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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
<channel> <title>Magoo's Pet Outlet: Wild Birds</title> <link>http://magoospet.com/store/go/feed-blog/21006/</link> <atom:link href="http://magoospet.com/store/go/feed-blog/21006/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <description><![CDATA[]]></description> <generator>http://nitrosell.com?v=1.0</generator> <language>en-us</language> <lastBuildDate>Thu, 28 Sep 2023 09:59:19 GMT</lastBuildDate> <item> <title><![CDATA[5 Ways To Keep Wild Birds Happy This Summer]]></title> <description><![CDATA[Summer has hit the country hard in many areas. The Pacific Northwest is seeing triple-digit temperatures -- those are usually seen in Arizona! Areas in the Northeast are even under heat advisory warnings. If you&#39;re a human with access to air conditioning, you can get through the heat and humidity, but what can you do to help wild birds?&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The team at Magoos Pet has put together a list of <a href="https://magoospet.com/22251/7-Ways-To-Get-Birds-To-Your-Yard/">5 ways to keep wild birds happy (happier!) this summer.</a>&nbsp;

Give them water. If it&#39;s hot, the available water sources may have dried up. Put out a bird bath or even a shallow plastic tub to hold water. Check the water regularly to ensure it&#39;s still full and that there are no bugs taking up residence. Stagnant water is a magnet for mosquitoes and you don&#39;t want them taking up residence in your yard!&nbsp;

Feed them. You may usually only keep your wild bird feeders full in the winter months to make it easier for those birds who winter near you to easily find food. In these hot months, many of their food sources like berries may have shriveled up and won&#39;t provide the nutrition they need.&nbsp;

Check the suet. <a href="https://magoospet.com/6-Qt-Cedar-Suet-Feeder-857907005573/">Wild birds love suet </a>BUT in extremely hot conditions, the suet can turn rancid and can get wild birds ill. The suet may also attract ants or other bugs you may not want on your feeders. Make a note to check the quality and quantity of the suet regularly and replace it when necessary.&nbsp;

Give them shade. If you&#39;re cutting down any branches, consider laying them around where you have the feeders set up to give them shelter while they are eating and to get out of the sun.&nbsp;

Keep the pets away. Wild birds are naturally wary -- they need to be in order to survive. Give them a chance to eat in peace. Keep your cats away from the feeders and that goes for keeping your dogs away from the feeders. If you fill the feeders at a specific time and the birds flock there, that is the ideal time to keep cats and dogs away. If you have neighborhood cats who roam free, consider sprinkling used coffee grounds or lemon or lime rinds around the feeders -- it&#39;s been said that these items may keep the cats away (and they won&#39;t hurt the birds).&nbsp;

Check out our other blog posts and take a deep dive into all Magoos Pet Outlet has to offer!&nbsp;Magoo&#39;s Pets has all the pet-centric items you need to keep your new pet happy and healhy!&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[Summer has hit the country hard in many areas. The Pacific Northwest is seeing triple-digit temperatures -- those are usually seen in Arizona! Areas in the Northeast are even under heat advisory warnings. If you&#39;re a human with access to air conditioning, you can get through the heat and humidity, but what can you do to help wild birds?&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The team at Magoos Pet has put together a list of <a href="https://magoospet.com/22251/7-Ways-To-Get-Birds-To-Your-Yard/">5 ways to keep wild birds happy (happier!) this summer.</a>&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;]]></content:encoded> <itunes:author><![CDATA[]]></itunes:author> <dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false"><![CDATA[/22383/5-Ways-To-Keep-Wild-Birds-Happy-This-Summer/]]></guid> <link><![CDATA[https://magoospet.com/22383/5-Ways-To-Keep-Wild-Birds-Happy-This-Summer/]]></link> <pubDate><![CDATA[06/28/2021]]></pubDate> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[7 Ways To Get Birds To Your Yard]]></title> <description><![CDATA[Once you see birds at the feeder you certainly want to be a hospitable host to them, right? Of course you do! If you keep their feeders full of delicious seeds and treats, your home will be the go-to location in your neighborhood! The type of food you fill the feeders with will help lure more and different birds to your house and their bright colors and antics will keep you entertained all year long!&nbsp;

It is full of tips and advice on how to go about making sure that your yard is set up in the best possible way to achieve this.

Birds offer joy and beautiful colors and they also play a&nbsp;role in conservation and helps to provide balance to the ecosystem. So it is a win-win situation. You get pleasure and fun from it, while at the same time you are doing something very worthwhile and useful.

And it is easy too. If you follow some basic guidelines, you will soon have a great variety of feathered visitors. These are my top tips on how to attract birds to your yard or garden&hellip;

Use A Variety Of Feeders &amp; Locations 
Not all birds like to feed in the same way. Make certain you use a number of different kinds of bird feeders. For example, you should think about using a mix of open feeders with trays or perches, mesh socks, nectar feeders, suet feeders and jelly feeders, to attract a variety of different species of birds. Also bear in mind that more natural-looking feeders will attract more birds.

Different species have different preferences when it comes to the placement&nbsp;of the feeders. Some birds prefer feeders to be higher up while some prefer them to be lower down. So check the feeding preferences of the bird species that you wish to attract most and place your feeders in the best place for those types of birds. If you are in doubt, it is best to place them higher up as this is where most birds prefer to feed because it keeps them safe from cats and other predators.

