Bird food

Bird food or bird seed is food (often varieties of seeds, nuts, and/or dried fruits) intended for consumption by wild and domestic birds. While most bird food is fed to commercial fowl (such as chicken or turkey), bird food is also used to feed pet birds or to provide a feeding site for wild birds.

The various types of bird food reflect the variety of species of bird, which may be carnivores, herbivores, insectivores, nectarivores, etc. Bird food can also vary to correspond to the feeding strategies employed by different beak shapes in cracking the seed coat and obtaining the meat of the seed.

Black-oil sunflower seeds attract the widest variety of birds, and are commonly used in backyard bird feeders. Using different varieties of seeds can help attract specific types of birds to gardens and backyards. In general, mixtures predominantly containing red millet, oats, and other "fillers" are not attractive to most birds and can lead to waste as the birds sort through the mix, as well as the potential for fungal and bacterial growth.

While popular, bird feeders carry potential risks for the birds that feed there, including disease, malnutrition, and predation by animals. Researchers recommend that bird feeders be disinfected every time they are refilled.

Types

Natural

Seed

Black sunflower seeds are often used in bird feeders, since they attract a wide variety of birds, have a high ratio of seed material to the shell, and are high in fat content, the latter of which being nutritionally important for winter birds. Other popular seeds include Niger, or thistle seed, a favorite of goldfinches and redpolls. Millet is used to attract sparrows and juncos, as well as safflower for cardinals.

Non-seed

Suet is often given to insect-eating birds like nuthatches and woodpeckers while sugar-water can attract hummingbirds. However, this can lead to nutrient deficiencies and increased defecation for these birds. Although bread and kitchen scraps are often fed to ducks and gulls, this is strongly discouraged as this can cause Angel wing disease. Chickens are commonly fed maize, wheat, barley, sorghum, and milling by-products, in a mixture traditionally called chicken scratch. Pet parrots are fed fresh fruit, vegetables, and nuts, in addition to seeds.

These seeds and non-seed supplies are commonly obtained as by-products on farms, but can also be bought from independent retailers.

Commercial

Non-farm

Commercial bird food is widely available for feeding wild and domesticated birds, in the forms of both seed combinations and pellets.

When feeding wild birds, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) suggests that it be done year-round, with different mixes of nutrients being offered each season. Selections should have additional fat content in the winter months, and additional proteins in the form of nuts, seeds, and dried worms in summer, when birds are changing their plumage and may be molting.

Farm

Farmed birds that are fed with commercial bird food are typically given a pre-blended feed consisting largely of grain, protein, mineral, and vitamin supplements. Examples of commercial bird food for chickens include chick starter medicated crumbles, chick grower crumbles, egg layer mash, egg layer pellet, egg layer crumbles, egg producer pellets, and boilermaker med crumbles. Pellet crumbles are often prepared for tiny chicks though mash is more finely ground.