The cost of bird food, like that of just about everything else these days, continues to rise. Currently, the price of many commercial bird foods is over $10 per pound. And that’s if you buy in bulk or with larger bags!
Even worse, many commercial bird feeds lack essential nutrients because they are made with cheap fillers. Many species of birds, including the cardinal, blue jay, and starling, need a diet high in fat and calories in order to survive the winter.
The good news is that you can save a ton of money while still giving your feathered friends the best nutrition possible by using this method.
With that in mind, here’s how to make your own homemade bird feed this year – and fill all of your bird feeders without breaking the bank!
1. The Best Ingredients – Making the Most of Your Money!
Feed for birds should have at least three different types of food. Not only will a wide selection entice more birds to your feeder, but it will also allow you to cater to their varying nutritional needs.
Naturally, there are countless seeds and good food sources that are perfect for bird feeding. However, there are better options than others if you want to feed them well and save more of your hard-earned money in your pocket.
Dried fruit and safflower seeds, for instance, are great examples of nutritious bird food. Unfortunately, both are also incredibly costly. You may expect to pay more than $50 for a fifty pound bag of safflower seeds. As for dried fruit, well, it’s fruit, and you know how pricey that can be!
In that case, what are some low-cost options that won’t sacrifice quality? The following are four excellent feed options that can be combined to create a cheap and very effective bird feed mix:
- White millet
- Peanuts
- black oil sunflower seeds
- cracked corn
