which is important for birds of all species. As a bonus, carrots are flavorful and fun to eat!

What vegetables can birds eat?

Leafy greens, including spinach, bok choy, kale, beet greens, collard greens, dandelion greens and mustard greens, Swiss chard, and romaine lettuce, are nutrient-rich and keep skin and feathers healthy. Keep your bird's diet balanced by adding greens to the mix.

What to feed a bird to stop it from swallowing?

Bran flakes, toasted oat, plain Cheerios, corn flakes or plain cereals with fruit and nuts. Crush with a rolling pin before feeding so birds do not have trouble swallowing large chunks. Also remember not to feed sugar-coated cereals or cereals with marshmallows added.

What do birds eat to lay eggs?

Eggshells – this may seem strange, but female birds expend a lot of calcium when laying their own eggs. Believe it or not, birds will eat eggshells! Eating egg shells is a quick way for them to replenish that calcium. This would be a great treat to leave out during egg-laying season. You can save and rinse your eggshells, then bake at 250 degrees F for 20 minutes. This will sterilize them and make them brittle and easy to crumble.

What do hummingbirds eat?

Especially in the winter months and during migration, kitchen scraps such as bacon grease, cheeses, and fruits can provide birds with essential nutrients that they need, and a more varied diet. It's never too late to start feeding hummingbirds. Here's a quick list of things you'll need to get you started!

What birds eat fruit?

Having fruiting trees and shrubs, such as apple, pear, orange, blackberry and raspberry, will attract many birds such as orioles, mockingbirds, catbirds and sapsuckers.

How long to bake egg shells for birds?

This would be a great treat to leave out during egg-laying season. You can save and rinse your eggshells, then bake at 250 degrees F for 20 minutes. This will sterilize them and make them brittle and easy to crumble. Pet food – most dog and cat kibble can be consumed by birds safely.

What is the best fruit feeder for a songbird?

If you are looking to stick to just sliced fruit, something simple such as the Songbird Essentials Double Fruit Feeder would do the trick. All you need is a solid wire to skewer slices / halves of fruit. Works great for something like oranges or apples.

Can birds eat dog food?

Pet food – most dog and cat kibble can be consumed by birds safely. Not all birds will enjoy this, but meat eating birds like jays may find it very attractive. Just remember, this type of food may attract other unwanted critters like raccoons.

What to feed birds to feed them?

Squash Seeds, Melon, and Pumpkin. When you are serving these items to the birds, you need to roast in the oven first. Toss outside or even better bake in the oven until dry and sprinkle on a platform feeder.

What do birds eat in the kitchen?

What to Feed Birds from the Kitchen. Many birds enjoy eating fruits and vegetables that are provided from the kitchen, such as apples, bananas, peas, sweet corn, potatoes, etc. These fruits can attract many backyard birds like orioles, mockingbirds, catbirds, and sapsuckers.

How long to bake eggshells for birds?

It is a quick way for them to renew that calcium. You can save and crush your eggshells, then bake at 250 degrees F for 20 minutes. It will sterilize them and make them brittle and easy to crumble.

What birds like peanut butter?

Many birds, including white-breasted nuthatch, black-capped chickadee, brown creeper, wood thrush, wrens, and woodpeckers, are the biggest fans of peanut butter. Cold months are the best to keep the peanut butter firm. In the warm months, it may become melted.

What bird eats bananas?

Bananas. Bananas are favorite to the birds like the northern cardinal, gray jay, gray catbird, and scarlet tanager. To serve the birds some bananas, you have to remove the peel and chop them in half lengthwise.

What to do if pet food is dried?

If the pet food is dried, then crush or moisten the food before providing it to the birds.

How to serve apples to birds?

When you are serving apples to these birds, you need to slice them up and remove the seeds from the apples. Or you can chop them in half and remove the parts of the apples. Then, you again need to fill with sugar water.

What are some good winter foods for birds?

Nutritious winter foods for birds include: Black oil sunflower seed. Hulled peanuts or peanut hearts. Nyjer (thistle) seed.

Why cover bird feeders in winter?

Feeders will be most useful in the winter if they have a wide cover over feeding ports, perches and dispensing trays so seed is not buried during snowfalls or storms . Fly-through platform feeders are especially good designs for winter bird feeding.

What birds are in winter?

The most common winter birds include finches, sparrows, titmice, jays, woodpeckers, chickadees, and cardinals, though there are always other birds that may appear at full, enticing feeders. Birders in northern regions may have pine grosbeaks, evening grosbeaks and red crossbills visit their feeders in winter.

Why are large feeders preferred for winter feeding?

For birders’ convenience, large capacity feeders are preferred for winter feeding because they do not need to be refilled as frequently. This is only viable, however, if the seed is protected from moisture, otherwise it may grow mold or fungus before it is consumed.

Why do birds like to clean their feeders?

