Recommended mix?

[Solomon]

Im trying to encourage a variety of birds to my garden. What sorts of food should I put out as a "basic mix"?

Currently I get Sparrows (23 at the last count, as they perched on next doors pergola! :D) and the odd Wood Pigeon. Im feeding them with peanuts, bread, fat balls (they love these!) and some generic "wild bird mix". Is there anything else I could put out to encourage more species? I live on a housing estate, with fields and wooded areas around it.

I do get a robin that comes occasionally, who loves the mealworms I put out. Once, I left the mealworm tray out by accident, one cold night. When I discovered it next morning, the worms were very lethargic. My wife's face was a picture when I told her that Id put them in the tumble dryer to warm them up. :D

[Shamal]

Hi Solomon,
I put out hi-energy seed mixes on the tables and the path, these contain a lot of black sunflower seed and prove very popular with all the finches such as chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch and Siskin & Brambling in the late winter. Other birds enjoy the mix as well and it is hard to think of many species that don't have nibble at one stage or another, I have had Blackcap, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting, as well as all the Tit family enjoying the food before now.

Black sunflower seed is extremely good because it is effectively waterproof and doesn't go nasty in the rain.

Without wishing to advertsise CJ's own hi-energy mixes (others supply them as well) I have found the cheap generic bags of wildbird seed to be pretty poor, containing a lot of ingredients that don't get eaten.

You haven't mentioned the use of hanging seed feeders, but these are a great lure for the finches and Tits. Again, I have found quality pays in the long run with what you put out.

If you have a large lawned area, try putting out some apples when the stiff frosts arrive, these could well get spotted by the winter Thrushes like Fieldfare and Redwing.

[Solomon]

Excellent. Thank you very much!

[Solomon]

Have been shopping today, and bought lots of stuff. Niger seed, peanut hearts, sunflower hearts, whole peanuts, coconut fat holder things and some kind of berry treat granules. Also bought a peanut feeder, a fat ball feeder (I bought some very cheap ones off ebay, and the birds are devouring them) and a niger seed feeder.

The wife has had lots of ideas for stuff to do, and bought some suet to have a go at making some fat balls with.