Birds Are Quickly Becoming One Of The Most Popular Pets
Craig Seaton 6/20/2012
Bird food eaten by birds. Humans generally make or buy bird food to feed their pets or use as a bird feeder. Bird food can be natural or commercial. It depends on the specie of the birds, or the human.
Natural bird food exists in two types:
- Seed: Black sunflower seeds are highly recommended for use in bird feeders because they attract a wide variety of birds, have a high ratio of meat to shell, and are high in fat content.
- Non-seed: Since there are a variety of birds that do not eat seeds, other several types of food have traditionally been used. Suet (beef or mutton fat) is recommended for insect-eating birds like nuthatches and woodpeckers. Nectar (essentially sugar water) attracts hummingbirds. Bread and kitchen scraps are often fed to ducks and gulls. Chickens are commonly fed corn, wheat, barley, sorghum and milling-by-products, in a mixture traditionally called chicken scratch. Check This out
These seeds and non-seed supplies are commonly obtained as
by-products on farms, but can also be bought from independent
retailers.
Commercial bird food can also exist in two types:
- Non-farm: A wide variety of commercial bird food is available to bird owners, combining a variety of seeds in a single mix. Individual types of bird tend to pick out their favorite seeds and leave the rest uneaten, to be picked up by other birds.
- Farm: Farmed birds fed commercial bird food typically are given very specific scientifically designed pre blended feed. Examples of commercial bird food for chickens include chick starter medicated crumbles, chick grower crumbles, egg layer mash, egg layer pellet, egg layer crumbles, egg producer pellet, and broiler maker med crumbles. Pellet crumbles are often prepared for tiny chicks. Mash is more finely ground.
The variety of bird seeds and mixtures on the market is staggering.
In most locations, however, the best all-around attractant is black-oil
sunflower seed. This seed has a high meat-to-shell ratio; it is high in fat; and
its small size and thin shell make it easy for small birds to handle and crack.
Since birds need water for drinking and
bathing, they are attracted to water just as they are to feeders. You can
purchase a bird bath or simply use dishes or shallow pans. Birds seem to prefer
baths that are at ground level, but raised baths will attract birds as well.
Change the water every day to keep it fresh and clean.
Several species, including jays, nuthatch's, and woodpeckers,
readily consume peanuts. Be creative and see what you can attract with a variety
of foods. Try popped popcorn (without salt or butter), hulled sunflower seeds,
peanut hearts, soaked raisins, pieces of fruit (orioles like oranges), fruit
seeds (melons, apples), grapes, or mealworms.