Because natural food sources are scarcer in the winter, more birds may be attracted to backyard feeders and those feeders will need to be cleaned and sterilized regularly. Proper cleaning will minimize mold, mildew and other unhealthy conditions that could foster disease among backyard bird populations.

What animals are scarce in the winter?

Just as food is scarce for birds in the winter, it is also scarce for squirrels, mice raccoons, stray cats, and other backyard pests and predators. Steps can be taken, however, to safeguard feeding stations and provide birds the security to return to the feeders throughout the winter.

What is the best seed for birdseed?

Hulled peanuts or peanut hearts. Nyjer (this tle) seed. Suet mixes with seeds or fruit. Peanut butter. White millet seed. When choosing birdseed and other foods for winter feeding, take into consideration which bird species are present in the winter and what foods they prefer to avoid excess wasted seed.

What do birds eat in the winter?

Offer chopped apples, orange wedges, banana slices, halved grapes and melon rinds on platform feeders, spikes or nailed to trees.

What is the best food for birds?

Black Oil Sunflower Seeds. Black oil sunflower seeds are by far the best food to offer birds in any season. These seeds have slightly thinner shells and higher oil content than other types of sunflower seeds, making them more efficient and nutritious food.

What is the best bird seed mix?

For convenient and economical winter feeding, nothing beats a good quality birdseed mix. Choose a mix that features large proportions of sunflower seeds and millet, but avoid mixes with large amounts of unappetizing fillers such as wheat, milo, and corn. Better mixes may also include nuts and nut pieces birds will enjoy. You may also want to try different mixes to attract different types of birds.

What to mix with sunflower seeds for birds?

Choose a mix that features large proportions of sunflower seeds and millet, but avoid mixes with large amounts of unappetizing fillers such as wheat, milo, and corn. Better mixes may also include nuts and nut pieces birds will enjoy. You may also want to try different mixes to attract different types of birds.

How to make millet more attractive?

To make millet more attractive, mix it with black oil sunflower seeds at first. Gradually change the mix proportions until birds are used to straight millet.

What is the best food for a winter finch?

Nyjer (sometimes spelled nyger or niger) or thistle seed is a favorite food of winter finches such as pine siskins and common redpolls. This is another oily seed that offers a lot of calories, helping birds store the fat they need to keep warm through the season. Though expensive, Nyjer is readily available and is typically treated so as not to germinate if spilled on the ground, but the hulls can get messy underneath feeders.

What is white proso millet?

White proso millet is a favorite food of many small ground-feeding birds, particularly dark-eyed juncos and other types of sparrows, as well as many doves. This starchy grain is inexpensive and can be easily offered in hopper, tube or platform feeders, and sprinkling it on the ground will attract even more small birds. Millet is often a large component of many different birdseed mixes.

What are some good treats for birds?

Grapes or sliced citrus, apple, or banana are a special treat that will draw many birds. “If you want to feed raisins, chop them up and soak them in warm water first to soften them up a bit,” suggests Thompson. 1. Homemade bird treats. For Thompson’s suggestions, click here.

What to feed finches?

6. Nyjer/thistle seed. “Although it can be expensive, Nyjer, or thistle, seed is eagerly consumed by all the small finches—goldfinches, house, purple, and Cassin's finches, pine siskins, and redpolls,” says Thompson. “You need to feed thistle in a thistle feeder of some kind--the two most commonly used types of thistle feeder are a tube feeder with small thistle-seed-sized holes, and a thistle sock. A thistle sock is a sock-shaped, fine-mesh, synthetic bag that is filled with thistle seed. Small finches can cling to this bag and pull seeds out through the bag's mesh.”

What to feed bird mealworms?

2. Fruit. Grapes or sliced citrus , apple, or banana are a special treat that will draw many birds.

What animals eat cracked corn?

4. Cracked corn. “Sparrows, blackbirds, jays, doves, quail, and squirrels are just a few of the creatures you can expect at your feeders if you feed cracked corn,” Thomson says. But watch out—it’s also a favorite of squirrels.

What animals eat peanuts?

Peanuts. “Woodpeckers, jays, nuthatches, chickadees, and titmice will readily visit a feeder for this high-protein, high-energy food. Even cardinals and finches will eat peanuts,” Thompson writes. Be sure they’re de-shelled, dry-roasted, and unsalted. 8.

How to make a bird treat for winter?

1. Homemade bird treats. You can come up with your own recipes for winter bird treats. Smear peanut butter on a tree trunk, and poke some peanut bits into it. Melt suet in your microwave, and pour it into an ice-cube tray to harden. Before it solidifies, add peanut bits, raisins, apple bits, or other bird foods.

What bird seed is good for bird feeders?

10. Black-oil sunflower seed. This seed is the hamburger of the bird world. Almost any bird that will visit a bird feeder will eat black-oil sunflower. Birds that can’t crack the seeds themselves will scour the ground under the feeders, picking up bits and pieces.

What is a good mixed seed?

