Bird Feeders and Bird Houses: Feed

Can bird food such as suet spoil or rot in summer heat?
Raw beef fat in the winter months is sufficient for stocking your suet feeder. As the heat of spring arrives, however, the raw fat can melt away, and become spoiled. A preferred alternative is to make commercially rendered suet cakes available for the warmer spring and summer months. The act of rendering, or boiling the fat, is a process that kills bacteria. Woodpeckers can be fed all year long.

Are worms and moths in sunflower seeds normal?.
Moths will lay their eggs in sunflower seeds, if they can reach them. As long as the seeds are stored in a cool dry place, the eggs will lay dormant . In the summer heat, the seeds heat up, and the eggs will hatch. One way to avoid this problem is to buy seeds in smaller containers, and keep all your seeds in a cool, dry storage area. Ask the store where you buy your seed where it is kept prior to purchase. Storage units that are air conditioned are superior choices. Another thing to watch for and avoid is burlap bags, a medium where insects will lay eggs. One final note. Check any plastic or paper bags for patching at the store. This may be a sign there was an infestation and the retailed simply patched the bag.

Is red dye in cracked corn okay?
Capstan is pink or red coating on cracked corn. It is a fungicide for seeds that are intended to be planted. DO NOT USE IT FOR FEED. Wild birds, horses, other mammals and wildlife can be harmed or killed by eating seeds treated with capstan. You should return it to the store.

Can birds choke when eating peanut butter?
While there is no evidence that birds can choke on peanut butter, you should consider adding cornmeal, lard, or some sort of grit with the peanut butter, as birds have no salivary glands as we know them. Wild birds need drinking water as well, consider installing a bird bath. Another source for water is a wall fountain, a great way to add water and make your yard look great.