For winter feeding, I would begin with a small quantity of sunflower hearts in a suitable hanging feeder, then add a little suet if it is being taken. There is no need to buy a large assortment immediately. Watching what disappears—and what remains damp or scattered—will tell you more than the number of ingredients on a bag.
Timing matters. The RSPB seasonal recommendation is to offer seeds and peanuts from 1 November to 30 April, pausing them through the warmer months. This guide is for that winter feeding period, not a recommendation to keep a seed feeder filled throughout the year.
Sunflower hearts are a straightforward starting point
Sunflower hearts have the husks removed, so there is no pile of empty shells to clear up. They still create waste if too much is supplied or birds drop pieces. “No husks” does not mean there will be nothing beneath the feeder.
For a new setup, I would buy a modest bag and establish demand before committing to 20kg. Keep the bag dry, reseal it and retain its batch and best-before information. Do not keep topping up old food indefinitely: empty and inspect the feeder as part of cleaning.
Use a compatible seed feeder rather than a flat dish. Check that the food moves through the ports without jamming, and that you can reach the base when washing it.
At the 12 October stock check, the ordinary 2 kg and 5 kg bags were unavailable, while smaller paper-bag packs could be ordered. Check both pack size and delivered price; an unavailable small bag is no reason to buy a sack you cannot use.
Add suet in a form you can manage
Fat balls, blocks and pellets need different holders. Choose one format rather than buying several holders simply because a mixed bundle includes them. Remove any netting from fat balls and use a purpose-made holder.
For a modest fat-ball setup, the Gardman Flip Top Fat Ball Feeder keeps the equipment simple. If you already own a block holder, stay with blocks that fit it; compare the suet-block feeder range only if you need a replacement. I choose between a block and balls by the holder and the amount I can keep fresh, rather than buying both automatically.
Position food so you can take the holder down easily. A feeder at the back of a wet border tends to be less convenient to maintain than one reachable from a path. Avoid creating a setup that requires a ladder for an everyday refill.
Peanuts and mealworms need the right handling
Buy peanuts intended for wild birds and use a suitable mesh feeder. Salted snack nuts are not a substitute. Keep different foods in their original labelled packaging where practical so you do not lose track of what they are or when they should be used.
Mealworms can be offered sparingly, but do not scatter an evening supply where hedgehogs may find it. The RSPB’s food and hygiene guidance says leftover mealworms should be cleared by dusk. Hedgehog food is a separate subject; use our hedgehog feeding guide rather than transferring bird-feeding advice to them.
Adjust portions to the birds you actually have
Make one small change at a time. Begin with a modest fill, check what remains, then increase only if demand warrants it. This makes it easier to distinguish food that is being eaten from food being lost to squirrels or falling to the ground.
If leftovers become wet or clumped, discard them. Mixing fresh food into a damp residue is not a useful saving. Our feeder cleaning guide explains the reset process, and reducing rat attraction covers the ground and storage checks.
Do not increase quantities merely to use up a bargain bag. Our bulk buying calculation compares savings with consumption and storage; a higher price per kilogram can still be the sensible choice for a quiet garden.
The RSPB advises offering only enough seed or peanuts to be eaten within one or two days. It allows suet products to remain for up to seven days, but remove them sooner if they become wet, dirty or unsuitable. Those limits are a reason to reduce the fill, not to wait until cleaning day before inspecting it.
Keep fresh water available too
Food is only one part of the setup. An accessible bird bath or shallow water dish gives you a separate daily job: emptying and replenishing it rather than repeatedly topping up old water. A simple arrangement you can keep clean is a better starting point than a busy station with several neglected containers.