7. Good mixed seed. Is there such a thing as BAD seed mix? You bet! Bad mixed seed has lots of filler in it—junk ingredients that most birds won’t eat. Bad mixed seed can include dyed seed intended for pet birds, wheat, and some forms of red milo that only birds in the Desert Southwest seem to eat. Good mixed seed has a large amount of black-oil sunflower seed, cracked corn, white proso millet, and perhaps some peanut chips, sunflower hearts, and dried fruit. You get what you pay for when it comes to seed mixes. Read the ingredients on the bag, or make your own seed blend from the seeds mentioned above.

What birds eat peanuts?

Woodpeckers, jays, nuthatches, chickadees, and titmice will readily visit a feeder for this high-energy food. Even cardinals and finches will eat peanuts.

What birds eat cracked corn?

4. Cracked corn. Sparrows, blackbirds, jays, doves, quail, and squirrels are just a few of the creatures attracted to cracked corn. Depending on where you live you may also get turkeys, deer, elk, moose, and caribou. Fed in moderation, cracked corn will attract almost any feeder species. Some feeder operators use this food to lure the squirrels away from the bird feeders. Squirrels love corn—cracked or otherwise—best of all. Whole corn still on the cob is fine for squirrels, but not a good bird food because the kernels are too big and hard for most small birds to digest. Cracked corn is broken into smaller, more manageable bits that many birds will gobble up.

What kind of woodpeckers eat suet?

A pileated woodpecker visits a sock feeder full of suet and mixed seed. Photo by Barb Fuller.

What seed do finches eat?

Read the ingredients on the bag, or make your own seed blend from the seeds mentioned above. 6. Nyjer/thistle seed. Although it can be expensive, Nyjer (aka thistle) seed is eagerly consumed by all the small finches—goldfinches, house, purple, and Cassin’s finches, pine siskins, and redpolls.

Apples

If you’ve ever had an apple tree in your yard and frequently found all of your fruit pecked beyond recognition, then you likely already know just what a fan our feathered friends are of this crisp and delicious fruit.

Bananas

Another crowd-pleasing fruit is the nutrient-rich banana and it’s so easy to dish up, simply remove the peel, chop it into rounds and then place on a tree stump or skewer.

Pumpkin seeds

The northern cardinal, evening grosbeak, red-breasted nuthatch and tufted titmouse are just some of the birds that enjoy feasting on pumpkin seeds. Roast them in the oven before serving and make sure you steer clear of any salt or seasoning.

Raisins

There’s nothing better for a bird’s beak than a plump and juicy raisin to get stuck into and when you fill your feeder with this dried fruit expect to have every bird from orioles to bluebirds flocking to your yard. Just make sure you soak them in some warm water first so they’re nice and soft and easy to eat.

Sweetcorn, peas and potatoes

There are a lot of vegetables that aren’t suitable for birds because they’re difficult to digest, but peas, sweetcorn and potatoes with their skins removed make the list of safe and nutritious foods you can feed your feathered friends.

Peanut butter

We go nuts for peanut butter and it turns out our feathered friends do too. Almost all birds will swoop down when they get a whiff of this delectable delight, but it’s particularly popular with the black-capped chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, wood thrush, wrens, and the noisy woodpecker.

Eggs and eggshells

Believe us, we thought this one was strange too, but it turns out eggs and eggshells are a bird’s best friend. Cooked eggs are packed full of nutrition and their shells are calcium-rich, which female birds need a lot of, especially when they’re nesting. Oh, and they’re good for digestion too, helping our beaked buddies to stay regular!

What should you feed birds in winter? 5 top choices

There are a number of different things that you can offer when feeding birds in winter, as Monty explains. If you're on the lookout for easy wildlife garden ideas, these tips are sure to come in useful.

1. Sunflower seeds

Monty says the single best food is sunflower seeds when it comes to feeding birds in winter. These are available in two forms.

2. Niger seeds

Monty also feeds birds niger (or nyjer) seeds. These are loved by finches, he says, and house sparrows, siskins, and tits enjoy them too. The gardening guru sprinkles them on a log, which allows little birds that can get their beaks into the crevices to enjoy the seeds.

3. Peanuts

Peanuts are also a favorite bird food that Monty offers over winter, bringing tits and even the great spotted woodpecker to his garden. The Wildlife Trusts suggests using mesh peanut feeders – these allow birds to take only small pieces of peanut rather than whole nuts, preventing the risk of them choking.

4. Mealworms

Monty also recommends buying dried mealworms to feed to birds. He says they're a favorite of robins and blackbirds, and also starlings.

5. Suet balls

Many birds like suet and it provides a good source of energy for them, particularly throughout winter, as says The Wildlife Trusts.

How do you feed birds in winter?

Monty makes use of a table that has plants on it at other times of the year as a bird feeding surface when autumn arrives. But that's only one of the places he provides for his winged diners. It's important to create different feeding locations in the garden to suit different birds, Monty says.