Most people who like to attract birds to their gardens have a pretty good idea of what foods will do the trick. What they are often less aware of though is the foods to avoid.
There are some foods you should never put in your feeders if you want to watch healthy and happy birds from your rattan garden furniture, and this blog will explore those.
Salted foods
The first of those is any food that is coated in salt. It is not that wild birds are allergic to salt, but they cannot take too much of it. Excess salt can lead to their electrolytes and bodily fluids becoming unbalanced. The result of that will be dehydration, which can bring about fatal kidney failure. Avoid putting out bacon, crisps or salted peanuts for that reason.
Avocado
Avocado has become trendy in recent years, but it is not at all suitable for wild birds. The main reason for that is the presence of persin, which is an anti-fungal toxin. While this is no problem for human beings, it can cause heart damage in birds. Persin is in every section of an avocado too – from the meat and the skin to the leaves. Therefore, no part of it is safe to give to birds.
Desiccated coconut
This is another potential bird food that you must avoid. If a bird eats flakes of desiccated coconut, they will rehydrate within the stomach and expand. Because birds have much smaller stomachs than humans, this can cause them pain.
Make sure to keep these foods away from your feeders to maintain a garden that is thriving with healthy wildlife!
