Have you seen the price of black oil sunflower seeds?! In our neck of the woods the cost has more than doubled since last year. The climate extremes this past year combined with the high cost of fuel have led to this problem.
So I have listed 9 ways you can stretch your precious bird seed dollar and still feed the birds nutritiously. These are fun supplementary foods that can be offered on a seed tray or any flat feeder surface.
Food Chopper
1. Chicken scratch--very inexpensive blend of wheat, oats, rye, etc. (available at farm supply stores, or online).
2. Regular grass seed bought in bulk (untreated, please--rye is their favorite).
3. Dog food (yup, dog food!) Woodpeckers love it! And so do lots of other birds. Buy in bulk to save even more money.
4. Fruit and vegetable seeds that have been dried (save the seeds, especially sweet peppers, when you prepare fresh salads; or carve a pumpkin or roast an acorn squash, etc.) *See below for my drying method.
5. Save your bacon drippings, or other meat juices and mix with bread cubes.
6. Buy generic peanut butter and/or jelly, then slather on pine cones you have gathered. Hint: mix them together before spreading them on the pine cones.
Or use the jelly, bacon drippings and/or peanut butter for spreading on day-old bakery items purchased at the discount grocery or bakery outlet near you. All feeder birds adore these wonderful occasional treats.
7. Whole fruits like apples or pears, cut into small pieces. By the way, birds don't care if the fruit is bruised. Check with your local grocery store--if you ask them, they may save bruised fruit and veggies for you; do make sure that it hasn't spoiled, though.
8. Nuts like acorns, almonds, pecans, walnuts, brazil nuts, hazel nuts, pistachios, cashews, hickory nuts, butternuts, etc. that have been collected from your own or neighborhood trees (if you are lucky enough to have them nearby), or bought in bulk from the discount store.
Since it is one of those mindless jobs that can easily be done while sitting in front of the tv, with my nutcracker in hand and 2 big bowls I crack the nuts over one large bowl where the shells will go, and use the other bowl for the actual nutmeats. If you have a hand chopper, you can also chop the shelled nuts into medium-sized pieces that will make your backyard birds very happy!
9. Popcorn! A large bag of pre-popped popcorn will extend your bird feeding budget. The alternative is to buy the largest bag of popping corn at the discount or grocery store. If you have a microwave air popcorn popper, even better! Birds love popped corn and any unpopped kernels will surely be eaten as well.
*Here's how to save and easily dry seeds from your own fruits and veggies, like apples, pears, peppers and pumpkins:
If you eat fresh produce, it is easy to dry the seeds from peppers, apples, melons, squash, pumpkins, etc. (Remove the seeds before cooking or baking any of the produce.) Lay a piece of waxed paper or freezer paper out flat in a dry place that will be undisturbed for about a week. Place your seeds in a single layer on top of the waxed paper. I allow at least a week for the seeds to become thoroughly dry. If they are not totally dry, they will mold and spoil.
Once you determine that your veggie or fruit seeds are absolutely dry, remove them from the paper and place in an air-tight jar in the fridge until you are ready to treat your feathered friends. You can repeat this process every time you have fruit or vegetable seeds available if you wish. That way you will have a ready supply for your birds.
Considering growing your own vegetables next season? Then you may wish to save some extra seeds for planting in your own garden. The drying process is the same. After they have thoroughly dried, just store them in a sealed glass jar in the fridge. Be sure to label them so you'll know exactly what you will be planting. By the way, this works best with organic vegetables. They will not have been hybridized, so your new crop will be exactly like the original produce. You can then gather and save your own free 'heirloom seeds' from what you have grown each season!
Incidentally, I use a canning jar with a separate inner seal and screw-on ring. I divide my seeds using tiny envelopes from the stationery store, or ones I have made myself using waxed paper or freezer paper. Remember, moisture is your enemy when it comes to saving seeds.
Growing your own produce is an extra bonus for you and your birds!
Using any or all of these supplemental foods can make a real difference in your bird seed budget. Black oil sunflower seed is less expensive than the grey-striped sunflower seeds here. But that may not be the case where you live. The larger grey-striped seeds are just what the grosbeaks, cardinals and other large-beaked birds love. While the black oil sunflower seed works well for all feeder birds no matter how big or small their beaks might be. So buy the least expensive sunflower seed choice that is available for you.
I would stay away from the generic mixed seeds as they contain a lot of waste. It will just end up on the ground under your feeders, uneaten. The largest bag of just sunflower seeds is still your best bet.
Have fun with these supplemental bird feeding choices for your own beautiful birds. Your backyard will be the most popular for miles around!
Special Price!!! Hamilton Beach 72705 Deluxe Food Chopper, Black
Oct 20, 2011 08:31:35
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Hamilton Beach 72705 Deluxe Food Chopper, Black Feature
- Electric food chopper with precise stainless-steel blades
- 3-cup bowl size; small batch tool for chopping herbs
- 1-touch pulse control ensures ease of use; oil-dispenser opening
- Includes custom spatula that stores on the backside of the unit
- Measures approximately 9 by 6 by 9 inches; 1-year warranty
Hamilton Beach 72705 Deluxe Food Chopper, Black Overview
3-cup processor bowl size is ideal for smaller batch processing - uses precise stainless steel blades- one touch touch pad control with oil-dispenser opening . Includes custom spatula that stores on the back side of the unit . Small batch reducer for chopping herbs - holds food closer to the bladesSAVE NOW on the special offers below!
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