How to Buy Bird Food

New bird owners may not be aware of the various types of bird food available at local pet supply stores. There are mixtures of seed and other food for birds that are specially designed for small birds, wild birds and homes with multiple birds. You need to be sure that you know what kind of food your bird needs before you buy a new product.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Bird feeder

1. Speak with your veterinarian about the ideal diet for your pet bird. Pet food companies that claim to supply bird food for a wide range of birds may not take into account animal size, region of origin or other special dietary needs.
2. Purchase black sunflower seeds in large quantities as a good dietary foundation for your bird. Black sunflower seeds provide sufficient amounts of fat and nutrients for most North American birds. You can mix sunflower seeds with other foods to help keep your bird healthy.
3. Examine the packaging of commercial bird food to ensure that they don't contain too much filler. The majority of food within a package should be nutritious seeds for domesticated birds, instead of grains and other foods commonly used to fill out a package.
4. Place a reservoir with sugar water next to your bird feeder to draw exotic and rare wild birds into your yard. Hummingbirds and other birds with frenetic wing movements use sugar water to maintain their energy throughout the day.
5. Try special blends of bird food that are designed to keep older birds healthy. You can mix in small amounts of these expensive blends with regular food to make your investment last longer.
6. Measure the size of seeds, in comparison to the aperture of your bird feeder, to determine ease of access to food. You may need to sort through bird food weekly to prevent larger seeds from congesting your feeder.

Tips & Warnings

• Head to a local farm to find inexpensive options for bird food. A conversation with a farmer in your area can provide insight into the dietary habits of wild birds. Corn, seeds and meats desired by certain species of birds can be purchased from farmers, often at discounted rates.