Uneducated animal lover

[yesterday]

I love all creatures. I'm just emptying my fridge and cupboards and want to give it to the birds but I don't know what they like or indeed might be harmful to them. I live near the sea so there are a lot of birds of all descriptions. I have mainly bread, biscuits, cakes tin of tuna, cooked chicken. I really dont know whats what (any advice) Oh! yes and lots of fruit.

[mollykins]

bread is bad for animals as it swells in their stomachs. fruit should be ok as long as it hasn't got sugary coatings of any kind such as those yoghurty ones you get. Sea birds would eat tuna I imagine but i don't know about chicken, badgers or foxes might eat that if the birds dont.

[ttfn]

Have a look at the RSPB site
http://www.rspb.org.uk/
and type in bird feed

[boxtops]

If you are emptying your cupboards of good food which is still in date, or nearly, please don't give it the the birds - give it your local homeless centre, the Cats Protection League will have the tuna. Took much bread and cake is bad for birds, it's not natural for them, and as you are near the sea you will encourage seagulls who eat anything and are the bane of our lives. Birds like blackbirds will eat some fruit but too much is not good for them, not too much in one go. Can't you give it to a neighbour or needy friend instead of just chucking it out?

[pastafreak]

I agree about giving the tins to a homeless charity. I work as a cook for one....and we always take practical,store cupboard tins.
Look in your local phonebook,or contact the Salvation Army in your area.

[jomifl]

foxes will eat almost anything apart from tomato cucumber and lettuce. Our local foxes in the new forest disposed of chinese takeaway leftovers, curry and everything else. Dried foods such as rice and beans need to be cooked. If the foxes leave anything the magpies, and jackdaws will deal with it. Seagulls will not land in enclosed gardens.

[jomifl]

postscript,don't worry about feeding birds bread, cake, fruit etc. they won't swell up and die, I used to use up old flour by making bread with it and giving it to the rooks,magpies etc. They would demolish a couple of loaves in 10 mins. and come back the next day for more. And yes it was the same ones (from the rookery at the end of our garden).