Bird Food From Home

Homemade food that birds can eat

There are many household foods that can be fed to birds, provided they are used in moderation. It is noteworthy that providing domestic food for birds includes many advantages, as it saves the money used to buy food seeds intended for feeding them, and also reduces food waste, and among these foods are the following :

Raw vegetables and fruits

How to present vegetables and fruits

Raw vegetables and fruits are sources rich in nutrients, but they must be introduced to sparrows gradually and slowly, which gives the sparrow the ability to adapt to the new diet, and on the other hand, the rapid and sudden introduction of fruits and vegetables can cause the sparrow to lose its appetite.

Vegetables as food for birds

Fresh or frozen vegetables can be served to sparrows. Vegetables are kept in the freezer after washing them well with water, then cut and placed in airtight containers or resealable plastic bags. Although vegetables kept in the freezer are good for feeding sparrows, they do not carry value. The same nutrients as fresh vegetables.

Taking into account cutting vegetables in different shapes and sizes, in addition to offering peeled and unpeeled, soft and hard ones, eating birds of varied and disparate food is an activity that challenges their mind and stimulates their senses, according to the leaflet (Fruits and Vegetables in Bird Feeding) presented by Dr. Rick Axelsson, [ 3 The following are the best types of vegetables that can be offered as food for sparrows:

dark yellow vegetables; Pumpkin, pumpkin.
green vegetables; such as parsley, lettuce, cucumber, and broccoli, with the need to avoid avocado because it is considered toxic food for birds.
legumes; such as beans, peas, and lentils, with the possibility of serving them cooked beans.
orange vegetables; Like carrots, which is one of the healthy options, because it contains more beta-carotene than other vegetables, which is needed to produce vitamin A, which many birds lack.

Fruits as food for birds

Small amounts of clean, cut fruits should be offered to the birds, taking into account the removal of the seeds from the fruit first; For the possibility of causing poisoning of the sparrow, as each of the kiwi, mango, papaya, orange, grapefruit, and apples without seeds are among their favorite fruits, in addition to melons, bananas, pears, pineapples, and grapes, where fresh fruits are considered more nutritious than Canned or frozen fruits.

Seeds, grains and nuts

Seed-bearing flowers are natural, nutritious options that can be added to the food of birds after they are planted in the backyard of the house. As the seeds of the sunflower plant, while the nuts are; Such as peanuts, walnuts, and pine nuts from food sources rich in fats and proteins, and they are among the favorite foods for many birds, and they are ideal foods for storage to be used during the winter season.

baked goods

Baked goods are among the favorite foods of birds, including: bread, bread crusts, cakes, biscuits, and crackers. These baked goods must be divided into small pieces and soaked in water before serving them to the birds. Uncooked pastry dough is also suitable food.

Cheese

Small pieces of hard cheese can be offered to birds, and softened types of cheese such as American cheese or softened cheddar are the most suitable option for them, but soft cheese such as cream cheese must be avoided, and moldy or spoiled cheese must be avoided to birds under any circumstances.

Rice and pasta

Cooked plain pasta or rice is a great source of carbohydrates, especially for grain-eating birds. It should be cut into small pieces that the birds can handle, but you should avoid serving pasta with heavy sauces, strong spices, or layers of thick cheese.

Eat cats or dogs

The food for dogs and cats is prepared so that it is suitable for different types of pets, and it can be a healthy food source for birds, but dry food must be soaked with water, or crushed to be ground before serving it to the birds.

Breakfast chips

Cereals and oats (including quick-cooking oats) are popular food for birds. For better nutrition, it’s best to offer flakes and cereals that are lower in sugar and artificial dyes.

Eggs and eggshells

Cooked eggs are suitable food for birds , as they provide them with many essential nutrients, while crushed egg shells are also an important source of calcium, especially for birds that build nests (wish to mate), because the lack of an adequate amount of calcium in their food will cause them to lay eggs It has weak scales that affect the health of its offspring, and it also helps them in the digestion process