Millet and oats are the best types of grain to feed to garden birds, with millet eaten by sparrows, finches and buntings, with oats eaten by softbill species such as Blackbird and Robin.
Millet, Oats & Wheat
Millet, oats and wheat are all suitable to feed to some species of garden birds, and either as a mix or a straight feed on its own. What millet, wheat and oats all have in common is that they are types of cereal grain, and therefore all have originated from wild grasses and selectively bred as cultivated plants over time. Millet comes in two forms; red millet and white millet, with both types grown here on our farm.
Millet seed for birds is mainly eaten by House sparrows and Tree sparrows, plus some species of finch and bunting. Wheat bird food is normally avoided by most songbirds as it’s largely indigestible to them and contains little nutritional value, though it will be eaten by House sparrows. Oats for birds are a very good food for ground feeding species such as Blackbird and Robin, and either as Rolled Naked oats, or Pinhead oats.
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FAQS
Which grain is good for birds?
Is millet fattening for birds?
Millet is not fattening, as such, to wild birds, and anyway no garden songbirds will put on excess weight as they’re metabolism doesn’t allow it. What millet does provide to some species of garden bird, along with other foods, is a level of fat and nutrition which is beneficial to their survival.
Do birds eat porridge oats?
Yes, some garden birds do eat porridge oats, but it’s important to only feed uncooked porridge oats and never cooked.
What can you mix with oats for birds?
Oats aren’t suitable to put in tube feeders for seeds, and therefore are best fed from a bird table, ground tray or a domed feeder, and in all cases can be mixed with foods such as sunflower hearts and suet pellets.