Peanuts as Bird Food

Peanuts as Bird Food

Peanuts as bird food. First of all, bird peanuts are not really nuts at all. A cool (or not so cool) piece of trivia!  They are in fact a legume, which is part of the bean family! The great thing about bird nuts is that they are a rich source of protein, containing plenty of healthy oils and valuable nutrition.

The key nutritional components of peanuts for birds include:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin E
• Iron
• Zinc
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Fat

Economy Grade Peanuts for Birds, Bird Nuts

 

 

Why is feeding birds with peanuts so great?

Due to their high-fat content, they are a fantastic source of energy all year round, but particularly in winter and early spring when conditions can be harsh.

The fact is, no matter what type of peanut product you feed your feathered garden friends, you are offering an extremely nutritional treat. However, knowing how exactly to feed peanuts to birds is an entirely different story. At Kennedy, we are here to offer this handy guide - on how you can use peanuts as bird food.

Attracting more birds to your garden

Peanuts are one of those bird feeding hacks people simply don’t know about. If used, they can attract a wide variety of different birds such as Jays. Somehow, Jays can sense peanuts from miles away. You may not see them for months, even years, but when you lay out a couple of peanuts you can expect to see them flock to your garden!

The squirrel conundrum

Squirrels love most foods, which is unfortunate for your birds. One thing that is certainly not exempt from their pallet is peanuts. We also know squirrels can be persistent creatures, but luckily there are peanut feeders out there designed to stop squirrels stealing your bird food.

Shelled peanuts vs No shell peanuts

Peanuts are always going to be consumed no matter what shape or form. However, at Kennedy, we offer peanuts for birds in many forms red skins, split peanuts, blanched peanuts or peanut granules, all have no shells, which keeps beaks in great condition. Keep in mind that peanuts will also require different peanut feeders. So choose a feeder that is best suited to the product and the birds you wish to attract.

Split peanuts or whole peanuts?.

Split peanuts are perfect during Spring and Summer months because young fledglings may choke on the whole peanuts.

Salted or unsalted peanuts for birds

Without question the peanuts you feed your birds should be unsalted. In the same way the doctor says salt is bad for us, it’s also bad for birds. Birds can not process large amounts of salt and as a result, can suffer health issues and renal failure. Always stay clear of giving any foods containing salt to birds.

Looking after your bird feeder and peanuts

If it’s damp or rainy in your area, you will need to clean out all your feeders, not just your peanut feeder. Like bird seed, peanuts can get mouldy, so putting out a few peanuts at a time when its raining will help you conserve them.

Do peanuts have good fat?

Yes! In the same way nuts in a sensible portion is good for humans, it’s true for birds too! Peanuts not only provide a good source of protein, but they are also a great source of unsaturated fat.

Top tip for feeding with peanuts

If you enjoy serving up peanuts for birds, try mixing them with some black sunflower  Birds absolutely adore both. They are also both fantastic sources of nutritious energy.

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get birds straight away. Just tell yourself it will be worth the wait when you see a variety of different birds visiting your garden, when you offer out peanuts. Adding peanuts will be a welcomed addition to your backyard buffet and you could see a whole host of new varieties of wildlife paying you a visit.