Bird feeding without the waste

It happens to almost everyone who feeds outdoor pets (especially birds). You fill up the feeder, and the next day you're thrilled to see that almost all of the food is gone. Then you see it: a pile of uneaten bird food under your feeder.

Take heart! New "clean feeding" outdoor pet foods have become a reality, and more and more bird lovers around the world are rejoicing at the lack of waste below their feeders. In fact, some of these new recipes are so clean that homeowners are putting their feeders on or near their outdoor living spaces, such as decks, porches and patios.

In the past, this would have been a mess, with uneaten shells, seeds and hulls scattered all around your grill and patio furniture. Fortunately, those days are gone. A messy deck is no longer an excuse not to enjoy feeding birds.

This new breed of clean feeding mixes succeeds by taking out "fillers." These ingredients (most common in bargain or economy blends) are used to increase the volume and weight of mixes. Larger bags of bird food may be mostly filler.

Birds simply throw filler out of their way as they strive to get to the real seeds, such as sunflowers, sunflower chips, nuts and berries. That's why you get filler all over your garden, lawn, deck, porch or patio. It's a bird's way of telling you, "I don't want it - you take it." In addition, if a bird finds your feeders packed with filler each time it checks, it will soon take you off its list of preferred buffets.

When you are looking for outdoor pet food, try to get premium products that minimize ingredients such as millet, milo and cracked corn, three of the more common kinds of filler. Avoid these fillers by trying Wild Delight Total Cuisine. If you stick to foods with ingredients that birds love, such as fruits, nuts and seeds (such as nyjer and sunflower), you'll better serve the feathered visitors that come to your yard.

Clean feeding mixes take this one step further, virtually eliminating waste. Since birds will consume 100 percent of the ingredients that clean feeding mixes include, the only leftovers are the rare bits and pieces that fall from beaks as happy diners dig in.

Ask your local lawn and garden center about clean feeding outdoor pet foods, specifically, Deck, Porch and Patio and Total Cuisine from Wild Delight. Once you start to enjoy your outdoor pets without the mess, you may find yourself spending more time with your hobby and less time cleaning up after outdoor visitors.

Courtesy of ARA Content