Will This Pantry Staple Make Your Bird Feeder More Enticing?

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There's nothing sweeter than seeing birds enjoying the feeder that you've put out for them. And who wouldn't want a yard full of avians, especially considering that many birds can benefit your yard or garden? Bird feeders aren't just fun and beneficial for your garden, however. They can also help some birds survive difficult winters. 

Birdseed can be expensive, though, so you may have wondered if bulking it up with inexpensive additions like oats can help it stretch while still providing your feathered friends with nutrients. Unfortunately, oats aren't well liked by most birds, and they'll likely just toss them on the ground in search of tastier food in the feeder.

Of course, not all birds enjoy the same foods, and there are some birds that will eat oats. These are primarily doves and quail. So unless you are specifically feeding these birds, it's best to keep oats out of your birdseed mix and also avoid any premade varieties that already come with a significant amount of oats or millet mixed in. Since few birds will eat them, they'll likely just end up attracting rats or even growing mold that could be harmful to visiting birds.

Since oats aren't ideal for bird feeders, you may be wondering what the right kind of food to attract more birds actually is. This depends on what kind of birds you're trying to attract. Sunflower seeds are popular with a range of birds, including goldfinches, chickadees, and juncos. They're the best type of seed for attracting cardinals as well. Nyjer is another popular seed that is a hit with finches, chickadees, and indigo buntings.

If you're looking for something from your pantry to share with your local birds, peanuts may be your best bet. These nuts are a hit with woodpeckers, chickadees, and even mockingbirds. Fruits and berries are also big hits with a lot of different kinds of birds, including finches, woodpeckers, and orioles. Suet can make an excellent snack for birds too, whether you render it yourself or buy it premade – something like St. Albans Bay suet cakes would be a great place to start. You can also try covering a peanut-butter coated pinecone in seeds or other popular snacks for birds, and hang it up in a tree.