When thinking about how to attract birds to your yard, it is also important to remember that birds are still wild animals, no matter how beautiful they are. This means that they will be quite wary of humans so do not place your feeders too close to the house if possible. This will obviously depend on the size of your yard but try and place the feeders somewhere that the birds will feel safer. If you are planning on putting your feeder on a pole then try and place the pole near to a tree if possible, to give the birds a quick escape route if they need one.

Place feeders where they will remain dry and protected from the elements.&nbsp;

Use Quality Seed 
Don&#39;t skimp on the food source. Look for foods that aren&#39;t loaded with &quot;filler&quot; sees that many birds won&#39;t eat -- you&#39;re wasting money and the birds will discard it on the ground, anyway.&nbsp;

Different species prefer different types of food. When <a href="https://magoospet.com/WILD-BIRD-SUET/">considering how to attract birds to your yard</a>, think about the types of birds you want to attract. Once you&#39;ve decided on what you&#39;d like to try to attract, purchase seed that is best-suited to their needs.&nbsp;

Consider Natural Food Sources 
Natural food sources such as fruit trees, plants and berries provide natural foods for many birds. Birds feed on insects, so don&#39;t use pesticides to remove them from your garden - leave them for the birds to snack on! Consider placing a piece of dead wood by the feeders so attract insects and provide the birds with a treat.&nbsp;

Feed Consistently

Never let your feeders stay empty for too long. Birds come to depend on your feeder as a food source -- especially in the winter -- and if it remains empty for an extended period they will go and look somewhere else for food.

Keeping your feeder filled means you need to keep it cleaned and maintained for the health of the birds. Once you have established a feeding routine try to keep to it as the birds will start to visit your garden at around the same time and will be expecting a meal.&nbsp;

Decide if you want to feed year-round or only in the winter

Keep putting out food all through the winter even if you think there are no birds around. There are winter birds that will not be around in summer that need feeding in the winter. During this time birds need high-energy food sources to maintain their fat reserves during the cold nights so make sure that you feed them high-fat foods.

Protect The Feeders From Predators

When thinking about how to attract&nbsp;birds to yo<a href="https://magoospet.com/SquirrelBe-GoneFeeder-12lb-Red-078978338005/">ur yard, one area that is often neglected is the task of protecting your bird feeders from other wildlife, in particular squirrels. You do not want these other animals to eat all your seeds. </a>Invest in a squirrel-proof bird feeder to keep those pesky squirrels from stealing your feed.

Put Out The Right Food At The Right Times

It is important to provide the right sorts of food at the right times of the year. You should put out high-fat foods during autumn and winter and high protein foods during spring and summer. Avoid peanuts and fat in spring and summer as you do not want the adult birds feeding these to their young because there is a choking risk. If you do use peanuts, make sure they are in a mesh feeder with only small pieces.

Keep Your Feeders Clean

Make sure you keep your feeders clean and well maintained so that they do not become clogged. Damp or moldy seed can harm the birds and spread disease so make sure your seed is always fresh and nutritious. This will not only give the birds a healthy diet but it will also attract more birds.

Never allow uneaten food to accumulate on or around your feeders. If you do have a dirty and/or moldy feeder then remove all the seed, clean the feeder thoroughly and then refill it with fresh seed.

Provide Fresh Clean Water

When it comes to considering how to attract birds to your yard, providing a source of fresh clean water for the birds is one of the most important things you can do. Water not only provides the birds with something to drink, it also allows them to bathe and preen, and so remove parasites from themselves. In addition, it provides a way for them to cool themselves down on hot summer days.

There are various ways that you can provide water. You can use birdbaths, misters, watering trays and ponds and waterfalls.

If you are going to install a birdbath, try and buy one that has a pump if you can, to keep the water moving. It is vitally important to make sure you prevent the water in the baths from getting stagnant by providing a constant source of fresh water. The pump helps with this, and a moving source of water will also attract more species of birds.

Misters are a great way of providing a way for birds to cool and clean themselves. Hummingbirds in particular love misters and will spend plenty of time hovering in them.

If you are going to put a pond in your garden, make sure that you cover the area around it with suitable plants and ground cover. This will make it more attractive to the birds. And it will also provide a good food source, insects in the ground cover, for example.

<h3>Provide Housing And Nesting Opportunities</h3>

You can add birdhouses and other nesting opportunities to your garden for the birds. Birdhouses not only make decorative items for your yard or garden, they also provide a safe haven for birds to roost and nest. There are a variety of different types of birdhouses so consider which bird species you wish to attract and then choose your birdhouses appropriately. For example, a smaller hole keep bigger birds from using the birdhouse.

You can also plant trees and hedges to give the birds somewhere natural to nest. Try and provide a range of heights, for example, taller trees at the back, then smaller trees and hedges and then bushes and shrubs.

If you follow these tips on how to attract birds to your yard or garden, it will soon be full of happy, healthy wild birds bringing you great pleasure. And at the same time, you will be playing an important conservation role in helping to restore balance to the ecosystem.

Enjoy your feathered friends year round!&nbsp;

&nbsp;]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[Once you see birds at the feeder you certainly want to be a hospitable host to them, right? Of course you do! If you keep their feeders full of delicious seeds and treats, your home will be the go-to location in your neighborhood! The type of food you fill the feeders with will help lure more and different birds to your house and their bright colors and antics will keep you entertained all year long!&nbsp;

It is full of tips and advice on how to go about making sure that your yard is set up in the best possible way to achieve this.

