Bird seed feeders are easy to make and nature friendly.
The key to attracting more birds is to use a variety of different foods, but what are the bad choices?Poor food can lead to diseases and can affect birds' responses to weather and diseases.If you don't eat these bad foods, your birds will get the best possible diet.
If birdseed is mishandled or allowed to rot in poor conditions, it can cause diseases among birds.Always check to be sure the seed is dry and fresh, and change it after the feeders have been soaked to keep it from spoiling.The seeds that are clumped, moldy, or sprouted should be thrown away.
A small amount of bread is acceptable to feed birds as a special treat, but large quantities are not good for you or the birds.Birds shouldn't be offered bread that is bad.
There is no excuse for not using fresh nectar for hummingbird and orioles.Old nectar may be cloudy or discolored.When nectar is spoiled, it is best to refresh it every few days to avoid mold andbacteria that can be fatal to birds.
Birds should not be offered fruit or seed that has been treated with pesticides or other potentially toxic chemicals.Even small quantities of these chemicals can be fatal to birds, and poisons may build up in birds' bodies to cause breeding problems or be passed along to young birds.
Birds don't like junk food such as chips, cheese puffs, corn chips and pretzels.They are filled with processed chemicals that have not been tested on birds, so their effects cannot be predicted.If you want to offer a unique treat instead, offer plain, air-popped popcorn with no salt or other topping, or consider other kitchen scraps for birds.
Many birds don't offer raw meat in any form.Birds can be killed by dangerous bacteria that can grow on these foods, and they may also attract other undesirable feeders such as rodents and bears.If you want to give birds a safe and healthy option, offer suet.
Just like other junk food, scraps of cookies, donuts, cakes, pies, cupcakes, and other sweet baked goods do not offer good nutrition and are packed with processed ingredients that are not suitable for birds.If you want to make bird "cookies", use suet, cornmeal, peanut butter, and other healthy foods.
It is not good for birds to eat honey.If you want to make hummingbird oriole nectar, avoid using organic honey because it can harborbacteria and grow mold that can be fatal to backyard birds.
Birds and humans don't like foods high in salt.Birds can process small amounts of salt, but large quantities are dangerous.Birds shouldn't be offered salty meats, chips, or other animal foods that have salt in them.Birds should not be given salty seeds.
Birds can tolerate small amounts of salt, but they can't eat large quantities of milk.Birds should not be offered any soft cheeses or milk.Birds usually get crop milk from their parents, so don't feed baby birds milk.