Bird Food: The Right Mix for Every Beak in Garden and Cage

Bird Food: The Right Mix for Every Bird

Birds eat in very different ways. A tit in the garden needs other food than a parrot in the living room, and a racing pigeon in the flying season needs something different again. That is why you will find wild bird feed for the feeding station here, separate mixes for budgies, grand parakeets, parrots, canaries and exotic finches, plus pigeon food for every season. Sprouting food and millet spray round the range off.

Food for wild birds in the garden

For the feeding station there are all year mixes, fat rich winter blends and insect rich mixes for the weeks when the young are being raised. Sunflower seeds deliver plenty of energy, while husked goods and husk free mixes leave almost nothing behind under the feeder. Fat balls without netting are the safer option, because the birds cannot catch their toes in them. Bread and salted kitchen scraps, on the other hand, do not belong at the feeder. A seed silo keeps the supply dry and clean and lets only as much slide down as is being eaten.

Food for cage birds and pigeons

In the cage, seed size decides whether the food is taken at all. Canaries and exotic finches eat fine seeds, budgies take medium grains, and grand parakeets and parrots want sturdy mixes with larger kernels. For breeding and moulting there is sprouting food made from germinated seeds, and millet spray is a treat to nibble rather than a staple. With pigeons the mix follows the season, so the quiet time, breeding, flying and moulting. Peas deliver protein, and there are also types without peas, without maize or without barley.

Frequently asked questions

How do I spot good bird food?
Look for a clean, low dust mix with whole grains and make sure the seed size fits the species. Store the food somewhere dry and it will stay fresh for a long time.

What is sprouting food?
Sprouting food is made from seeds that are brought to germinate. It is in demand during breeding and moulting and is offered alongside the daily seed mix rather than instead of it.

What is millet spray good for?
Millet spray is a treat to nibble that keeps your bird busy. It replaces no staple food, but it works nicely as a small reward in between meals.