What can birds be fed

In winter, birds have little natural food. Therefore, supplementary feeding is important for them. But what products should not be put in the feeder?

The main thing when feeding birds in winter is not to harm them. This is especially true for small birds. They lose heat very quickly and become vulnerable. Sparrows, jackdaws, crows, magpies, and pigeons stay to winter near us. From the forests, tits, bullfinches, woodpeckers, and jays move closer to people.

Experts call bread, especially black and moldy, millet, rice, and buckwheat (they swell a lot), and anything salty and fried (nuts, chips) harmful and dangerous food. Do not give dairy products (birds lack the enzymes to digest them), potatoes, or citrus fruits.

What cereals can birds eat?

You can mix wheat, pearl barley, millet, and a little oats. Sparrows and tits will peck at cracked corn and wheat groats. Cereals can be given raw, or sometimes as crumbly porridge. For large birds, beans, peas, and lentils are nutritious food. Near the feeder with cereals, a bird bath with fresh, clean water should be placed.

Raw, unsalted black sunflower seeds are ideal. They are rich in oils, and the shell is thin, so even sparrows can handle it.

What to feed tits?

In winter, tits need a source of energy in the form of fats to survive. This is usually salo (lard), cut into the feeder or hung in a piece among the branches, but never salted. Tits peck at salo in any position, even upside down, which is inaccessible to other birds. You can also give them raw, unsalted meat or hard-boiled eggs.

Bird feed must be fresh and of high quality. Seeds, cereals, and other products should be free of unpleasant odors, rot, or mold, which can kill the birds.

Leftover feed should be removed. Rotting feed attracts rodents and can cause the spread of diseases among birds.