Bird Table News

Millet

 Millet is a small white seed about the size of a pin head

When one type of seed is bought on it’s own it is called either straight seed or single seed.

Millet is a good single seed to use  

• Millet has a very good  food to energy ratio  This means when a bird eats millet it soon changes this food into energy.  This is important, especially in winter.
• Millet is a good  source of vitamin B - this is important during the breeding season
• Millet is full of protein and iron
• Millet is cased in a hard shell so protects the seed from moisture

Every day I fill the PK Feeder up with millet.  There are always sparrows feeding from the feeder and  and  a small flock of sparrows waiting on the fence for a chance to get on the feeder.  This seems to go on all day.  The amount of millet they eat is astronomical!

The PK Feeder and millet go together like a horse and carriage!  It is possible to put other food in the PK Feeder, but I never have.

Earlier in the year I ran out of millet  RUNNING OUT OF BIRD FOOD

I decided to stock up and purchased a large 25 kilo bag of millet from Soar Mill Seeds.  I bought other items as well.  It’s great because they are delived to my door. 

You can buy small bags but I bought 25 kilos of millet from soar mill seeds

 THE SPARROWS WENT MAD WHEN THIS FEEDER WAS FULL OF MILLET

Both the tree sparrow and the house sparrow have been given the Red Status by the RSPB.  This means they are in decline.  Red status means

Globally threatened

Historical population decline in UK during 1800–1995

Rapid (> or =50%) decline in UK breeding population over last 25 years

Rapid (> or =50%) contraction of UK breeding range over last 25 years   

Having found a bird food and a bird feeder that attracts a small flock of sparrows I feel I should keep the feeder topped up all the time.

Here is some information about the PK Droll Yankee Feeder that I fill with millet

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I cannot write about bird food without writing about the house and tree sparrow that use the feeder

Most of the sparrows are treee sparrows that come to this feeder, but we do get some house sparrows as well.

House Sparrow Fact Sheet

Photo of a house sparrow

 

So if you want to help the sparrows try feeding millet.  You needn’t buy the PK Feeder.  I sometimes melt some lard and pour it over the millet.  I does not turn it into a fatball, but the fat stops the millet blowing off the birdtable and gives birds the extra fat boost they need.

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Does the Garden belong to me or the birds

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A peep into the past - Bird Table News one year ago today

Tags: bird-food, millet, product review, review