Christmas leftovers for birds
Helpful advice on what we can feed birds with Christmas leftovers. Courtesy gardenwildlifedirect.co.uk.
We can feed
Christmas pudding, fruit cake or mince pies, which have a high fat content, fruits and fats supply birds with vital energy during the cold weather.
Cold roast potatoes are another great source of fat. To serve, simply chop into peck size pieces and add to your ground feeder or bird table.
Cooked or uncooked pastry is a superb way of adding extra fats to a birds diet.
Mild low-salt cheese that is grated or crumbled can also give your birds crucial energy, cheese is a favourite amongst robins, dunnocks, blackbirds and song thrushes.
Attract starlings by feeding chopped apples or pears. Soaked dried fruit is a delicious treat for bird, especially with blackbirds.
We can’t feed
Avoid feeding salted nuts; as birds are partially unable to process salt in high quantities and it will harm their nervous system.
Foods also to avoid are cured meats, crisps, cakes, bread and pigs in blankets, these generally tend to contain processed fatty foods which are harmful to birds. Cooked meats can also attract vermin, so best averted. Bread will bloat your bird’s stomach and doesn’t contain any important nutrients.
Christmas stuffing mixes will usually contains many artificial ingredients which may dehydrate your garden birds.
A good rule to follow; foods that are generally unhealthy to human are likely to be unhealthy to wild birds too.
from Cholsey Wildlife https://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/2018/12/christmas-leftovers-for-birds.html
We can feed
Christmas pudding, fruit cake or mince pies, which have a high fat content, fruits and fats supply birds with vital energy during the cold weather.
Cold roast potatoes are another great source of fat. To serve, simply chop into peck size pieces and add to your ground feeder or bird table.
Cooked or uncooked pastry is a superb way of adding extra fats to a birds diet.
Mild low-salt cheese that is grated or crumbled can also give your birds crucial energy, cheese is a favourite amongst robins, dunnocks, blackbirds and song thrushes.
Attract starlings by feeding chopped apples or pears. Soaked dried fruit is a delicious treat for bird, especially with blackbirds.
We can’t feed
Avoid feeding salted nuts; as birds are partially unable to process salt in high quantities and it will harm their nervous system.
Foods also to avoid are cured meats, crisps, cakes, bread and pigs in blankets, these generally tend to contain processed fatty foods which are harmful to birds. Cooked meats can also attract vermin, so best averted. Bread will bloat your bird’s stomach and doesn’t contain any important nutrients.
Christmas stuffing mixes will usually contains many artificial ingredients which may dehydrate your garden birds.
A good rule to follow; foods that are generally unhealthy to human are likely to be unhealthy to wild birds too.
from Cholsey Wildlife https://cholseywildlife.blogspot.com/2018/12/christmas-leftovers-for-birds.html
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