A vet reveals what not to feed wild birds (some of these really surprised us!)

If you want to attract more flying friends to your garden, you need to know what not to feed wild birds. It’s a common misconception that you can feed them food like bread or chips, but it turns out you should avoid doing that for a number of reasons (which we’ll cover later).

Instead, you should opt for the best bird food that is healthier, safer and contains the nutrients they need. Or, if you fancy making them a DIY treat, you could learn how to make bird tallow — Our two-ingredient recipe is easy to follow and very affordable.

With the help of vet Dr Rebecca MacMillan, we’ve listed eight things you should never feed wild birds and explained why they’re a bad idea.

What not to feed wild birds

No one likes to see good food go to waste, so you may be tempted to feed your leftovers to the wild birds. However, this can sometimes cause more harm than good, as some cooking ingredients, such as onions, can be toxic. Here are the big no-no’s from Dr. McMillan:

1. Bread: This may come as a surprise, but you should never feed birds bread. It’s not toxic, but it has no nutritional value and a “bird that fills itself with bread will end up with an unbalanced diet.”

2. Milk and dairy products: Since birds are lactose intolerant, feeding them milk and milk products can cause severe digestive upset.

3. Bacon or bacon rinds: Bacon contains high levels of salt and additives that can be dangerous for birds.

4. Processed foods: Avoid processed foods such as chips, cookies, donuts, chips and cookies, which are not healthy for them.

Dr MacMillan says: “Although their high energy density is likely to be popular with wild birds, the sugar, salt and unhealthy fats they contain are not great for their health.”

Bird about to eat a cookie from the grass

(Image credit: Getty Images/ MEPTE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams))

5. Chocolate: Chocolate may be delicious to us, but it is very dangerous to our flying friends as it contains toxic caffeine and theobromine.

6. Onion and garlic: Onions and garlic are also toxic to birds and can cause health problems such as ulcers and anemia.

7. Avocados: Because avocados contain persin (a natural fungicide that is toxic to birds), you should avoid feeding them at all costs.

8. Raw dried beans: You should also avoid raw dried beans that contain a toxin that is dangerous to birds called hemagglutinin. However, Dr. MacMillan says that if cooked, they are perfectly safe to put in the best bird feeder.

Should I feed the birds in my garden?

Now that you know what you shouldn’t feed your birds, you might be wondering if you should… We can assure you that it’s a wonderful thing to do all year round, especially in the winter when supplies of ‘food is scarce. .

You can attract certain birds to your garden by putting out specific foods that they like (eg mealworms for robins). If you’re not sure, our feature on what to feed your garden birds is a good place to start and has some great ideas.

Dr. MacMillan says: “Try offering a mixture of birdseed, peanuts (offer as chopped pieces or in a feeder specifically designed for peanuts) and sunflower seeds. You can also try mealworms, either dry or live, which many birds enjoy as Suet is often associated with the winter months, but during the breeding and nesting season, birds will also benefit from this concentrated source of energy.”

To keep rodent intruders at bay, you can invest in the best squirrel-proof bird feeder, use a bird feeder pole, or move the boards away from walls or trees.

You can also read: What to feed a small bird.

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