Homemade Bird Seed: Easy, Affordable & Bird-Approved Mixes

So, you want to make homemade birdseed? You, my friend, are about to become the hottest five-star restaurant in the avian world. Think of your backyard as a birdie buffet — where you might attract delightful finches, vibrant cardinals, and perhaps even the occasional striking blue jay.

Why make birdseed? Well, store-bought mixes can be pricey, packed with filler ingredients birds don't even like (looking at you, red millet), and let's be honest, nothing says "I care" like personally curating a feast for your feathered friends.

The Benefits of Homemade Bird Seed

Before we explore recipes, let's take a moment to appreciate the perks of DIY birdseed:

Customizable: Attract specific bird species by tailoring your mix. Want to encourage more cardinals? Include more sunflower seeds. Hoping for woodpeckers? Peanuts are a good bet

Healthier: By choosing your ingredients, you can avoid some of the preservatives and filler seeds that might end up scattered on the ground.

Cost-effective: Buying bulk ingredients can save money over time, especially if you feed birds regularly.

Eco-friendly:Less packaging waste from bulk purchases can be a small but positive step for the environment.

Now, let's talk recipes!

Recipe #1: Classic Backyard Blend

This blend aims to attract a wide variety of common and beloved songbirds with high-energy and easily accessible ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups black oil sunflower seeds (a widely favored seed)
• 1 cup sunflower hearts or chips (no shells, easy for smaller birds, less mess)
• ¾ cup shelled peanuts(broken into small pieces - high energy, safer for small birds)
• ¼ cup nyjer (thistle) seeds (a favorite of finches, especially American Goldfinches)

How to Mix:

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, stir well, and store in an airtight container. Pour into your feeder and enjoy the diverse visitors to your backyard.

Recipe #2: The VIP Woodpecker Mix

Perfect for woodpeckers, nuthatches, and titmice — AKA, the peanut lovers.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups peanuts (unsalted and raw)
• 1 cup black oil sunflower seeds
• ½ cup dried fruit (raisins, chopped apples, or cranberries)
• ½ cup suet crumbles (optional but highly recommended)

Feeding Tip:

Offer in platform feeders, suet feeders (for the crumbles), or even by scattering on a tree stump.

Recipe #3: Hummingbird Energy Boost (Nectar, Not Seed!)

Perfect for hummingbirds who prefer sippable treats.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups water
• 1 cup white sugar (not honey! It ferments and can harm birds)

How to Mix:

Dissolve the sugar completely in hot water, allow it to cool thoroughly, and then fill your hummingbird feeder. Adding food coloring is unnecessary — your feeder's red color will do the trick!

Recipe #4: Winter Survival Mix

Designed to provide maximum energy for birds during colder months when survival depends on it.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups black oil sunflower seeds
• 1 cup shelled peanuts (pieces)
• ¾ cup suet crumblesor rendered lard chunks
• ½ cup dried mealworms (small pieces - a concentrated source of protein and fat)
• ¼ cup rolled oats (plain, not instant or flavored - adds carbohydrates)

How to Mix:

Combine all ingredients and place them in appropriate feeders. For suet cakes, melt the suet or lard, mix in the dry ingredients, pour into muffin tins or other molds, and let them harden in the refrigerator.

Recipe #5: The Finches' Favorite

This single ingredient "recipe" is specifically designed to attract and delight finches, especially the sunny American Goldfinches.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups nyjer (thistle) seeds

How to Use:

Use a specialized Nyjer feeder with small openings to prevent the tiny seeds from falling out.

Recipe #6: The Squirrel-Proof Mix (Well, Sort Of)

Perfect if you want birdswithout a squirrel takeover. If squirrels are still trying to takeover, try just using the first two.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups black oil sunflower seeds (birds love it; squirrels hate it!)
• 1 ½ cups safflower seeds (loved by cardinals and others, often disliked by squirrels)
• ½ cup sunflower hearts or chips (easy eating, less waste)
  
  

Bird Feeding Tips for Maximum Feathery Happiness

Use the right feeder – Tube feeders for tiny seeds, platform feeders for mixed blends, and suet feeders for woodpeckers.

Keep it fresh: Birds prefer fresh, dry seeds. Store your homemade mixes in airtight containers to prevent spoilage. 

Clean your feeders regularly:  Dirty feeders can harbor harmful bacteria and fungi. Clean them thoroughly every couple of weeks with soap and water, rinsing well and allowing them to dry completely before refilling.

Provide water – A birdbath = extra attraction power.

Final Chirps: Why Homemade Bird Seed is Worth It

Making homemade bird seed isn't just a fun backyard project — it's a simple way to connect with nature, potentially save some money, and treat your feathered guests to a healthier, tastier menu. Plus, the joy of watching a bright red cardinal or a tiny chickadee enjoy a snack you made? Priceless.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab those sunflower seeds and start mixing! Because your backyard birds deserve the best (and watching them is way more entertaining than anything on Netflix).