And it is easy too. If you follow some basic guidelines, you will soon have a great variety of feathered visitors. These are my top tips on how to attract birds to your yard or garden&hellip;

Place feeders where they will remain dry and protected from the elements.&nbsp;

Feed Consistently

Decide if you want to feed year-round or only in the winter

Protect The Feeders From Predators

Put Out The Right Food At The Right Times

Keep Your Feeders Clean

Provide Fresh Clean Water

There are various ways that you can provide water. You can use birdbaths, misters, watering trays and ponds and waterfalls.

Misters are a great way of providing a way for birds to cool and clean themselves. Hummingbirds in particular love misters and will spend plenty of time hovering in them.

<h3>Provide Housing And Nesting Opportunities</h3>

Enjoy your feathered friends year round!&nbsp;

&nbsp;]]></content:encoded> <itunes:author><![CDATA[]]></itunes:author> <dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false"><![CDATA[/22251/7-Ways-To-Get-Birds-To-Your-Yard/]]></guid> <link><![CDATA[https://magoospet.com/22251/7-Ways-To-Get-Birds-To-Your-Yard/]]></link> <pubDate><![CDATA[04/04/2021]]></pubDate> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[Three Ways To Care For Wild Birds]]></title> <description><![CDATA[In the winter months, especially if you live in a snowy part of the country, seeing a bright flash of color can brighten your day! When you<a href="https://magoospet.com/21933/4-Ways-To-Get-Ready-To-Feed-Birds-This-Winter/"> attract birds to your backyard and feed them throughout</a> the winter, seeing a cardinal or chickadee on the feeder or enjoying some suet is a great way to spend time enjoying nature even if you&#39;re not right out in the snow and cold!&nbsp;

<a href="https://magoospet.com/WILD-BIRD-FEEDERS/">Birds at the feeders</a> in our yards certainly do brighten the day with their songs, colors and antics. While wild birds are certainly capable of caring for themselves there are steps you can take to ensure their safety during the winter months. It doesn&#39;t take too much time or effort and the birds will thank you by continuing to visit!&nbsp;

1. Keep the feeders full. Once you have made the commitment to attract birds to your backyard bird feeder, they will come to expect it. In the cold winter months, food is scarce and your feeders will become their go-to food source. When they eat they rebuild their strength, it keeps them warm and helps them survive and thrive throughout the winter months.&nbsp;

2. Neighborhood cats may find your bird feeders their own hunting ground. You can&nbsp; mix water and apple cider vinegar and spray it around the perimeter of the trees and bird feeders. The scent is said to keep cats away. Other people who feed outdoor birds say adding a few drops of&nbsp;eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass&nbsp;or peppermint oil to water and spraying it around will keep cats away.&nbsp; Some other wild bird feeders will install motion-activated water sprinklers and aim them at the areas from which cats typically come to scare them away. Place bird feeders high enough off the ground to make it more difficult -- or impossible -- for the cats to reach the birds. Clean up spilled seed to discourage ground feeding birds and keep them safe from outdoor cats. If you have cats that you let outdoors, you may want to keep them inside if you want to feed wild birds.&nbsp;

3.&nbsp; Clean the feeders regularly to prevent any mold growth from occurring inside the feeder.&nbsp;

We have a bonus tip! To protect smaller birds from larger birds of prey, position the feeders in dense tree branches or near shrubs or other brush that the smaller birds can escape to if danger arrives.&nbsp;

Grab your camera and a cup of coffee and watch the birds enjoying the seed and treats you give them this winter!&nbsp;

Magoo&#39;s Pet is a Discount Pet Supply Store family owned and operated for over 40 years.&nbsp; Our years of experience in the pet supplies industry empowers us to supply quality pet products to our community at great prices! We offer a full range of assorted products from dog and cat foods, dog and cat supplies, small animals and accessories, reptiles and accessories, to tropical fish supplies and more. Items available online can be purchased with FREE shipping! For saftey reasons, we are not able to ship live animals and a small assortment of perishable/fragile items.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[In the winter months, especially if you live in a snowy part of the country, seeing a bright flash of color can brighten your day! When you<a href="https://magoospet.com/21933/4-Ways-To-Get-Ready-To-Feed-Birds-This-Winter/"> attract birds to your backyard and feed them throughout</a> the winter, seeing a cardinal or chickadee on the feeder or enjoying some suet is a great way to spend time enjoying nature even if you&#39;re not right out in the snow and cold!&nbsp;

3.&nbsp; Clean the feeders regularly to prevent any mold growth from occurring inside the feeder.&nbsp;

Grab your camera and a cup of coffee and watch the birds enjoying the seed and treats you give them this winter!&nbsp;

Magoo&#39;s Pet is a Discount Pet Supply Store family owned and operated for over 40 years.&nbsp; Our years of experience in the pet supplies industry empowers us to supply quality pet products to our community at great prices! We offer a full range of assorted products from dog and cat foods, dog and cat supplies, small animals and accessories, reptiles and accessories, to tropical fish supplies and more. Items available online can be purchased with FREE shipping! For saftey reasons, we are not able to ship live animals and a small assortment of perishable/fragile items.]]></content:encoded> <itunes:author><![CDATA[]]></itunes:author> <dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false"><![CDATA[/22095/Three-Ways-To-Care-For-Wild-Birds/]]></guid> <link><![CDATA[https://magoospet.com/22095/Three-Ways-To-Care-For-Wild-Birds/]]></link> <pubDate><![CDATA[01/31/2021]]></pubDate> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[4 Ways To Get Ready To Feed Birds This Winter]]></title> <description><![CDATA[Many areas of the country are experiencing unprecedented warm weather BUT we all know winter is coming. If you live in some areas of the country, winter is a fact of life!&nbsp;

