How to Identify Quality Bird Seed

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

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[@Carrie_Beth]

Thanks for the breakdown Mark! This is one of those things… you get what you pay for. Pay for junk seed blend you get junk birds and lack of “good” bird activity at your feeder. Don’t scrimp! Your viewing pleasure depends on it!

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

So true. We get that testimonial over and over from folks who finally switch to quality seed.

[@bernardkung7306]

The problem is that, in today's world, "expensive" doesn't guarantee "quality" either. (Often, it just means a different kind of rip-off.) That makes it a lot harder for people who aren't well-informed, to figure out what's the good stuff they _should be_ buying, or _should be_ staying away from. I'm glad to see some concrete informed explanation from a trustworthy source.

[@user-lz6dm5lk9y]

Thank you for you for the education on seed! 🙂

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

You are welcome. Thanks for tuning in!

[@airpocono]

Gotta thank you again. You're original video about picking the right birdseed has really helped us eliminate birds throwing out seed. We've done a lot of testing and came to the conclusion that here in the Poconos the best mix seems to be black oil sunflower seed, sunflower hearts and white millet proso. We do one part sunflower seed, one part sunflower hearts and 1/2 part white millet proso, nearly nothing thrown out anymore. A bit more money up front but shells and "paper" seem to be the only thing on the ground so in all reality is only a few dollars more every few months (we buy in bulk). Edit: we also use 1/2 part cracked peanuts, the downy woodpeckers seem to love that

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

@@airpocono Excellent! Thanks for letting me know.

[@michaelhansen5912]

Absolutely superb! I very much appreciate the detail and the nutrient range references. Thanks!

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

So glad it is helpful. A topic I should have addressed long ago.

[@CamiOetman]

Super helpful 🐦‍⬛ thank you

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

I'm glad it helped. Thanks for tuning in!

[@MicheleLHarvey]

Very informative & helpful! Looks like I'll be doing my own mix of the ingredients you mention in future. Thanks again, Mark!

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

That is an excellent idea. Thanks for watching.

[@shirleywilhelm1495]

Appreciate you sharing all this wonderful information!

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Thank you Shirley!

[@BBRubyT]

Wonderful information! Thank you!!!!

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

@@BBRubyT You are most welcome!

[@PeggyStentzCasey]

Thanks!! That was extremely helpful!!

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Excellent. Thank you for watching!

[@rooster7996]

Great information Mark!

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Thank you!

[@barbarahoman1008]

Thank you Mark. I appreciate the information especially since I am new at taking care of birds. I’ll pay attention. Hope you and Melanie have a nice evening. We received our HummZinger Ultra wow I like the simplicity and my husband Steve thought it was awesome that your company enclosed a written thank you and your business card. We will share and continue to follow🙏❤️

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Thank you guys! I will let the staff know that their efforts are appreciated.

[@reneeculpepper3564]

Blessings be my friend 🙏❤️

[@sally8368]

Mark, maybe you have a video about this already. You mentioned in this video how to feed cheap seed to the sparrows to distract them from the more expensive stuff. Do you have a video on this? How to do it "successfully"?

[@pestbrook]

Mark, I'm in the DC area, with this excessive heat, I recently set up a bird bath. its one from ace hardware, so generic bowl on a column. it is a deep blue color, which is quite difficult to see the water in. It is between 2 large coniferous trees that are no more than 2 feet away, it has lots of shade throughout the day. I replace the water at least twice a day right now. I rarely ever see birds at it. I'm wondering if my birdbath needs to have something dripping, or some platform in it so they birds can identify the water level. As always, there is more to think about than i realized! Thanks for the videos.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

That is excellent placement for the birds.

[@1CherryTree]

I have found using something that moves the water is very helpful to the birds. Since I've added a battery-powered (not solar-powered) water-wiggler that the usage of my bird bath has increased exponentially. It is not that expensive to add, simple to use, and the battery (D cell) lasts quite a long time. I love to watch the birds drinking and then some actually splash and play in the water. Birds are so fun to watch - I even get the squirrels I also feed coming up several times a day to drink out of the bird bath. The squirrels and birds will drink at the same time and don't seem to be bothered by the other's presence. I have also been told that dripping or a small fountain/sprinkler in the bird bath is also very attractive to the birds. Give the birds a long time to find the new bath - it took over a year before mine was used by more than an occasional bird. Now there are birds almost all day long. I am not associated with the water-wiggler, but have been using it for quite a few years. Found the least expensive way to get it was from the big "A" store - haven't seen them in any local bird stores. Also, regarding the solar-powered, I did use them for several years and had to get replacement batteries directly from the manufacturer which was easy enough to do once I found them using google - however the shipping over the years became exorbitant. and I switched to the replaceable D-cell powered.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

@@1CherryTree Moving water is so important this time of year. Not only for foiling the mosquitos, but as magnet for birds. Even the small ripple created by the water wiggler catches their eyes and alerts them to the presence of water.

[@shirleywilhelm1495]

I have a neighbor that buys the very cheap seed. She doesn't know about the differences between them.

[@RichardFerstandig]

Do birds do a battle dance when they want to fight another bird?

[@Carrie_Beth]

Oh my gosh! How do “those” seed companies call that bird seed? 🤔

[@steve_ks]

I guess it’s when some Fast Food places call their product “food”…😂. Hope your well, Carrie..

[@RichardFerstandig]

How long will the crop hold food?

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Studies show it can stay in the crop for 11 to 15 hours.

[@Steven-kz3zx]

8:30 the first ingredient is listed as Grain Products which is why it is so poor, correct? I believe you said black oil sunflower was listed first.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Yes, on the one label, Black Oil was listed high if not first but there was hardly in the bag. Sorry for any confusion.

[@1CherryTree]

Yes, that confused me briefly, but could still get the gist of what Mark was saying. I found this very helpful as I have been using a good blend but apparently there is better. Fortunately I live very close to the Mark's Backyard Bird store and will switch to these blends as soon as I run out of my current supply of feed. Mark, does you (BYB) have a no-mess custom blend also?

[@RichardFerstandig]

Is the only function of the crop in a bird is to break up food or are there other functions?

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

@@RichardFerstandig it is primarily for temporary storage of food

[@vettechsrule]

Is Lyric seed good?

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Like so many national seed companies, I'm sure they have good mixes as well as "junk". Look at the labels to be sure.

[@1CherryTree]

@@MarksBackyardBirds Very tactful answer.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

@@1CherryTree thank you. I tried to be fair.

[@vettechsrule]

Yeah, I read the ingredients. Then I realized I can order the good stuff from your store, duh.