What to feed wild birds

tealady

Hi
Does any one have a link please to a list of good and bad foods for wild birds.
Am new to this so have just put out suet balls, mixed seed, crushed cereal and grapes. Plus rain water (from my butt) for a bath and boiled tap water for drinking.
Dont mind who arrives to the food (except rats!)
Thx all

Mojisola

www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/feeding-birds/

Good advice from the experts.

GedlingRed

I get suet pellets and mealworms for 'my' birds,  I have to fill up daily so they cost me a fortune!

MalMonroe

I don't want to throw a wet blanket over anything but I used to feed the wild birds year-round until my neighbours asked me if I could please stop - because of rats. Rats (and mice) often come along to finish off all the debris left on the ground by birds. Because they get just as hungry as anyone else and who can be discriminatory? (Not me.)

I live in a small rural village and our vermin are all of the brown, countryside type and not the grey urban type. I also don't mind those poor little tree rats - or squirrels as some of us call them. They used to get the lion's share of the bird food, I have to say. No squirrel, rat or mouse ever tried to come inside my home, though. But the neighbours had the power to report us, so we had to stop.

Just something to be aware of. It's not just the birds you'll be feeding. And even if you put up a notice saying 'no rats', they won't take any notice.   

sheramber

We lived rurally in a crofting area and fed the wild birds. The pheasants ( 20  one winter) and teh wood pigeons ate any seed that dropped on the ground.

We did have one little field vole who would rush out, grab a sed and rush back to its burrow.

No rats or squirrels.

Savvy_Sue

MalMonroe said:

I don't want to throw a wet blanket over anything but I used to feed the wild birds year-round until my neighbours asked me if I could please stop - because of rats. Rats (and mice) often come along to finish off all the debris left on the ground by birds. Because they get just as hungry as anyone else and who can be discriminatory? (Not me.)

I live in a small rural village and our vermin are all of the brown, countryside type and not the grey urban type. I also don't mind those poor little tree rats - or squirrels as some of us call them. They used to get the lion's share of the bird food, I have to say. No squirrel, rat or mouse ever tried to come inside my home, though. But the neighbours had the power to report us, so we had to stop.

Just something to be aware of. It's not just the birds you'll be feeding. And even if you put up a notice saying 'no rats', they won't take any notice.   

It's a real problem, I was out walking in the country once and saw a lovely cottage with lots of bird feeders in the garden. Also saw that the garden was absolutely SWARMING with rats, in broad daylight. 

Pollycat

MalMonroe said:

I don't want to throw a wet blanket over anything but I used to feed the wild birds year-round until my neighbours asked me if I could please stop - because of rats. Rats (and mice) often come along to finish off all the debris left on the ground by birds. Because they get just as hungry as anyone else and who can be discriminatory? (Not me.)

sheramber said:

We lived rurally in a crofting area and fed the wild birds. The pheasants ( 20  one winter) and teh wood pigeons ate any seed that dropped on the ground.

We did have one little field vole who would rush out, grab a sed and rush back to its burrow.

No rats or squirrels.

We have wood pigeons and collared doves who pick up anything dropped from the bird feeders.

Bronson

I think many birds’ natural diets primarily consist of worms, ants, flying insects, and other creepy-crawlies. Supplementing this with live food such as mealworms is excellent.

Froglet

Sunflower hearts are loved by all my birds.Fat balls in the winter for the blackbirds,not touched in a hanger,they tend to get wet and go mouldy.
A couple,broken up and put out on a tray soon go.