Dangerous kindness. What should not be put in feeders?

In winter, especially snowy and frosty, birds have little natural food. We have known since childhood that in such times, supplementary feeding is important for them. But what products should not be put in the feeder?

The main thing when feeding birds in winter is not to harm them. This is especially important for small birds. They lose heat very quickly and become vulnerable. Sparrows, jackdaws, crows, magpies, and pigeons stay to winter near us. From the forests, tits, bullfinches, woodpeckers, and jays move closer to people.

Experts call bread, especially black and moldy, millet, rice, and buckwheat (they swell significantly), and anything salty and fried (nuts, chips) harmful and dangerous food. Do not give dairy products (birds lack the enzymes to digest them), potatoes, or citrus fruits.

What grains are suitable for birds?

You can mix wheat, barley, millet, and a little oats. Sparrows and tits will peck at crushed corn and wheat groats. Grains can be given raw, or sometimes as loose porridge made from them. For large birds, beans, peas, and lentils will be nutritious food. Next to the feeder with grains, a drinker with fresh, still water should be placed for the birds.

Raw, unsalted black sunflower seeds are ideal. They are rich in oils, and the husks are thin, so even sparrows can handle them.

What to feed tits?

In winter, tits need a source of energy in the form of fats to survive. This is usually unsalted lard, cut into pieces and placed in the feeder or hung as a chunk among the branches. Tits peck at lard in any position, even upside down, which is inaccessible to other birds. You can also give them raw, unsalted meat or hard-boiled eggs.

Bird feed must be fresh and of high quality. Seeds, grains, and other products should be free of unpleasant odors, rot, and mold, which can be fatal to feathered creatures.

Remove leftover food each time you add new food to prevent it from rotting and attracting rodents. Furthermore, rotting food can cause the spread of diseases among birds.