These are the top tips for serving your birds their very own Christmas dinner:
Do Feed
1. Mince pies and Christmas cake Both are full of fat, fruit and energy - the perfect meal for all types of birds
2. Christmas pudding Again, fruit, fat and energy rich, there's probably no better leftover for your birds!
3. Cooked potatoes Roast potatoes are particularly good as they'll be high in fat. Cut into bite sized chunks, and watch your blackbirds and thrushes gobble it up.
4. Cheese Cheese is high in fat and energy so will be particularly welcome. Mild cheese is best, grated or crumbled onto bird tables
5. Nuts and other finger foods Any unsalted nuts are ideal, make sure they are crushed or chopped first. Other savoury finger foods will also be appreciated as long as they are not salted.
6. Fat from the roasting tin Pour off any unused animal fat from the roasting tin and mix with lard, scraps and bird seed to create your own treat cake!
7. Fruit Chopped apples will be particularly loved by blackbirds
Don't Feed
1. Leftover cooked meat This is liable to attract vermin and cats which will scare your birds away
2. Salted peanuts and other salted savouries Salt is very bad for birds and salted products should never be put out for them. If you do have salted peanuts leftover you could wash and soak them first to remove the salt.
3. Chocolate (including biscuits) Chocolate and chocolaty snacks are a definite no. Chocolate contains theobromine, which is highly toxic to birds.
4. Crisps Crisps have a very high salt content so should not be fed to your garden birds
5. Turkey stuffing Shop bought stuffing often contains artificial ingredients that can dehydrate your birds
6. Bread Bread is not very high in calories and will quickly fill up little stomachs. It won't hurt your birds but offers very little energy benefit to them
7. Leftover cooked veg Whilst this won't do any harm to your birds, its unlikely to be eaten and will quickly rot
Some good pointers over the Xmas period for feeding our feathered friends.
Do Feed
1. Mince pies and Christmas cake Both are full of fat, fruit and energy - the perfect meal for all types of birds
2. Christmas pudding Again, fruit, fat and energy rich, there's probably no better leftover for your birds!
3. Cooked potatoes Roast potatoes are particularly good as they'll be high in fat. Cut into bite sized chunks, and watch your blackbirds and thrushes gobble it up.
4. Cheese Cheese is high in fat and energy so will be particularly welcome. Mild cheese is best, grated or crumbled onto bird tables
5. Nuts and other finger foods Any unsalted nuts are ideal, make sure they are crushed or chopped first. Other savoury finger foods will also be appreciated as long as they are not salted.
6. Fat from the roasting tin Pour off any unused animal fat from the roasting tin and mix with lard, scraps and bird seed to create your own treat cake!
7. Fruit Chopped apples will be particularly loved by blackbirds
Don't Feed
1. Leftover cooked meat This is liable to attract vermin and cats which will scare your birds away
2. Salted peanuts and other salted savouries Salt is very bad for birds and salted products should never be put out for them. If you do have salted peanuts leftover you could wash and soak them first to remove the salt.
3. Chocolate (including biscuits) Chocolate and chocolaty snacks are a definite no. Chocolate contains theobromine, which is highly toxic to birds.
4. Crisps Crisps have a very high salt content so should not be fed to your garden birds
5. Turkey stuffing Shop bought stuffing often contains artificial ingredients that can dehydrate your birds
6. Bread Bread is not very high in calories and will quickly fill up little stomachs. It won't hurt your birds but offers very little energy benefit to them
7. Leftover cooked veg Whilst this won't do any harm to your birds, its unlikely to be eaten and will quickly rot
Some good pointers over the Xmas period for feeding our feathered friends.
o
