The UK's bestWild Bird Food2022 Review

If you’re looking for bird seed with a good variety that can be used throughout the year, the Extra Select Seed Mix Wild Bird Food is a good option to consider. It contains a variety of different seeds that will complement the diet of wild birds.

The mix consists of wheat, barley, red dari, yellow millet, kibbled peas, black sunflower and cut maize. In terms of nutritional content, this equates to 13% protein, 5% fat, and 69% starch (carb) as well as 2% ash.

It’s a small seed, suitable for attracting a variety of different birds to your garden, from sparrows and robins to pigeons and magpies. Due to its size and composition, it can either be placed in a bird feeder, or spread directly onto a bird table or the ground.

Given that some of the ingredients, such as sunflower seeds, have a high-fat content, Extra Select Seed Mix can be fed to birds year-round; therefore, there’s less need to swap to fat balls or expensive single-seed packets when winter arrives.

However, it’s worth pointing out that the ratio of wheat to other seeds is relatively high in this mix. Wheat doesn’t have a lot of nutritional value and is often used as a filler, so you may still decide to put out some other choices as well.

It comes in a plastic 5-litre bucket with a secure lid, which is a great way to keep mice away if it’s stored in a garage or shed.

Overall, this is one of the best wild bird feeds if you want to buy a versatile product for a reasonable price. It’s suitable for a mix of different birds and can be used throughout the year, so it’s a good all-rounder in a single product.

If you love wild birds and want to help them out then Peckish Complete Seed and Nut No Mess Wild Bird Food Mix might fit the bill. It contains a ‘calvita’ supplement to boost health with 12 different types of seed.

Calvita is a natural ingredient containing calcium and vitamins that gives garden birds extra nourishment and bone strength throughout the year. This will be especially helpful in the cold winter months when bird food is scarce.

It also contains 12 different types of seeds and nuts which are kibbled wheat, red millet, red dari, kibbled maize, kibbled sunflower hearts, flaked naked oats, white millet, safflower seed, naked oats, pinhead oatmeal, kibbled peanuts, and oyster grit. This healthy mix without a lot of filler will help attract a wide variety of birds to your outside space.

Kibbling creates uniform sizes that will easily fit a range of seed feeders and it’s de-husked too, to avoid unnecessary mess. For example, the sunflower seeds are de-husked so birds can eat them without shedding shells over the lawn.

Overall this is a complete wild bird food that’s packed with energy-rich foods and an extra health supplement to support garden birds throughout the year. If natural bird food is scarce in your area, this will give them a helping hand.

A good value wild bird food is Johnston & Jeff Wild Bird Food because it contains 20 kgs of mixed seeds including a proportion of black sunflower seeds that small garden birds enjoy.

The package contains 20 kgs of mixed seeds so it will last a long time depending on how many birds you feed. Less hassle = more time watching birds!

Its ingredients are suitable all year round too, meaning there’s no need to swap from high protein in summer to high calorie in winter which is just as well considering its size.

The mixture of black sunflowers, red dari, natural groats, millet, cut maize, wheat, various small seeds and vegetable oil is suitable for a range of wild birds from doves to blue tits, sparrows, nuthatches and starlings who’ll eat the different types of seed.

Vegetable oil is included as a health boost too. Birds need oils to keep their feathers in good condition. Feathers keep birds dry and warm so it’s essential they consume enough healthy oils.

On the downside, there is a relatively large amount of wheat and corn which smaller birds like blue tits don’t like and tend to drop on the ground. This creates a mess and attracts larger birds and potential rodents if it’s not cleared away.

Overall, this huge package of mixed wild bird food will help boost your garden birds’ health with seeds and oils from January to December, but it may contain too much wheat and maize for songbird lovers.

If you prefer to use fat balls to loose seed mix then Peckish Extra Goodness Balls Bird Food are worth consideration. They contain essential oils, fat, a calvita supplement, and healthy seeds suitable for a range of garden birds.

These 4 x peanut scented fat balls contain a high proportion of tallow fat. Fat gives birds energy and is especially useful in the winter months when birds need lots of fat to keep warm.

As well as the high-fat content they contain black sunflower seeds, peanuts, Calvita, and peanut pieces which are enjoyed by the majority of wild birds including robins, blackbirds, blue tits, great tits, nuthatches and chaffinch. Regular fat ball offerings will help establish trust and encourage birds to your garden where they will spend time refueling and may choose to nest nearby.

As well as high energy fat and seeds these fat balls contain Calvita, a vitamin supplement and nutrient boost to help garden birds stay healthy.

Cavita contains calcium which is important for bones and eggshells, and carotenoids for strong feather development. There’s also Biotin and vitamins A, D and E to help general health.

On the downside, there’s no string embedded so you will need to offer them from a fat ball cage or magpies and squirrels will take the whole fat ball away.

Overall, Peckish’s Extra Goodness Balls go one step further than standard fat balls. Not only do they provide seed protein and high energy fat they include supplements to give your birds an extra helping hand. If you’re an avid bird lover this is a wild bird food to consider particularly in the winter.

If you’re looking to start feeding garden birds, but don’t know where to start and don’t want to spend a lot then the 1 kilogram bag of Extra Select Peanuts Wild Bird Food is good value and suitable for most types of garden birds.

One kilogram of peanuts is the best wild bird food and a perfect starting point if you’re a newbie bird admirer. Most birds love peanuts and will take them all year round as a protein source for energy and good health including robins, great tits, sparrows, nuthatches, and chaffinches.

It’s best to put whole peanuts in a mesh feeder so garden birds can peck at the kernels and take small pieces away. This is especially important in spring when baby birds are a risk of choking on whole peanuts.

In winter they can also be scattered across the lawn, or placed on a bird table to attract larger birds and squirrels too. Whole peanuts are also good food for wild foxes – in fact, they are good for a lot of wildlife!

One negative is the bag is not resealable so peanuts may dry out or go mouldy and create respiratory problems in birds. To combat this, store them in an airtight container.

Overall, 1 kg of Extra Select Peanuts is a great way to kick off a bird watching hobby without spending a lot but still giving the birds what they need to thrive. Just be sure to decant them into an airtight container on arrival and put them in a mesh feeder during spring and summer.

If you want wild bird food in a sturdy airtight container then Garden Ting Premium Peanut Kernels might be the best choice. It offers 3 litres of peanut kernels in an airtight tub ready to go straight into a bird feeder or on the lawn.

Storing bird food can be a messy job so an airtight, rodent-proof container is essential. This tub is sturdy and airtight to prevent the peanuts from going mouldy or desiccating. After the peanuts are used up, the tub is useful for other garden or DIY storage jobs.

Peanuts are chock full of oils and proteins that keep birds healthy and energetic throughout the year so there’s no need to swap to another type of food when the hot or cold months arrive.

They attract different types of birds from a mesh feeder including shy garden birds like blue tits so if you only have one feeding spot peanuts are one of the best wild bird foods and a logical choice.

Plus peanuts are easy to tip into a feeder and they’re large enough to clear up if you accidentally spill them.

Overall, Garden Ting Premium Peanut Kernels are a versatile wild bird food that comes in a handy, resealable airtight bucket that can be reused.