<a href="https://magoospet.com/21201/How-To-Attract-Wild-Birds-To-Your-Feeder/">Birds are a bright spot on a winter&#39;s day</a> for many people. We know that getting up in the morning and sitting at the kitchen table, or looking out the window at the bird feeders and the feeding frenzy there makes snow and cold a bit more bearable. Once you&#39;ve &quot;called&quot; the wild birds to your feeders by giving them food, you don&#39;t want to leave them high and dry and stop feeding them. If at all possible, feeding the birds is a winter-long commitment once you start.&nbsp;

If you&#39;re new to having birds at feeders in your yard we have tips on how to lure birds to your yard and what you can do to keep them happy and returning! On another note, if you have indoor cats, birds at the feeder are<a href="https://magoospet.com/21639/How-To-Care-For-A-Senior-Cat/"> like &quot;cat TV.&quot; A lot of cats will perch in a place they can see the birds, </a>their tails twitch, they may chatter at the birds and are thoroughly entertained -- it&#39;s a win for your cats and a happy feeding time for the birds!&nbsp;

<h2>Here are 4&nbsp;ways to bring birds to your feeders</h2>

Location. Location. Location. Birds feel safer when they are under some cover when they are eating. If you have trees in your yard that are semi-secluded and have <a href="https://magoospet.com/WILD-BIRD-FEEDERS/">branches that shelter the bird feeders,</a> you may get more birds to your home. Some birds won&#39;t care if you put a bird feeder pole and a bird feeder on it, but the shy ones may stay away.&nbsp;

Know your birds. What kind of birds thrive in the winter in the area of the country where you live? When you know what kind of birds are where you live then you can buy wild bird seed that they will want to eat. For example, a tiny chickadee probably won&#39;t want to struggle with large sunflower seeds -- although some will! That leads us to...

Buy the <a href="https://magoospet.com/WILD-BIRD-BIRD-SEED/">wild birds the feed and seed </a>they want.&nbsp; Once you know what kind of birds are in the area where you live, you can shop at your favorite online store for the seeds and seed mixes that suit the birds you will be feeding. Many wild bird seed mixes are blends of seeds to appeal to a wide variety of wild birds. Don&#39;t forget the suet -- many birds love it and it&#39;s a &quot;healthy fat&quot; for them.&nbsp;

Keep them full. Once you have filled the feeders and you have wild bird activity, keep the feeders full.&nbsp; We know that birds CAN thrive on their own in the winter months -- they are equipped for that -- BUT we feel that once you have committed to feeding them, you should stick with it throughout the winter season. And as we mentioned, &quot;bird tv&quot; is a bright spot in a gray winter day and the birds will thank you for it!&nbsp;

Have you fed birds in the past? Do you plan to feed wild birds this winter? We would love to see your bird feeder set ups and the birds that come to your feeder!&nbsp;

Drop us a photo on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MagoosPetOutletCorporate">Magoos Facebook Page.&nbsp;</a>

&nbsp;]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[Many areas of the country are experiencing unprecedented warm weather BUT we all know winter is coming. If you live in some areas of the country, winter is a fact of life!&nbsp;

<h2>Here are 4&nbsp;ways to bring birds to your feeders</h2>

Have you fed birds in the past? Do you plan to feed wild birds this winter? We would love to see your bird feeder set ups and the birds that come to your feeder!&nbsp;

Drop us a photo on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MagoosPetOutletCorporate">Magoos Facebook Page.&nbsp;</a>

&nbsp;]]></content:encoded> <itunes:author><![CDATA[]]></itunes:author> <dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false"><![CDATA[/21933/4-Ways-To-Get-Ready-To-Feed-Birds-This-Winter/]]></guid> <link><![CDATA[https://magoospet.com/21933/4-Ways-To-Get-Ready-To-Feed-Birds-This-Winter/]]></link> <pubDate><![CDATA[11/07/2020]]></pubDate> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[How To Attract Wild Birds To Your Feeder]]></title> <description><![CDATA[It is fascinating to watch birds flocking to the feeders you have placed in your yard. This is especially true if you live in areas of the country that get blanketed with snow. Seeing bright flashes of colors and hearing the sounds of birds scrambling to your feeders brightens even the darkest of winter days.

How, though, can <a href="https://magoospet.com/WILD-BIRD-FEEDERS/">you get wild birds to your feeders?</a> This is something the pet professionals from Magoo&rsquo;s Pet Outlet get asked all the time. We carry bird feeders and a line of feed and seed almost guaranteed to make your backyard and your bird feeders the most popular spot in the neighborhood!

Attracting wild birds to your yard may require some time. If you&rsquo;re new to feeding wild birds and if they already have a spot with which they are familiar it may take patience and trial and error to get them to flock to your feeders, but it can be done.

<h2>How To Get Wild Birds To Your Feeders</h2>

The first step is to choose a feeder and find a location for it. Choose the location wisely as you don&rsquo;t want to have to move it once the birds have found it, but you also don&rsquo;t want to have flocks of wild birds messing up your cars!

