As soon as the first snow falls and the earth is hidden under a blanket of white, the birds flock to the gardens in search of food. With homemade food that adapts to the needs of birds, You can attract winged friends to your garden or balcony.

According to ornithological experts, it is not necessary to feed the birds in winter, as they are adapted to the local climate. However, Feeding facilitates the survival of many birds when there is snow or frost.

A poor diet also increases the risk of disease, which is why you should prepare the food yourself and always pay attention to the hygiene of the feeders. It is also important not to overfeed the birds.

What food is best for birds?

Since the little bird mainly depends on sufficient fat in winter, it is important to pay attention to fatty foods. Sunflower seeds and crushed hazelnuts and peanuts are ideal. But oats also provide a lot of energy to many birds.

When offering birds seeds, always you need to make sure they come from native plants. Thistle, teasel, sunflower, pumpkin and calendula seeds are particularly suitable.

You can collect them yourself in summer and autumn to be able to offer them at the «buffet» to the birds in winter. But You can also offer oats and nuts to the birds.

What does each bird eat?

To attract as many different bird species as possible to the garden, it is important to ensure a wide variety of foods. With apples, raisins and also cereal flakes, you can create a treat for birds that eat softer foods. These include blackbirds, robins and common wrens. These types of birds also prefer to search for food on or near the ground.

With grains, nuts and seeds we can set the table for the grain eater. Chickadees, titmice, woodpeckers and nuthatches, On the other hand, they are not picky eaters and are satisfied with both soft foods and grains.

Feed the birds with homemade food

If you prepare bird food yourself, you can prevent the spread of unwanted exotic plant seeds, such as ragweed, which are sometimes found in prepared foods. Additionally, purchased food is often not species appropriate and is not good for many small birds. Making food is not difficult at all if it adapts to the needs of the species found in the area.

As a feeder you can use an empty coconut shell or an old bowl.

1. Food for the birdhouse

Ingredients:

• 300 g coconut oil
• 100 g organic rapeseed oil
• 700 g local seeds and/or flakes

Elaboration:

1. Heat coconut oil and a little vegetable oil, add seeds, coarse oatmeal or other cereal flakes.
2. Do not cook: the seeds and flakes should only absorb a little of the fat.
3. Let cool and serve in a bowl.

Place a little of the food in the bowl and store the rest in the refrigerator. Clean the food container every day with gloves and refill it, as bird droppings can contain dangerous pathogens.

2. Hanging food

Ingredients:

• 250 g coconut oil
• 150 g sunflower seeds
• 150 g oats
• Small pieces of peanuts or hazelnuts (unsalted and crushed)
• Small raisins (organic or without preservative sulfur dioxide)

Elaboration:

1. Melt the coconut oil in a frying pan over low heat.
2. Mix the sunflower seeds, oats and peanuts.
3. Press the mixture into a food bowl.
4. You can shape homemade birdseed with the help of cookie cutters.

3. Food for soft-eating birds

To attract soft feeders to your garden, you can also Cut apples and place them in corners of the garden or hang them from trees. Soft eaters also like untreated raisins.