Homemade Birdseed Recipe

You may have put out a bird house, hoping that spring would bring a family of bluebirds. For bird lovers, offering water (or bird bath) and birdseed, in a location where you can enjoy all the different species of your area, is paramount. For even more birds, learn how to mix your own birdseed from recipes. Different ingredients will attract different types of birds to your yard. You can buy ingredients for the bird seed recipes at local feed stores and pet stores.

  1. Attracting Varieties

    • Mix a birdseed recipe that is rich in black oil sunflower seeds and you will see all types of birds flocking to your feeder. Among the wild birds you will attract are: finches, cardinals, sparrows, chickadees, mourning doves and nuthatches.
      In a large container, pour in 3 cups of black oil sunflower seeds, 2 cups of millet, 1 cup of crushed, shelled peanuts (or other nuts). Using your hands, mix the ingredients thoroughly. Place the mixture in your bird feeder. This recipe can be doubled for a larger batch.

    Attracting Bluebirds

    • Cracked corn is very attractive to bluebirds and blue jays. Prepare a mixture of 3 cups of cracked corn, 3 cups of commercial mixed birdseed and 1 cup of oats. A large bucket makes a good mixing container. This birdseed mixture is best offered in an open feeder, such as a nailed-down pie plate atop a pole. If it is scattered on the ground, you may see pheasants in your yard.

    Attract Red Winged Blackbirds

    • If you have the red winged blackbird in your area, you'll want to lure them to your yard for observation. They love a mixture of bread and cracked corn. Leave several slices of whole wheat bread out to dry and then break it up, small enough to work its way through your feeder, so the blackbirds can get to it. Combine, with the bread pieces, 1 cup of cracked corn, 1 cup of millet and 1/2 cup of chopped raisins in a large container. Mix the ingredients thoroughly before placing in the feeder.

    Attracting Larger Birds

    • Striped sunflower seeds are attractive to larger birds, such as woodpeckers, blue jays and cardinals. The shell is very hard, therefore, difficult for the smaller birds to peck open. Pour 3 cups of striped sunflower seeds, 1 cup of black oil sunflower seeds and 1 cup of millet into a large container and mix. Make sure the feeder you use will accommodate the larger size of the sunflower seeds.