Here are some tips for finding the best location for your wild bird feeder.

<ol>
	<li>Choose a location that you can see and enjoy the feathered visitors, but that is still sheltered and is free from a lot of foot traffic or other potential disturbances. If there is a copse of trees or even a large enough tree to hold the feeders, choose that. The tree will also offer the birds protection from the elements.</li>
	<li>Plant shrubbery or plants that will yield berries. Plant these around the feeders. If you have birds that feed on the ground, the low-lying plants will offer both food and protection.</li>
	<li>If the feeders will be close to your house, place stickers on the windows to keep the glass visible to the birds and prevent any accidents.</li>
	<li>Hang the feeders from tree branches or from a feeder pole. Some feeder poles will keep squirrels from feeding on the seeds and treats you leave for the birds.</li>
	<li>A birdbath or fountain is also another way to bring birds to your yard and your feeders. The sound of dripping water will attract birds. Make sure the water is fresh and not stagnant or it will become a home for mosquitoes.</li>
</ol>

What kind of wild bird feeder should you choose?

The kind of feeder you use may be determined by the size of the birds you want to attract as well as the seed you will be filling the feeders with.

Here are some other factors for choosing the bird feeder.

<ol>
	<li><a href="https://magoospet.com/Squirrel-Slammer-Feeder-078978051119/">Silo feeders</a>, that you fill with black oil sunflower seeds are a great choice and are attractive to a variety of birds. Finches, chickadees and grosbeaks enjoy these feeders.</li>
	<li>There are also <a href="https://magoospet.com/Squirrel-Slammer-Feeder-078978051119/">niger seed silos</a> that are a draw for finches, too.</li>
	<li>Some birds prefer seed scattered on a platform rather than eating it from holes in the feeder. Look for <a href="https://magoospet.com/WILD-BIRD-FEEDERS/">bird feeders that offer a tray </a>where seed can filter to and sparrows and juncos, among others, can enjoy. Don&rsquo;t spread seed on the ground as it could get moldy and if the birds eat it, they could get ill.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>A hopper feeder is a great style for larger birds like pigeons, Blue Jays and even cardinals.</li>
	<li>Woodpeckers are happiest with a seed covered <a href="https://magoospet.com/WILD-BIRD-SUET/">suet block</a> suspended and attached to the tree.</li>
	<li><a href="https://magoospet.com/WILD-BIRD-Oriole-Hummingbird-Feeders/">Hummingbird feeders</a> will attract those darting, beautiful tiny wild birds and can be added to your bird feeder area in the warm months. However, if you have a space to hang the hummingbird feeder that is surrounded by flowers and in a sunny space, they will likely be happiest.</li>
</ol>

Many birds will eat millet, oats, cracked corn, black oil sunflower seeds among others. Look for a seed that is attractive to the types of birds in the area of the country in which you live.

Regularly clean the bird feeders, remove any seed that hasn&rsquo;t been eaten to prevent spoilage and refill the feeders. Clean and fill the feeders at times that are not popular feeding times &ndash; typically early morning and early evening. You don&rsquo;t want to scare them away if they are just getting accustomed to eating at your feeders.

You can buy <a href="https://magoospet.com/WILD-BIRD/">wild bird seed, feeders, squirrel deterrents</a> and any other wild bird need that arises. Stop by one of our ten Michigan-based Magoo&rsquo;s Pet Outlets or shop from our online store.&nbsp;

Follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MagoosPetOutletCorporate">Facebook</a> and share photos of your pets!]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[It is fascinating to watch birds flocking to the feeders you have placed in your yard. This is especially true if you live in areas of the country that get blanketed with snow. Seeing bright flashes of colors and hearing the sounds of birds scrambling to your feeders brightens even the darkest of winter days.

<h2>How To Get Wild Birds To Your Feeders</h2>

Here are some tips for finding the best location for your wild bird feeder.

What kind of wild bird feeder should you choose?

The kind of feeder you use may be determined by the size of the birds you want to attract as well as the seed you will be filling the feeders with.

Here are some other factors for choosing the bird feeder.

Many birds will eat millet, oats, cracked corn, black oil sunflower seeds among others. Look for a seed that is attractive to the types of birds in the area of the country in which you live.

Follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MagoosPetOutletCorporate">Facebook</a> and share photos of your pets!]]></content:encoded> <itunes:author><![CDATA[]]></itunes:author> <dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false"><![CDATA[/21201/How-To-Attract-Wild-Birds-To-Your-Feeder/]]></guid> <link><![CDATA[https://magoospet.com/21201/How-To-Attract-Wild-Birds-To-Your-Feeder/]]></link> <pubDate><![CDATA[04/16/2020]]></pubDate> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[Guide To Wild Bird Seed And Food]]></title> <description><![CDATA[There are lots of different types of wild bird seed available. So much so, that it can be hard for the well-intentioned bird lover to know exactly what is best to buy and leave out for the birds. In this post, we are going to give a brief guide to wild bird seed and food to hopefully make things a little clearer for you.

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for and the best bird seed tends to be the most expensive. While there are plenty of cheap seed mixtures available, they often contain fillers such as oats and red millet that most birds won&rsquo;t eat. This means you end up with a lot of wasted feed lying around which is a fertile breeding ground for mold and bacteria that can be harmful to the birds. For this reason, the cheaper mixtures are best avoided.

