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 provide a feeding site for wild birds. [1]
A mixture of seeds in a bird feeder
The various types of bird food reflect the species of bird that can be fed, whether they are carnivores, herbivores, insectivores, nectarivores, etc. Bird food can also differ by the feeding strategies employed by beaks in cracking the seed coat and obtaining the meat of the seed. [2]
Black-oil sunflower seeds attract the widest variety of birds, [3] and are commonly used in backyard bird feeders. [4] However, other varieties of seed can help attract specific types of birds to gardens and backyards. In general, mixtures that contain red millet, oats, and other "fillers" are not attractive to most birds, and can lead to waste as the birds sort through the mix,[5] as well as the potential for fungal and bacterial growth.
While popular, bird feeders carry potential risks for the birds that feed there, such as disease,[6]malnutrition,[7] and predation by animals.[8] Researchers recommend that bird feeders be disinfected every time they are refilled.[6]
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 shell, and are high in fat content (which is nutritionally important for winter birds).[9][10] Other common bird seeds include Niger, or thistle seed, a favorite of goldfinches and redpolls. Millet for sparrows and juncos as well as safflower for cardinals[9][10]
Non-seed
Suet is often given to insect-eating birds like nuthatches and woodpeckers.[9] Artificial nectar – essentially sugar water – attracts hummingbirds.[9] Bread and kitchen scraps are often fed to ducks and gulls. However, this can lead to nutrient deficiencies and increased defecation for these birds. Chickens are commonly fed maize, wheat, barley, sorghum and millingby-products, in a mixture traditionally called chicken scratch. Pet parrots are fed fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts, in addition to seed.
These seeds and non-seed supplies are commonly obtained as by-products on farms, but can also be bought from independent retailers.
Commercial bird food is widely available for feeding wild and domesticated birds, both seed combinations and pellets.[10][11]
When feeding wild birds the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)[12] 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 moulting.
Farmed birds fed commercial bird food typically are given very specific, scientifically designed, pre-blended feed. 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 pellet, and boilermaker med crumbles.[13][clarification needed] Pellet crumbles are often prepared for tiny chicks. Mash is more finely ground.
^"Feeding Birds: A Quick Guide to Seed Types". 20 April 2009. from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
^ ab"Birds that eat at feeders more likely to get sick, spread disease". from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
^"Feeding birds". The RSPB. from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
^"Backyard Feeders: Dangers To Watch Out For | Petcha". www.petcha.com. from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
^ abcd"What to Feed Birds". from the original on 10 August 2006. Retrieved 23 August 2006."Seeds and Grains for Birds". from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2006.
^ abcPorter, Diane. "Winter Bird Feeder: Keep Them Coming Back". from the original on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2006.
^"Choosing Bird Food". Cornell Lab of Ornithology. from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2006.
