What bird feed is best

longwalks1

I'm currently using Extra Select Premium Mix and get through probably a 20Kg bag every 3-4 months (we have 6 feeders that need refilling every day). I ws reading the reviews and a lot of people were saying its got a lot of wheat filler in it, used to bulk it out and the birds dont like it


Should we change the mix we feed our birds?? Or am i worrying about nothing?


We also have suet ball feeders and a niger seed feeder for the finches

JulieM

I think this applies to all the mixes, there's a lot of wastage which ends up uneaten on the ground which can attract rats. I prefer sunflower hearts which appeal to lots of birds, and any that falls is quickly eaten by the ground feeding birds. I also have nyjer sees and fat balls in feeders, and suet pellets on the bird table.

shortcrust

JulieM wrote: »

I think this applies to all the mixes, there's a lot of wastage which ends up uneaten on the ground which can attract rats. I prefer sunflower hearts which appeal to lots of birds, and any that falls is quickly eaten by the ground feeding birds. I also have nyjer sees and fat balls in feeders, and suet pellets on the bird table.

This is pretty much what I use. Once I started using sunflower hearts I gave up with other seeds as the birds became sunflower obsessives.

longwalks1

Thanks shortcrust, im probably worryingt over nothing. Foolishly started reading reviews on it, and it got me wondering. We try so hard to attract various birds to the back garden (we are in a small village about 10 miles north of the M25) and we've had all sorts the last year or 2, all the usuals such as sparrows, starlings, blackbirds, robins, blue tits, chaffinches, goldfinches, pied wagtails, jackdaws and even seen a couple of ring necked parakeets


Hoping to attract even more this year

longwalks1

JulieM wrote: »

I think this applies to all the mixes, there's a lot of wastage which ends up uneaten on the ground which can attract rats. I prefer sunflower hearts which appeal to lots of birds, and any that falls is quickly eaten by the ground feeding birds. I also have nyjer sees and fat balls in feeders, and suet pellets on the bird table.

I may try sunflower hearts then, i was thinking a variety mix would suit more birds, but sounds like sunflower hearts are a favourite too

greyteam1959

I gave up with mixed seed years ago as all the birds would root about in it & sling most of it onto the floor.
The waste was unbelievable.
Now use sunflower hearts only.
About 200 kg a year !!

Gers

I too found that the birds 'wasted' a lot from a mixed seed bag. Now I stick to peanuts, sunflower hearts, suet bits / balls and mealworms.

Not a bit wasted!

Silvertabby

Gers wrote: »

I too found that the birds 'wasted' a lot from a mixed seed bag. Now I stick to peanuts, sunflower hearts, suet bits / balls and mealworms.

Not a bit wasted!

Same here. But, if you are not aready doing so, please decant the peanuts/fat balls into proper dispensers. The net bags they tend to be supplied in are so dangerous if the birdies get tangled up in them.

sheramber

We get our seed from a local farm supplies stockist. It is mixed seed with no wheat in it and £17 for 20KG BAG.

Living in the country we get so many birds that there are always small birds on the ground eating the dropped seed- chaffinches, robins and siskins as well as the pheasants and partridge so none goes to waste.

MysteryMe

I use Gardman no grow seed mix and it all get's eaten by various birds. I put it on a bird table and in feeders. There are not too many wheat flakes. I also put out sunflower hearts, suet pellets and fat balls plus a few peanuts. A mix of foods gives them a wider nutrient base IMO.

Gers

Silvertabby wrote: »

Same here. But, if you are not aready doing so, please decant the peanuts/fat balls into proper dispensers. The net bags they tend to be supplied in are so dangerous if the birdies get tangled up in them.

I do, of course!