Which foods are best for the nesting season?

Which foods are best for the nesting season?

March to April is a critical time for our garden birds as they prepare to breed. Species such as Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin and Blackbird are busy establishing territories, building nests, while females are laying eggs.

High energy foods - especially protein and calcium are really important for supporting  these activities.

Protein-rich food

This helps adult birds remain strong during nesting and is essential for the rapid growth in chicks. Natural insect supplies are still a bit thin on the ground at this time of year, so feeders full of protein-packed food can really help fill the gap.

Perfect choice: Calciworms, mealworms, suet, sunflower hearts, peanut granules, peanuts (only in correct feeders to avoid choking hazards) and seed blends.

Calcium-rich food

This supports egg shell formation and chick bone development. Producing a clutch of eggs takes a huge amount of nutrients such a protein for the developing embryo, calcium for strong shells and energy to maintain body condition.

Perfect choice: Calciworms and mealworms

Energy-rich food
Keeps nesting birds fuelled up for gathering nest building material and feeding chicks. Once eggs hatch, adults can make hundreds of feeding trips a day. Supplementary feed such as  mealworms, calciworms and soft suet pellets are easily carried back to the nest, and can be a great help to parents in maintaining feeding rates.

Perfect choice: Sunflower hearts, peanut granules, suet feeds.
 

Follow these links to access some of our key feeds for supporting your garden birds in spring:

Shop Mealworms

Shop Peanuts

Shop Sunflower Hearts

Shop Suet Pellets