Seasonal Bird Feeding Calendar: What to Feed Your Garden Birds and When
A Year-Round Guide to Supporting Your Feathered Friends with Puzzleseeds
Here at Puzzleseeds, we deeply value a thriving garden ecosystem. Feeding wild birds isn't just a winter job—it’s a year-round commitment that needs to shift with the changing seasons. By adjusting what you put out, you can ensure your feathered friends get the right nutrition exactly when they need it most.
Use this simple, season-by-season guide to keep your garden birds happy and healthy with the high-quality Eyebrook feeds you can trust us to stock.
❄️ Winter (December, January, February): Energy and Survival
Winter is the most challenging time for garden birds. Short, cold days mean they have to burn lots of energy just to stay warm, and they need to find food fast.
- The Focus: High-fat and high-energy foods are non-negotiable for survival.
- What to Feed: Fill your feeders with our premium Eyebrook high-energy seed mixes, quality peanuts (always in a suitable mesh feeder), and high-fat Eyebrook suet blocks or pellets.
- Key Tip: Top up your feeders first thing in the morning and again before dusk to help them quickly stock up for the long, cold night.
- Puzzleseeds Promise: We know how urgent winter orders can be. That’s why Puzzleseeds offers free next-day delivery before midday for all Eyebrook feeds to make sure your birds never go without.
🌱 Spring (March, April, May): Nesting and Breeding Support
As the weather softens, birds are busy pairing up and nesting. Their diet needs to support the intense work of laying eggs and, soon, feeding tiny, hungry nestlings.
- The Focus: Balanced nutrition for breeding and safe options for young birds.
- What to Feed: Continue with a balanced seed mix. We recommend switching to an Eyebrook no-grow mix or soft sunflower hearts. Crucially, avoid whole peanuts for a few weeks while nestlings are tiny. Ground-feeding birds will appreciate softer straights from our range.
- Key Tip: Keep your feeders scrupulously clean. Preventing the spread of disease is vital during this vulnerable breeding season.
☀️ Summer (June, July, August): Hydration and Fledglings
Summer brings long days and fledglings out of the nest. Young birds need easy-to-digest, high-protein food to grow quickly.
- The Focus: Hydration, growth, and easily digestible foods.
- What to Feed: Keep offering soft, easily digestible foods like sunflower hearts. High-protein mealworms (dried or live) are an excellent energy source for growing birds. Avoid large, dry foods that are hard for young birds to swallow.
- Key Tip: Water is absolutely crucial in summer. Maintain a clean, shallow bird bath and top it up daily. On the hottest days, check your feeders and reduce the amount of feed if necessary.
🍂 Autumn (September, October, November): Building Reserves
Autumn is all about preparation. Birds moult their feathers and begin laying down the critical fat reserves they’ll need to survive or migrate.
- The Focus: Fat and variety to build up necessary reserves.
- What to Feed: Increase the variety and switch back to high-fat seed mixes and whole peanuts. The Eyebrook range includes berry and fruit blends, which are also excellent as they mimic natural autumnal foods.
- Key Tip: As the weather becomes damp, be diligent about checking food for mould. Always store your Eyebrook feeds in a cool, dry, and vermin-proof place to maintain freshness.