<h3>Sunflower Seeds</h3>

If you want to attract the widest variety of birds then you&rsquo;ll want to go with sunflower seeds, of which there are two types &ndash; striped and black oil.

<h4>Black Sunflower Seeds</h4>

Black sunflower seeds have thinner shells than the striped variety and are much easier for small birds to crack open. The kernels have a very high fat content making them extremely valuable for winter birds. They&rsquo;re not just a winter food though, being suitable for year-round feeding.

<h4>Striped Sunflower Seeds</h4>

These have a much thicker shell than the black sunflower seeds, making them harder for smaller birds to open so if you want to attract smaller birds to your garden you&rsquo;re better choosing the black seeds over the striped ones. If you&rsquo;re interested in attracting larger birds, then these are a good choice.

<h4>Sunflower Hearts And Chips</h4>

Sunflower hearts, also known as chips, are hulled sunflower seeds that are 100% edible. These have two main advantages &ndash; the birds don&rsquo;t have to use valuable energy to crack open the shells in winter, and from the human perspective you don&rsquo;t end up with lots of shells lying around that you have to clean up &ndash; especially important if your feeder is on your lawn, as the shells are toxic to lawn grass.

Sunflower hearts and chips also have the advantage that they attract other species of birds that don&rsquo;t have beaks that can crack open shells. Because of the manual work required to remove the shells before sale, sunflower hearts are more expensive than the seeds with the shells still on.

The drawback to using sunflower seeds is that they are very attractive to squirrels. There are specialized squirrel proof feeders available that can prevent squirrels from stealing your food.

<h3>Nyjer Seeds</h3>

These are a tiny, black seed from Africa and Asia that are high in oil content and are particular favorites of goldfinches, and also purple and house finches and siskins. Nyjer seeds require a special type of seed feeder that prevents spillage.

<h3>Peanuts</h3>

Peanuts are incredibly popular with a wide variety of birds, including jays, tits, woodpeckers, house sparrows, finches and wrens but you do have to be careful when feeding peanuts to birds because they can be high in a natural toxin which can harm or even kill the birds. So make sure you always buy them from a reputable dealer, keep them dry and use them relatively quickly.

You can either buy whole peanuts in the shell or peanut pieces.

<h4>Whole Peanuts In The Shell</h4>

One of the greatest treats you can feed birds is whole peanuts in the shell. These are particularly popular with woodpeckers and jays.

If you want all the birds to have a chance to get the peanuts then the best type of feeder to use is a platform feeder.

<h4>Peanut Pieces</h4>

These are just broken pieces of peanuts, usually a by-product of preparing peanuts for human consumption. They are often put into special peanut feeders which require the birds to cling to the feeder to get the peanuts inside. The aim is to restrict access to those birds which love them the most.

<h3>Millet</h3>

These are small white seeds that are often found in birdseed mixes but you can also buy them separately. Millet is an inexpensive grain that will attract a variety of different birds such as doves, sparrows and house finches.

<h3>Safflower Seed</h3>

This seed which looks like a white sunflower seed has a thick shell which means its only suitable for birds with sturdy beaks. Because squirrels don&rsquo;t really like it, this is a popular seed choice for many people&rsquo;s back gardens. Its suitable for birds such as cardinals, woodpeckers, jays and nuthatches.

<h3>Other Bird Foods</h3>

An excellent winter food for birds are fat balls or fat-based food bars. Always remove the nylon mesh before putting them out, if they come in one, as the birds can get trapped in the mesh and hurt themselves. Other food you can give to the birds are fruit, nectar and suet.

<h3>Foods To Avoid</h3>

Polyunsaturated margarines or vegetable oils and cooking fats are bad for birds and shouldn&rsquo;t be fed to them.

Birds should also never be fed milk as it is bad for them and can make them ill and even kill them.

Moldy foods should be avoided too. While most molds are harmless to birds some can cause respiratory infections and it&rsquo;s recommended to be on the safe side and just avoid moldy and stale foods altogether.

<h3>Choosing Quality Birdseed</h3>

Although birds aren&rsquo;t usually choosy about the food they eat, higher quality feed provides better nutrition for them and will attract more species to your garden. Even within the same variety of seed you will find differences in quality so always choose carefully. To guide you, here are some of the things to look out for:

<ul>
	<li>Quantity &ndash; although buying in bulk can make the bird seed less expensive, you need to remember only to buy as much as you will use before it goes stale or mouldy.</li>
	<li>Quality/freshness &ndash; look for any signs of mold or infestation in the seed. Also, quality fresh seed will not have large amounts of dust or other inedible material in the mix.</li>
	<li>Ingredients &ndash; make sure the seed hasn&rsquo;t been treated with any pesticides or insecticides that could be toxic to the birds. If you&rsquo;re buying a seed mix, also check the mix proportions used. You should aim to choose seed with a higher proportion of better quality seeds such as sunflower or millet rather than having a lot of lower quality filler such as millet or cracked corn.</li>
</ul>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[There are lots of different types of wild bird seed available. So much so, that it can be hard for the well-intentioned bird lover to know exactly what is best to buy and leave out for the birds. In this post, we are going to give a brief guide to wild bird seed and food to hopefully make things a little clearer for you.

<h3>Sunflower Seeds</h3>

If you want to attract the widest variety of birds then you&rsquo;ll want to go with sunflower seeds, of which there are two types &ndash; striped and black oil.

