Anything I Shouldn't Feed The Birds?

[hammerman]

Just bought a bird feeding station. I have the usual peanuts, bird seed and fat balls. Visitors include Dunnocks, Blue Tits, Starlings and a Crow.

Anything from the house...leftover veg for example that i could feed them? Are there any definate no-nos? My daughter made an egg sarnie and only ate half of it....any good for the birds?

Thanks, HM

[waterboatman]

No. Birds should not be fed bread. They will eat it, it fills them up but has no nutritional value, therefore is not good for them. They can starve on bread, believe it or not!

[malagabob]

As I recall don't put bread out for birds A lot of people do but I think it doesn't do them any good In addition to seed, nuts, fat balls etc, cut up some apples

[jakep]

Tits and finches really seem to enjoy sunflower hearts

[dannyk13]

Definitely no bread.

[hammerman]

What about cooked (steamed) vegetables....Broccoli, Cauliflower, even spuds?

[dannyk13]

No.

[murraymints]

nuts seed fat...I make things with empty yoghurt pots...few nuts and seeds and top up with a melted lard..let set then either bang out and slice ..or hang up

[dannyk13]

Useful info here:--
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningadvice/10401700/What-can-I-feed-garden-birds.html

[murraymints]

apples for blackbirds ! they love them

[Chipchopper]

Nothing with salt in it

[woofgang]

make sure too that you only put out what will be eaten quite quickly or rats will join the party! The other thing that people sometimes don’t realise is that feeders can harbour disease and as loads of birds will come to them, any bugs get shared around. Keep the feeders clean.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/helping-birds/feeding/hygiene.aspx

[hereIam]

My Mum before me and me also have fed bread to the birds for more years than I care to remember, we put allsorts of other things out as well, nuts, worms, suet, but it's the bread that always goes first. In the spring, the blackbirds picked up beak fulls of it and flew away with it to the nest. I will continue to feed them bread, along with everything else.

[jourdain2]

I remember my mum used to hang the turkey carcase from a branch and the birds picked it clean, I did the same in France - same result. They also like eggs. Agree no bread.

[andypipwilly]

As Wogan would have said, "Tits like coconuts"
May he RIP.

[pusskin]

My robin only ever eaten raw porridge, so on the same bird table. It's mixed seeds , porridge and any small scraps for other birds.....No bread.