How to Make Homemade Bird Feed

Creating homemade bird feed is a delightful way to connect with nature right from your backyard. It's not only a fun DIY project but also an essential help to the local bird population, especially during harsh weather conditions when food is scarce. In this blog post, we'll walk through the steps to create nutritious and appealing bird feed using simple ingredients.

Understanding Bird Nutrition

Before we start mixing seeds, it's crucial to understand what birds need. The diet of birds can vary widely by species, but generally, they require proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. These can come from seeds, nuts, fruits, and even insects. A well-rounded bird feed will cater to the needs of various species and can provide essential nutrients that might be missing from their natural diet, especially in urban areas.

Ingredients Needed

Here are some common ingredients that you can use to make your bird feed:

Black oil sunflower seeds: Highly nutritious and attractive to most bird species.
Millet: Excellent for smaller birds.
Cracked corn: Good for ground-feeding birds.
Unsalted peanuts: High in fat, very energetic.
Oats: Can be mixed with other seeds for a varied diet.
Dried fruits (raisins, currants, or berries): Provide natural sugars and vitamins.

Making the Bird Feed

Step 1: Mix the Seeds

Mix sunflower seeds, millet, and cracked corn in a bowl, aiming for a ratio that reflects the preferences of birds in your area. This mix serves as the base of your bird feed.

Step 2: Add Extras

Introduce unsalted peanuts and a handful of oats. Mix well. You can also add a spoonful of dried fruit to make the feed more enticing.

Step 3: Bind the Ingredients

If you prefer to create shaped bird feed (like balls or blocks), you might need to bind the ingredients. A common binder is natural peanut butter or unflavoured gelatin, which helps hold the seeds together and adds additional protein.

Step 4: Set the Shape

For shaping the feed, you can use cookie cutters, moulds, or just form balls by hand. If using peanut butter, mix it with the seeds until sticky, press into moulds, and refrigerate until firm. For gelatin, dissolve it in hot water, mix with the seeds, shape, and let it set overnight.

Feeding Tips

When your bird feed is ready, think about how you will offer it to the birds. You can scatter feed on a bird table, hang it from trees in feeders, or even spread it on the ground for ground-feeding species. However, always ensure that the feeding station is safe from predators and is cleaned regularly to prevent the spread of diseases among the bird population.

Benefits of Homemade Bird Feed

Making your own bird feed not only provides vital support to local wildlife but also allows you to control the ingredients, ensuring that they are fresh and free of additives. It's a delightful way to observe a variety of birds and can be an educational activity for children, teaching them about nature and the importance of caring for other living beings.

With these easy steps and helpful tips, you can make nutritious, homemade bird feed that will bring a variety of birds to your garden, helping them thrive even in urban settings.