Bird Seed 101: What You Should Know!

With our wide variety of bulk bird seed to choose from, it’s easy to get overwhelmed on what to get. So we’ve created a guide on our selection to help you find the best option! Whether there’s a specific bird your trying to attract or avoid, or you’re tired of the food waste, this guide will surely help point you in the right direction!

Wild Bird Mix (with and without corn)

Our wild bird mix is one of our most popular and highly recommended bird seed! This general blend is perfect for a wide variety of backyard bird feeding! Featuring black oil sunflower, millet, milo, and sometimes cracked corn. One pro to using this mix is the affordability, wide attraction, and fits most wild bird feeders. However, if you’re trying to avoid squirrels or possible food waste, this may not be for you. Some birds prefer the sunflower, therefore picking through the rest of the seed and causing it to drop. This isn’t always an issue, as it usually ends up getting eaten in the end! Using a squirrel proof feeder or baffle cant help solve your ongoing battle with the squirrels.

Black Oil Sunflower

Sunflower is one of the birds favorites! Almost all varieties of birds prefer this in most general mixes. If you’re looking to feed everyone, this is your go-to! This seed fits in almost any general feeder, unless specified for finches or peanuts. One issue people might have using this seed is that the shells often fall to the ground after eating and squirrels or bully birds generally try feed too. If you want less mess, there is a hulled option available in three different sizes!

Safflower

This type of seed is perfect for those who are trying to avoid squirrels or bully birds like starlings and grackles! Typically, they don’t prefer the taste and generally avoid feeding, leaving the good stuff for the birds you’re trying to attract! Finches, Chickadees, Woodpeckers, and more will eat this seed. With safflower, there usually isn’t much mess after feeding time. It offers a similar fat and protein content of sunflower seed and fits in most general feeders!

Deluxe Cardinal Blend

Deluxe cardinal blend is a perfect high-quality mix of seed for all types of birds! Featuring black oil sunflower, striped sunflower, sunflower hearts, safflower, and roasted peanuts. By using this seed, you can attract varieties like Cardinals, Blue Jays, Woodpeckers, Finches, and more! Generally, this seed fits in most wild bird feeders! If you’re trying to avoid squirrels, try using a squirrel-proof feeder or baffle to deter them!

Thistle (Nyger)

This tiny black seed is a favorite amongst small song birds like Gold Finches, Chickadees, Morning Doves, and more! For those who are trying to avoid bigger birds, thistle is so tiny that their beaks usually cant crack it open efficiently. Unlike previously mentioned seeds, thistle requires a special feeder with smaller holes so it doesn’t fall out. One con to using thistle is the fact that it’s usually best bought in small quantities. The size of the seed often has the oil inside drying up faster than others, causing birds to ignore it when stale. Which makes this seed best bought in the colder months, ensuring its longevity! Pro tip, to have your seed last, store in the freezer for up to a couple months!

Finch Mix

An in-house blend of seeds for smaller birds such as Gold Finches, Chickadees, Morning Doves, and more! Featuring thistle (nyger), fine sunflower hearts, and millet. In regards to straight thistle, this blend is more affordable, attracts a wider variety of smaller birds, and has a better shelf life. Although it lasts slightly longer than straight thistle, this blend is still better bought in smaller quantities or stored in cold spaces (like a freezer). Like thistle, this mix requires a finch feeder (one with smaller holes/openings).

Sunflower Hearts

Perfect for those looking for a no-mess seed! Sunflower hearts are the hulled insides of Black Oil Sunflower, one of the wild birds favorites! We offer it in three different sizes; fine for a finch feeder, medium for a general feeder, and whole for a general feeder. Attracts a wide variety of birds, from Cardinals, Starlings, Finches, and more! If you are trying to avoid squirrels, be sure to use a squirrel-proof feeder or baffle to deter them.

Peanuts (in or out of the shell, peanut hearts)

Peanuts attract anything from Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Nuthatches, Chickadees, and more! It’s high in protein and using them in the shell offers brain stimulation. Many people choose to feed peanuts to the squirrels in an attempt to keep them distracted from other feeders. However, if you are trying to avoid squirrels, this may not be for you. Consider investing in a squirrel-proof feed or baffle to deter them! Like Thistle and Finch Mix, peanuts require a certain feeder. Some general feeders fit peanuts out of the shell, otherwise there are specialty ones for peanuts in the shell.