Bread provides no nutrition for them, and they could end up being fat and starving at the same time. Birdseed, frozen corn or peas (thaw first), oats, and other greens (torn up small so they can eat them) provide the best nutritional value to them.
Although bread isn't harmful to birds, try not to offer it in large quantities, since its nutritional value is relatively low. A bird that is on a diet of predominantly, or only bread, can suffer from serious vitamin deficiencies, or starve. Food left on the ground overnight can attract rats.
There is no regulation or law that prohibits the feeding of birds or other wildlife on private property.
Although seed mixes are common, you can attract many different species by putting out a variety of edible things: nuts, berries, chopped fruit, and even frozen peas and corn all work. Although a lot of people offer mincemeat to magpies and kookaburras, we now know this can be harmful.
Bread products contain very little nutritional value for wildlife. In fact, they can be full of sugars, sodium and carbohydrates. Sadly, these ingredients can be deadly to birds, squirrels, fish and many other animals that are not equipped to digest this unnatural diet.
Bread offers wild birds absolutely ZERO nutrition.
Simply, bread fills up a small stomach in a hurry. The bird doesn't know the food is useless, but leaves feeling full and satisfied, nonetheless. This is a deadly combination of factors, considering how many calories birds need to eat in order to survive.
⚠️ Bread is a BIG NO NO! It lacks nutrients. ⚠️ Plain Mince on its own, contains high amounts of phosphate which leaches calcium from their beaks and bones. If you feed them mince, please include a magpie supplement, we recommend using Wombaroo Insectivore or Vetafarm Insecta Pro.
Raw meat, cheese and bread off the menu
Brisbane bird and exotic animal vet Deborah Monks said raw meat and mince, although popular, did the most damage to magpie health. "I wouldn't recommend raw mince on its own because it doesn't have enough calcium in it," she said.
Dunking is thought to be an important food-process for birds, but it remains unclear as to why some birds do this and some do not. One theory is that it helps moisten the food to make it more digestible and other theories suggest that it might help make unpalatable insects less toxic to eat.
Avoid: Feeding Magpies and other wild birds, as they are very good at finding their own food and can become sick if they eat old seed or processed foods like bread.
Uncooked porridge oats are also fine for a number of birds. Warning: never cook porridge oats, this makes them glutinous and could harden around a bird's beak.
Any item the bird can eat (Seeds, Fruits, Vegetables, or Meat) will restore full hunger value to the bird.
Black oil sunflower seed appeals to the greatest number of birds. Offer sunflower seeds, nyjer (thistle) seeds, and peanuts in separate feeders. When using blends, choose mixtures containing sunflower seeds, millet, and cracked corn—the three most popular types of birdseed.
People often ask if birds can eat bread and if bread is bad for birds. Because bread causes birds to become full quickly, fliers may skip foods with actual nutritional value. Birding experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman say, “We discourage people from feeding bread to birds, as there are far too many potential risks.
The classic choice is stale bread, crusts, cake and biscuit which most birds will really enjoy, although you shouldn't put out too much as the nutritional value is low. Break up any large pieces, and if it's very hard you can soak in a little water to ensure birds don't choke.
Should I feed birds year-round? It's not necessary. Bird feeding is most helpful at times of when birds need the most energy, such as during temperature extremes, migration, and in late winter or early spring, when natural seed sources are depleted. Most birds don't need your help in the summer.
Your bird's diet should include a variety of fresh vegetables. Most birds love dark, leafy greens, zucchini and broccoli, as well as other vegetables such as squash, shredded carrots, snow peas, parsley, cucumbers and Romaine lettuce.
Fact is, rice cooked or uncooked won't hurt wild birds at all. The rumor is that uncooked rice hits the bird's tummy and then swells causing its stomach to explode. It's simply not true. It's not hot enough in a bird's stomach to actually “cook” the rice.
The banana peel, while nutritious and full of vitamins, is not a good thing to give birds. The excess cellulose is tough to digest, which can cause gastrointestinal issues.
Birds go bananas for bananas! First, remove the peel and cut each banana in half lengthwise. Then, you can set the fruit on a tree stump or skewer it on a hook. Another idea is to put a few chunks in a mesh bag and watch hummingbirds dart around to eat the fruit flies that gather.
Interesting fact: It's true, magpies remember your face. They have excellent recall for faces and very long memories. So, if you've been swooped before, or even if you just look like someone they swooped last year, you're likely to get the same treatment again.
Stop feeding mince to magpies! "Mince is actually really high in the wrong nutrients and when they eat it, it draws calcium from their bones. The other thing that happens is it can get stuck in the bottom of their beak, and it can actually rot a hole in their beak."
Taking a piece of mince or taking a wide berth around the magpies nest may eventually convince the nervous magpie that he does not need to deter this individual anymore because she or he poses little or no risk, and who knows, may even become a friend in future.