<h4>Black Sunflower Seeds</h4>

<h4>Striped Sunflower Seeds</h4>

<h4>Sunflower Hearts And Chips</h4>

The drawback to using sunflower seeds is that they are very attractive to squirrels. There are specialized squirrel proof feeders available that can prevent squirrels from stealing your food.

<h3>Nyjer Seeds</h3>

<h3>Peanuts</h3>

You can either buy whole peanuts in the shell or peanut pieces.

<h4>Whole Peanuts In The Shell</h4>

One of the greatest treats you can feed birds is whole peanuts in the shell. These are particularly popular with woodpeckers and jays.

If you want all the birds to have a chance to get the peanuts then the best type of feeder to use is a platform feeder.

<h4>Peanut Pieces</h4>

<h3>Millet</h3>

<h3>Safflower Seed</h3>

<h3>Other Bird Foods</h3>

<h3>Foods To Avoid</h3>

Polyunsaturated margarines or vegetable oils and cooking fats are bad for birds and shouldn&rsquo;t be fed to them.

Birds should also never be fed milk as it is bad for them and can make them ill and even kill them.

<h3>Choosing Quality Birdseed</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Quantity &ndash; although buying in bulk can make the bird seed less expensive, you need to remember only to buy as much as you will use before it goes stale or mouldy.</li>
	<li>Quality/freshness &ndash; look for any signs of mold or infestation in the seed. Also, quality fresh seed will not have large amounts of dust or other inedible material in the mix.</li>
	<li>Ingredients &ndash; make sure the seed hasn&rsquo;t been treated with any pesticides or insecticides that could be toxic to the birds. If you&rsquo;re buying a seed mix, also check the mix proportions used. You should aim to choose seed with a higher proportion of better quality seeds such as sunflower or millet rather than having a lot of lower quality filler such as millet or cracked corn.</li>
</ul>]]></content:encoded> <itunes:author><![CDATA[]]></itunes:author> <dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false"><![CDATA[/21045/Guide-To-Wild-Bird-Seed-And-Food/]]></guid> <link><![CDATA[https://magoospet.com/21045/Guide-To-Wild-Bird-Seed-And-Food/]]></link> <pubDate><![CDATA[08/20/2020]]></pubDate> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[Attract Birds To Your Yard]]></title> <description><![CDATA[If you&rsquo;re anything at all like me, once you start to feed the wild birds you will become addicted and will soon start wanting to attract as many different species as you can. If this is the case, then this article on how to attract birds to your yard should be great for you.

It is full of tips and advice on how to go about making sure that your yard is set up in the best possible way to achieve this.

&nbsp;

<figure class="image"><img alt="custom image" src="/store_images/customcontent/backYardbirds.1.jpg" />
<figcaption>Caption</figcaption>
</figure>

As well as providing you with great joy and delight, attracting birds to your yard or garden also plays an important role in conservation and helps to provide balance to the ecosystem. So it is a win-win situation. You get the pleasure and fun from it, while at the same time you are doing something very worthwhile and useful.

And it is easy too. If you follow some basic guidelines, you will soon have a great variety of feathered visitors. These are my top tips on how to attract birds to your yard or garden&hellip;

Use A Variety Of Feeders &amp; Locations 
Not all birds like to feed in the same way so make sure that you use a number of different kinds of bird feeders. For example, you should think about using a mix of open feeders with trays or perches, mesh socks, nectar feeders, suet feeders and jelly feeders, to attract a variety of different species of birds. Also bear in mind that more natural looking feeders will attract more birds.

&nbsp;

As well as this, different species of birds will have different preferences when it comes to the placement&nbsp;of the feeders. Some birds prefer feeders to be higher up while some prefer them to be lower down. So check the feeding preferences of the bird species that you wish to attract most and place your feeders in the best place for those types of birds. If you are in doubt, it is best to place them higher up as this is where most birds prefer to feed because it keeps them safe from cats and other predators.

When thinking about how to attract birds to your yard, it is also important to remember that birds are still wild animals, no matter how beautiful they are. This means that they will be quite wary of humans so do not place your feeders too close to the house if possible. This will obviously depend on the size of your yard but try and place the feeders somewhere that the birds will feel the most safe. If you are planning on putting your feeder on a pole then try and place the pole near to a tree if possible, to give the birds a quick escape route if they need one.

Finally, you should try and place your feeders somewhere that they will remain dry and are protected from the elements. Of course this does not matter as much if you make sure your feeders are designed to keep water out and to withstand the worst of the winter weather in your area.

Use The Best Quality Seed 
What Birds Eat SmallDo not use cheap bird seed mixes as a food source. They usually contain milo which does not appeal to most birds and will just get left and discarded, with the end result that the birds will eventually go elsewhere to find food and you will just end up with a messy lawn or yard.

So it is always a good idea to pay that little bit extra for good quality seed if your budget lets you do so.

Different species of birds prefer different types of food, so once again when considering how to attract birds to your yard, first think about which types of birds you want to attract. Then when you have chosen which birds, put out the best seed to attract them. For example, millet is a favorite of small birds while cracked corn is good for larger birds as this is a typical food they eat in the wild.

Do Not Forget Other Food Sources 
Do not forget about natural sources of food. As well as having feeders in your garden, you should also have natural food sources such as fruit trees and other plants and shrubs that attract birds. In particular, shrubs that produce berries can provide a natural food source for a lot of birds.

