Won’t Grow No Mess Bird Seed Mix

Bird seed and grain that has been kibbled or had the husks removed will attract a wider variety of birds as it is also ideal for soft-billed species, such as Robins and Blackbirds, that can't remove the husks or outer shells. It also greatly reduces the chance of germination below a feeder, plus makes the feeding area less prone to harbouring germs, causing disease from rotting seed husks and other waste.

The mix contains sunflower hearts, sunflower heart chips, chopped peanuts, pinhead oats and kibbled maize. This makes it easier for birds to eat and less likely to be wasted.

As well as purchasing a husk-free and kibbled mix such as this one, there are several other things you can do to try to reduce bird seed mess and germinating seeds. These include:

• Only buying high quality bird seed mixes which do not contain lots of ‘fillers’ like wheat, corn and even lentils. This is because cheap, low quality mixes which contain these fillers are not eaten by most species of garden bird, other than Wood pigeons and Feral pigeons. These very low quality mixes are what you typically see in discount stores, supermarkets and even garden centres, and should always be avoided. So just buy high quality bird seed mixes which is what we supply at Vine House Farm.
• Using bird feeder trays under feeders to catch any dropped pieces of bird food. Even though birds are less likely to discard seeds when they are in a husk-free mix, seeds and grains can still fall from feeders. This is particularly common when larger birds like Jackdaws feed on the mix, as their clumsy feeding style will result in seed being dropped and scattered.
• However, if you do use these trays then it is absolutely essential to clean them weekly as an absolute minimum, but if a large number of birds are attracted to the area, cleaning should be done every few days or even every day. This is not only because harmful bacteria can build up in the waste, but also because the single cell parasite Trichomonosis can be passed from one bird to another in dropped food, which is then fatal to some species of finch and notably Greenfinch.
• Preventing seeds from getting wet. Hulled seeds can spoil quickly if they get wet. Check your feeders regularly and keep them clean.
• Keep feeding areas clean and move feeders to different areas of your garden. Fallen seeds can rot and make the ground around feeding areas harmful to birds.
• Store properly. Make sure you prevent rodents from getting near your bird food by storing it in a sealed container, in a cool place like a garage or shed.