Mealworms
Meal worms are the larva of the darkling beetle. They are safe and easy to keep in our houses, stored in buckets or plastic bins. Mealworms are only as healthful as what they eat. If yours arrive packed in newspaper remove them from the paper at once so they don't eat the ink. Put an inch or two of wheat bran or dry oatmeal in the bottom of your container and add cut up apples or potatoes to provide moisture. During the nesting season, to improve the level of nutrients, you can add powdered hand feeding bird food (found in pet stores). Keep your mealworms in the coolest place in the house, a basement is a good choice, but do not let them freeze.
Mealworms are a great source of vitamins, calcium, and protein for many birds that don't usually visit bird feeders. You can attract bluebirds, catbirds, Purple Martins, robins, Carolina Wrens, and some warblers.
For the bluebirds and smaller birds you will probably want to use a bluebird feeder. For the larger birds a plastic dish, with at least 2" straight sides, in a hanging tray feeder or fly through feeder works good.
Rape seed
Rape seed, which is grown for oil production and animal feed, is eaten by finches, Indigo Buntings, native sparrows juncos, doves and quail. If these species don't come to your yard the rape seed will go to waste. The best feeders to use are ground tray feeders and finch feeders. I would try a small amount to start with to see if it will be eaten by your local birds.
Canary seed
House sparrows and cowbirds love this seed. You would do better using black oil sunflower seed.
Flax, red millet, golden millet
These seeds are often the "fillers" in the inexpensive packaged bird seed mixes, but most birds will not eat them. They are tossed aside and become a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus. This causes the fresh seed to become contaminated quickly.
Read the ingredients list on the mixtures and do not buy them if contain a large amount of these seeds. If a seed mix has a lot of small red seeds make sure they are sorghum or milo.
You may do better making your own mixture. Here is one suggestion:
- 10 parts black oil sunflower
- 5 parts millet (white proso preferred)
- 3 parts cracker corn
- 2 parts safflower
- 1 part flax seed
Start with this but monitor it and see if any type of seed is not being eaten, if they are leave them out. Talk to your local bird store or farm supply and see if there are other seeds that work well in your area.
This series of articles are designed to help you in choosing bird seed and bird food. You will also learn what birds you can expect to attract and what feeders you can use.
We are the owner of the http://thebirdfeedingstation.com. The bird feeding station is your online source for feeding stations, including cardinal feeders, finch feeders, and all of your wild bird feeding and watching needs.
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