As we sit comfortably indoors this winter, it’s well worth sparing a thought for our garden birds. Extreme winters, as recently experienced in the UK, can be quite a real test of survival abilities for many of our more common bird types such as blackbirds, tits, robins and sparrows. On a single frosty winters night, birds may use up an amazing 10% of their total bodyweight just trying to keep warm. Because of this they have to feed properly every day just to replace their reserves for the wintry night ahead. Prolonged frosty periods may result in a high death rate in birds.With some water, wildbird food and protection, gardens can become a haven for birds and other wild animals. Make sure a supply of fresh water is made available every day and, should the temperature be particularly low, use warm water. Throughout the cold winter weather birds require high energy (fatty) foods to maintain their fat reserves in order to survive the frosty nights so a bird table filled with a high nutrient seed mix will be very welcome indeed. In addition a variety of household leftovers such as cooked potato, pastry and bread crumbs, cheese and soft fruit will also be much appreciated as will suspended bird feeders containing sunflower rich blends or nuts without salt.
Bird tables and bird feeders need to be placed where birds are at ease and able to feed undisturbed and well away from fencing and walls where cats could easily catch them unaware as they feed.
Mixed wild bird seed is perhaps the most economic method of bringing in a wide variety of wild birds directly into the garden. Nevertheless, the low cost variety often carries with it a notice of caution. A number of producers and suppliers see this as being an opportunity to generate easy money by cheapening the grade of the seed blend.
For anyone who is alert to what a regular mix of birdseed is supposed to resemble, you won’t have any kind of problems identifying the calibre of the product you obtain. Wild Bird Food is produced with the idea of attracting more than one type of bird to your garden. Even though there are no strict, absolute rules for the ingredients of this mixture of bird seeds, it is necessary to understand that the varieties of seeds in the mix should appeal to birds of all types and sizes. The goal is to get the birds to eat all the seeds with as little leftover as is possible.
The trouble with many cheap quality bird seed mixtures is the fact that they contain inedible product that most wild birds are going to ignore and leave as waste on either your yard, garden, bird table or patio area. Usually, the seed blends are a mixture of seeds in many different sizes to appeal to birds of different sizes and preferences. Sometimes, the objective is to provide all the essential dietary elements to the birds and with a choice of different types of seeds, the birds will get a balanced diet complete with all of their energy requirements.
This is why the quality of the seeds is extremely important and in the event you frequently discover leftovers of your mix of wild bird seed uneaten, the best option may be to change the product in to an all new one of higher quality that contains minimal or no inedible filler product.
A high quality blend of bird seeds often contain high quality wheat, black sunflower seeds, niger seed, striped sunflower seeds, rape seeds, and corn along with millet. A high quality mix should not contain broken or crushed seeds or unappetizing husks of seeds. Make sure that you do a careful examination of the seeds prior to you making your purchase as the accumulation of wasted filler products will only be a nuisance for you to clean up and can result in the formation of dangerous toxins whilst also being unappealing for your garden birds.Home Pet Shop has an excellent choice of quality wild bird seeds and peanuts at their online pet shop supermarket.