^"When to feed wild birds". The RSPB. from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
^Jacob, Dr. Jacquie. "Feeding Chickens for Egg Production". Extension.org. Extension. from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
External links
Cornell Lab of Ornithology Food Preferences Chart
February 08, 2023
bird, food, bird, seed, redirects, here, whitehouse, album, bird, seed, album, donaldson, album, birdseed, album, this, article, tone, style, reflect, encyclopedic, tone, used, wikipedia, wikipedia, guide, writing, better, articles, suggestions, january, 2010,. Bird seed redirects here For the Whitehouse album see Bird Seed album For the Lou Donaldson album see Birdseed album This article s tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia See Wikipedia s guide to writing better articles for suggestions January 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 provide a feeding site for wild birds 1 A mixture of seeds in a bird feeder The various types of bird food reflect the species of bird that can be fed whether they are carnivores herbivores insectivores nectarivores etc Bird food can also differ by the feeding strategies employed by beaks in cracking the seed coat and obtaining the meat of the seed 2 Black oil sunflower seeds attract the widest variety of birds 3 and are commonly used in backyard bird feeders 4 However other varieties of seed can help attract specific types of birds to gardens and backyards In general mixtures that contain red millet oats and other fillers are not attractive to most birds and can lead to waste as the birds sort through the mix 5 as well as the potential for fungal and bacterial growth While popular bird feeders carry potential risks for the birds that feed there such as disease 6 malnutrition 7 and predation by animals 8 Researchers recommend that bird feeders be disinfected every time they are refilled 6 Contents 1 Types 1 1 Natural 1 1 1 Seed 1 1 2 Non seed 1 2 Commercial 1 2 1 Non Farm 1 2 2 Farm 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksTypes EditNatural Edit Bushtits eating suet from a bird feeder Seed Edit Main article 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 shell and are high in fat content which is nutritionally important for winter birds 9 10 Other common bird seeds include Niger or thistle seed a favorite of goldfinches and redpolls Millet for sparrows and juncos as well as safflower for cardinals 9 10 Non seed Edit Suet is often given to insect eating birds like nuthatches and woodpeckers 9 Artificial nectar essentially sugar water attracts hummingbirds 9 Bread and kitchen scraps are often fed to ducks and gulls However this can lead to nutrient deficiencies and increased defecation for these birds 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 seed These seeds and non seed supplies are commonly obtained as by products on farms but can also be bought from independent retailers Commercial Edit Conures feeding at Jurong Birds Park Non Farm Edit Commercial bird food is widely available for feeding wild and domesticated birds both seed combinations and pellets 10 11 When feeding wild birds the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds RSPB 12 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 moulting Farm Edit Main article Poultry feed Farmed birds fed commercial bird food typically are given very specific scientifically designed pre blended feed 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 pellet and boilermaker med crumbles 13 clarification needed Pellet crumbles are often prepared for tiny chicks Mash is more finely ground See also Edit Birds portalReferences Edit What do Birds Eat What to Feed Wild Birds The RSPB Retrieved 20 December 2022 Tryjanowski Piotr Moller Anders Pape Morelli Federico Indykiewicz Piotr Zduniak Piotr Myczko Lukasz 18 May 2018 Food preferences by birds using bird feeders in winter a large scale experiment Avian Research 9 1 16 doi 10 1186 s40657 018 0111 z ISSN 2053 7166 Feeding Birds a Quick Guide to Seed Types All About Birds 20 April 2009 Retrieved 20 December 2022 Wilson c Sam Feeding Birds FeederWatch Retrieved 20 December 2022 Feeding Birds A Quick Guide to Seed Types 20 April 2009 Archived from the original on 26 February 2021 Retrieved 15 March 2021 a b Birds that eat at feeders more likely to get sick spread disease Archived from the original on 23 September 2015 Retrieved 31 January 2017 Feeding birds The RSPB Archived from the original on 6 December 2021 Retrieved 31 January 2017 Backyard Feeders Dangers To Watch Out For Petcha www petcha com Archived from the original on 3 February 2017 Retrieved 31 January 2017 a b c d What to Feed Birds Archived from the original on 10 August 2006 Retrieved 23 August 2006 Seeds and Grains for Birds Archived from the original on 27 September 2013 Retrieved 23 August 2006 a b c Porter Diane Winter Bird Feeder Keep Them Coming Back Archived from the original on 3 September 2017 Retrieved 23 August 2006 Choosing Bird Food Cornell Lab of Ornithology Archived from the original on 5 February 2017 Retrieved 23 August 2006 When to feed wild birds The RSPB Archived from the original on 1 March 2016 Retrieved 2 March 2016 Jacob Dr Jacquie Feeding Chickens for Egg Production Extension org Extension Archived from the original on 16 January 2019 Retrieved 15 January 2019 External links EditCornell Lab of Ornithology Food Preferences Chart Gardening Australia Fact Sheet Bird Attracting Plants Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bird food amp oldid 1136434865, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