Also remember that birds feed upon insects, so do not remove insects&nbsp;from your garden through the use of insecticides or pesticides. You can place some dead wood (for example, logs) in some areas of your yard if you have the space. These will act as a haven for insects and so act as a good food source for the birds. You can hide these dead wood areas out of sight if you are worried about the&nbsp;way your garden looks to humans.

<h3>Feed Consistently</h3>

Never let your feeders stay empty for too long; definitely not for more than a few days. Birds come to depend on your feeder as a food source and if it remains empty for an extended period they will go and look somewhere else for food.

Keeping your feeder filled means that you also keep it cleaner and better maintained too, which is good for the birds. Once you have established a feeding routine try to keep to it as the birds will start to visit your garden at the same times, expecting to be fed at those times. It is no use carefully considering all the aspects of how to attract birds to your yard if you do not then keep to a feeding routine.

<h3>Keep Feeding During Winter</h3>

Keep putting out food all through the winter even if you think there are no birds around. There are lots of winter birds that will not be around in summer that need feeding in the winter. During this time birds need high energy food source to maintain their fat reserves during the cold nights so make sure that you feed them high fat foods.

<h3>Protect Your Feeders</h3>

When thinking about how to attract&nbsp;birds to your yard, one area that is often neglected is the task of protecting your bird feeders from other wildlife, in particular squirrels. You do not want these other animals to eat all your seed without the birds getting much, if any at all. Consider investing in a squirrel proof bird feeder to keep those pesky squirrels from stealing your feed.

<h3>Put Out The Right Food At The Right Times</h3>

It is important to provide the right sorts of food at the right times of year. You should put out high fat foods during autumn and winter and high protein foods during spring and summer. Avoid peanuts and fat in spring and summer as you do not want the adult birds feeding these to their young because there is a choking risk. If you do use peanuts, make sure they are in a mesh feeder with only small pieces.

<h3>Keep Your Feeders Clean</h3>

<h3>Provide Fresh Clean Water</h3>

There are various ways that you can provide water. You can use bird baths, misters, watering trays and ponds and waterfalls.

If you are going to install a bird bath, try and buy one that has a pump if you can, to keep the water moving. It is vitally important to make sure you prevent the water in the baths from getting stagnant by providing a constant source of fresh water. The pump helps with this, and a moving source of water will also attract more species of birds.

Misters are a great way of providing a way for birds to cool and clean themselves. Hummingbirds in particular love misters and will spend plenty of time hovering in them.

<h3>Provide Housing And Nesting Opportunities</h3>

You can add bird houses and other nesting opportunities to your garden for the birds. Bird houses not only make decorative items for your yard or garden, they also provide a safe haven for birds to roost and nest. There are a variety of different types of bird houses so consider which bird species you wish to attract and then choose your bird houses appropriately. For example, a smaller hole with keep bigger birds from using the bird house.

You can also plant trees and hedges to give the birds somewhere natural to nest. Try and provide a range of heights, for example taller trees at the back, then smaller trees and hedges and then bushes and shrubs.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[If you&rsquo;re anything at all like me, once you start to feed the wild birds you will become addicted and will soon start wanting to attract as many different species as you can. If this is the case, then this article on how to attract birds to your yard should be great for you.

It is full of tips and advice on how to go about making sure that your yard is set up in the best possible way to achieve this.

&nbsp;

<figure class="image"><img alt="custom image" src="/store_images/customcontent/backYardbirds.1.jpg" />
<figcaption>Caption</figcaption>
</figure>

And it is easy too. If you follow some basic guidelines, you will soon have a great variety of feathered visitors. These are my top tips on how to attract birds to your yard or garden&hellip;

&nbsp;

When thinking about how to attract birds to your yard, it is also important to remember that birds are still wild animals, no matter how beautiful they are. This means that they will be quite wary of humans so do not place your feeders too close to the house if possible. This will obviously depend on the size of your yard but try and place the feeders somewhere that the birds will feel the most safe. If you are planning on putting your feeder on a pole then try and place the pole near to a tree if possible, to give the birds a quick escape route if they need one.

So it is always a good idea to pay that little bit extra for good quality seed if your budget lets you do so.

<h3>Feed Consistently</h3>

<h3>Keep Feeding During Winter</h3>

<h3>Protect Your Feeders</h3>

<h3>Put Out The Right Food At The Right Times</h3>

<h3>Keep Your Feeders Clean</h3>

<h3>Provide Fresh Clean Water</h3>

There are various ways that you can provide water. You can use bird baths, misters, watering trays and ponds and waterfalls.

If you are going to install a bird bath, try and buy one that has a pump if you can, to keep the water moving. It is vitally important to make sure you prevent the water in the baths from getting stagnant by providing a constant source of fresh water. The pump helps with this, and a moving source of water will also attract more species of birds.

Misters are a great way of providing a way for birds to cool and clean themselves. Hummingbirds in particular love misters and will spend plenty of time hovering in them.

<h3>Provide Housing And Nesting Opportunities</h3>

You can add bird houses and other nesting opportunities to your garden for the birds. Bird houses not only make decorative items for your yard or garden, they also provide a safe haven for birds to roost and nest. There are a variety of different types of bird houses so consider which bird species you wish to attract and then choose your bird houses appropriately. For example, a smaller hole with keep bigger birds from using the bird house.

&nbsp;

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