Birds are a common sight in gardens, and providing them with food and water is important to help them survive the colder months – and there’s one kitchen staple they love
Robins could be attracted to your garden using a classic food(Image: Liverpool Echo/Colin Lane)
A common kitchen item could attract robins and other garden birds to your outdoor space. Birds are a delightful addition to any garden, not only for their lively presence but also for their role in maintaining the health of plants and flowers by controlling pests that can cause damage and disease.
However, during the colder months of autumn and winter, they may require additional support as their preferred food sources become scarce due to frozen ground conditions. Ensuring they have access to food and water is crucial, but this doesn’t always mean providing seeds and grains.
The RSPCA suggests that birds enjoy a variety of foods, including cooked pasta. It’s important to note that the pasta should be cooked solely in water, without the addition of salt, butter, spices, oil, or any other ingredients that could potentially harm them.
Larger pieces should be cut into smaller sizes for easier consumption. The carbohydrates found in pasta serve as an excellent energy source for these feathered creatures during the colder weather, reports the Express.
A 0.5 kg packet of pasta can be purchased from Aldi for as little as 41p, making it an affordable way to diversify their diet with minimal leftovers. Birds also enjoy other food scraps such as rice, boiled potatoes, cheese, and even uncooked and unsalted bacon rind.
However, just like humans, birds need a balanced diet to maintain good health. The charity explains that garden birds enjoy a diverse range of food options.
This encompasses fruit, particularly raisins, sultanas, apples, pears and soft fruits, alongside grains and seeds that are appropriate for them including nyjer, millet, oats, and sunflower seeds.
Peanuts can be offered, though like pasta they must remain unsalted. They also require freshness and must be free from aflatoxin (a toxin generated by specific moulds).
It’s equally crucial to place them only in feeders featuring smaller mesh since young chicks may choke on complete peanuts. Additional choices encompass net-free fat or suet balls or insects such as mealworms or waxworms, according to the charity.
Nevertheless, it cautions dog owners to be “careful with grapes, sultanas, raisins and some artificial sweeteners”, as they’re poisonous to dogs. Birds also require abundant fresh water, so gardeners are recommended to regularly provide bowls of it if they lack bird baths, and should avoid positioning feeders and bowls near locations that might serve as hiding spots for predators to attack them.
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