Feeding birds during the winter is really the most beneficial time to do so. As food shortages are more likely to occur. However feeding birds throughout the year is even better, as food shortages can still occur during the summer. Furthermore if the birds can gain weight during the summer, then they are more likely to survive during the colder autumn and winter months.
Spring and summer months
During the summer months, a wild bird’s diet will be slightly different than during the colder winter months. This is especially true whilst the birds are moulting. They usually require a diet higher in protein.
It has been suggested that you should stay away from providing peanuts, household fat waste, fat balls and bread during this period, given that these can pose potential problems if adult birds feed them to their young. (However having said that, some people still feed peanuts and fat balls at this time without any problems at all.) If you feel you want to put out peanuts at this time, then it is best to put them in a suitable metal/plastic mesh peanut feeder designed for that purpose. This ensures that large pieces of peanuts don’t pose a choking hazard to the birds.
Short term food shortages can happen at virtually any time of the year, and when this happens during the summer breeding season, supplying additional food in your garden can make a huge difference to the survival of the young birds.
Wild birds time their breeding activity to coincide with the accessibility of natural food products, such as caterpillars, earthworms etc. However it has been noted that when the weather turns cold or wet during spring or summer (this is Britain after all!!), acute shortage of insect food can arise, and if the weather is unusually dry, then earthworms will not be able to penetrate the hard soil at the surface. This is when the supply of wild bird food comes in handy.
Products to feed during the warmer spring, summer months include: sunflower hearts, Oatmeal, Groats, raisins/sultanas, mealworms and seed mixtures are all great foods to feed during this time. Some fruits such as apples, grapes and banana’s can be a welcome addition too.
Autumn and winter months
During the autumn and winter months, it is advisable to put out food and water on a regular basis. However during really bad weather, wild birds are best fed twice daily. Once in the morning and then again in the afternoon/evening.
During this period, wild birds want high energy or foods high in fat, such as peanuts, sunflower hearts or suet treats.
It is best to always establish a regular routine, so that the birds will become accustomed to the meal times. Furthermore it is very important that you never leave uneaten foods to build up around the feeders or trays.
Products to feed during colder months: Peanuts, Sunflower hearts, black sunflower, fat balls, safflower seed, niger seed, suet treats/cakes, high calorie seed mixtures.
