Bird Feeding Made Easy: Your Guide to the Best Seeds and Feeders for Every Birder
Looking to bring some life and color into your yard? Bird feeding is a simple and fun process to do so! Whether you’re an experienced bird lover or just starting out, selecting the proper seed and feeder is what matters.
This article will walk you through some great options for bird seed and a wonderful feeder that will bring nice birds into your house.
What is the Best Bird Feed for Your Garden?
The right bird seed can make a huge difference in why birds want to come to your garden. We’ve found some fabulous seed mixes that are perfect for welcoming different types of birds and having them come back time and time again throughout the year.
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Wagner’s Eastern Regional Wild Bird Food
This is a great all-around seed mix that’s great for bringing in many types of different songbirds. It’s loaded with seeds like sunflower, millet, and safflower that are favorites for a huge variety of birds. Place it in a tube, hopper, or platform feeders.
Best For: Attracting many different songbirds.
Key Ingredients: Sunflower Seed, Millet, Cracked Corn, Safflower Seed.
Why We Like It: This mix is a great “go-to” for attracting a wide variety of beautiful birds.
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Kaytee Wild Bird Ultimate No Mess Wild Bird Food
Tired of cleaning up from sloppy seed hulls? This mix is for you! It’s 100% edible and hullo-free, meaning no mess beneath your feeder. It features high-quality ingredients like hulled sunflower seeds and peanuts, a favorite among birds. It’s great for a range of birds, including cardinals, finches, and chickadees.
Best For: Mess-free yard and no mess beneath your feeder.
Key Ingredients: Hulled Sunflower Seed, White Millet, Cracked Corn, Peanuts.
Why We Like It: We love this mix if you like having your patio or yard tidy.
Check it out on Amazon (paid link)
Kaytee Songbird Wild Bird Seed
Want to attract more colorful birds? This blend is designed with bird watchers in mind. It’s a high-energy blend of two types of sunflower seeds, peanuts, and millet, all ready to attract colorful and bright songbirds like cardinals, grosbeaks, and blue jays.
Best For: Attracting colorful songbirds.
Key Ingredients: Sunflower Seeds, Peanuts, Millet.
Why We Like It: This blend is perfect for bringing a pop of color to your backyard.
Check it out on Amazon (paid link)
Wagner’s Farmer’s Delight Wild Bird Food
This blend is an economical value blend that’s still packed with seeds that birds love, like sunflower, millet, and cracked corn. It’s a great one to use in hopper or tube feeders and will attract plenty of everyday birds.
Best For: An all-purpose, value-priced mix.
Key Ingredients: Sunflower Seed, Millet, Cracked Corn.
Why We Like It: It’s a great option for any budget that birds will love.
Compare the Bird Seed Mixes
| Seed Mix | Key Ingredients | Best For |
| Wagner’s Eastern Regional | Sunflower, Millet, Cracked Corn, Safflower | Attracting many different types of songbirds |
| Kaytee Wild Bird Basic | Sunflower, Millet | Common backyard birds on a budget |
| Kaytee Songbird Wild Bird Seed | Sunflower, Peanuts, Millet | Attracting colorful songbirds |
| Wagner’s Farmer’s Delight | Sunflower, Millet, Cracked Corn | A wide variety of birds |
Finding the Perfect Feeder for Your Yard
You have your seed, but now you just need a wonderful feeder to put it in! A great feeder is easy to use and keeps the seeds fresh for your birds.
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Birdream 2-Pack Bird Feeders
This is a simple-to-hang, enjoyable bird feeder with a retro pagoda look. It’s ideal for attracting wild birds like chickadees, goldfinches, and cardinals to your yard. The bonus? You receive it in 2-packs, so you can hang two feeders in two spots in your yard!
Why We Like It:
Easy to Use: It has a transparent panel so you can see when the seeds are low and a wide opening for quick refilling.
Fun Design: The pagoda style looks great in any garden.
Holds a lot: Each feeder holds up to 5 pounds of seeds.
Check it out on Amazon (paid link)
Metal Roof Bird Feeder
This sturdy, chew-proof feeder is perfect for outdoor use. It has a metal top and base, making it tough against squirrels. Best of all, it’s easy to clean and refill with one hand!
Why We Like It:
Chew-Proof Design: The metal roof and base are extra durable and resistant to squirrel damage.
Easy to Clean: You can take it apart in just 30 seconds without any tools.
Simple Refilling: Just press a button on the roof and slide it up, so you can add more seeds with only one hand.
Smart Design: The high side walls on the seed tray keep seeds from spilling, and multiple birds can feed at once.
Feeding Wild Birds on the Go
Want to feed birds by hand on a walk through the woods or park? That’s a great way to enjoy a close-up wildlife observation. The secret is to do it responsibly so the birds and their environment are not at risk.
Tips for Ethical Wild Bird Feeding
Check Local Rules: Before you feed birds in a park, make sure it’s allowed. Some places have rules against feeding wildlife.
Don’t Leave a Mess: Always clean up after yourself. Never leave empty bags, containers, or spoiled food behind.
Bring the Right Food: Use an all-purpose seed mix that is suitable for a wide variety of birds.
For this type of birding, you’ll need feeders that are small, light, and easy to carry with you.
Common Questions About Feeding Birds
Should I feed the birds all year round?
Yes! Birds need to be fed every day of the year. They have high metabolisms and need to eat often. Even when there is natural food available, supplementing it with a food source helps them, especially during the breeding season when they have little ones to raise.
How do I stop squirrels from eating all the seeds?
Squirrels can be a common problem. There are a few things you can do:
Use a Squirrel-Proof Feeder: Many feeders are designed to keep squirrels away.
Use Specific Seeds: Squirrels often don’t like safflower and nyjer seeds.
Give Them Their Own Food: You can put out a different food, like cracked corn, in a separate spot to keep them busy and away from the bird feeder.
Where is the best place to store my bird seed?
Store your bird seed in a cool, dry place at all times. Close up the container or bag. Don’t put it on a cement floor because moisture will be passed to the seeds and ruin them.
Get Started Today!
Feeding birds is a wonderful way to connect with nature and enjoy the beautiful wildlife around you. With the right seeds and a great feeder, you’re all set to create a welcoming spot for birds in your backyard and beyond. We hope you enjoy your new visitors!