Are birds not eating the seeds at your feeder? Did birds stop coming to your feeder? Or are you having trouble getting birds to come to a feeder? You may wonder if the seed is bad. Yes, this can be a problem. In this article we cover all the basis, how long does bird seed remain fresh, how you can tell if bird seed has gone bad and how can you make bird seed last longer.
How long until bird seed goes bad?
Bird seed has a store shelf life of 6 months to 2 years, depending upon type of seed. But once you get home and open it, bird seed can go bad in a few weeks or last up to 6 months.
Manufacturers often put an expiration date of 2 years on bird seed. If kept in cool, dry conditions, some bird seed may still be nutritious that long. But bird seed 12 months old is probably starting to get stale.
Black oil sunflower seed has a shelf life of about 6-12 months.
Because Niger seed is sterilized with heat to kill it and keep it from sprouting, it only stays fresh 3-6 months.
That said, the quality and freshness of bird seed in the store varies. If birds aren’t coming to your feeder, buying fresh seed is a quick way to see if stale seed is the problem or not. Birds should find a newly stocked feeder in a few days.
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| Photo by ivabalk from Pixabay. |
How to tell if bird seed is bad
Are birds coming to your feeder but not eating the seed? It’s bad.
At your feeder, all seed should be eaten in 2-3 days. If not, replace it. Don’t just add more. Throw out the old and add new.
If the seed in your feeder got wet, then remove any clumps of damp bird seed and clean the feeder. In many places winter weather can be damp and rainy continuously. It takes vigilance to keep your feeder clean and seed dry. The seed is fine for birds for a few days following rainy weather. But clean out the feeder when you can–at least once weekly.
If you have stored last season’s bird seed at home, it may also be bad. If birds aren’t eating it, then it needs to be replaced with fresh seed.
Old seed can dry out and lose nutritional value and taste. Crack open some seeds of black oil sunflowers. Squeeze the meaty kernel between your fingers. It should be a bit oily when crushed.
Bird seed can absorb moisture or have gotten wet with rain and snow. If the bird seed feels damp or clumps, it has been wet and probably should be thrown out.
Smell the seed. If it smells musty or sour it may be rancid. The seed is bad.
Look for fuzzy strands of mold, mildew, and fungus. Do the seeds feel slimy? These are all signs that the seed is bad. Don’t feed it to the birds! Especially look for this in seed stuck in the bottom cracks of the feeder. Clean and wash the feeder (warm soapy water or even diluted bleach) or it will quickly spread to any new seed you add. Maybe swap feeders with a clean one until you can get to the old one.
Are any of the seeds sprouting? They got wet and are now not nutritious.
Do you see live or dead insects, caterpillars or moths in the seed? It is time to buy fresh seed. This can even happen with new seed that you buy.
How to make bird seed last longer and not go bad
After you purchase bird seed, transfer it to a strong plastic or metal container with air-tight seal. The goal is to keep out insects, rodents, and moisture.
Store the container indoors, in a cool, dry location. If you store it outside where it may get damp and warm, it won’t last as long. That’s all right if you are going through it and replacing it regularly. Just remember that bird seed stored outside will go bad sooner.
Use your older seed first. As long as the birds are still eating it, use up the old seed before opening new. That way you don’t have any really old seed you are feeding to the birds.
I recently purchased this beautiful tube feeder and fill it with black oil sunflower seeds. This combination really attracts the finches and reduces the number of house sparrows.
My birds really love Wagner’s Songbird Supreme mixed bird seed. It’s 50% black oil sunflower seed. There’s no filler seed in here that birds won’t eat–they love it all!
Wrapping Up
There are several reasons why you must not allow your bird seed to go bad. Here is a summary.
Mold and mycotoxins: Stale food is more susceptible to mold growth, which can produce harmful mycotoxins. These toxins can damage birds’ internal organs, weaken their immune systems, and even lead to death.
Loss of nutrients: Over time, food loses its nutritional value. Essential vitamins, minerals, and fats degrade, leaving birds with an insufficient diet that can’t meet their energy needs or support their health.
Spoilage and bacteria: Stale food attracts bacteria and other pathogens, which can make birds sick. Digestive problems, diarrhea, and even food poisoning are potential risks.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should you not put out bird seed?
You might want to think again about putting out bird seed during the nesting season. While providing food can benefit birds during breeding, some experts suggest temporarily removing feeders during the peak nesting period (around April-June) for a few reasons:
Reduced predation: Abundant food at feeders can attract more predators like squirrels and cats, potentially putting nests at risk.
Natural feeding behavior: Encouraging parents to find natural food sources for their chicks can help them develop important foraging skills.
Competition and aggression: Crowded feeders during nesting season can lead to competition and aggression among birds, which can be stressful and even harmful.
Can you just throw bird seed on the ground?
Throwing bird seed directly on the ground can have both positives and negatives for the birds you’re hoping to attract. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide:
Benefits:
- Natural foraging: Throwing seed mimics how birds naturally find food, encouraging them to use their hunting skills and spread out while feeding.
- Accessibility: Ground feeding makes seeds accessible to ground-dwelling birds like sparrows, juncos, and towhees who might not readily use feeders.
- Ground cover: Scattered seeds can attract insects and other small creatures, creating a mini-ecosystem that benefits a wider range of wildlife.
Drawbacks:
- Waste and mess: Seed scattered on the ground attracts unwanted visitors like squirrels, raccoons, and even rats, leading to messy feeding and potential competition for birds.
- Hygiene concerns: Seeds on the ground can become moldy or attract bacteria, especially in damp conditions, posing health risks to birds.
- Predation risk: Ground feeding exposes birds to greater risk of predation from cats, hawks, and other ground predators.
- Attracting the wrong birds: Scattered seeds may attract aggressive birds like pigeons and starlings, potentially displacing smaller songbirds you wanted to see.
Do birds know who feeds them?
Birds likely don’t possess human-like understanding of individual “faces” or names. They can, however, recognize patterns, locations, and positive experiences associated with feeders.
This, combined with their excellent memory, creates a sense of association and trust towards familiar feeding environments and, indirectly, the person providing them.
So, while birds might not know your name or recognize you from a crowd, they likely appreciate the consistent source of food you provide and develop a sense of trust and comfort in your presence.
