Garden bird feeders
Different garden bird feeders suit different feeding behaviours and different species, so the right choice depends on which birds you are hoping to attract as much as on the feed itself. Tube feeders, seed hoppers, suet feeders and ground trays each work best with a different mix of birds and a different kind of food.
Matching feeder type to bird species
Tube feeders with small perches suit smaller finches and tits well and are commonly used for sunflower hearts and nyjer seed, while robins, dunnocks and blackbirds generally prefer feeding from the ground or a low, open tray rather than clinging to a hanging feeder. A single feeder type in the garden will only ever reach part of the birds actually visiting it.
Suet feeders, whether cages or fat balls, are particularly valuable in colder months when birds need the extra energy fat provides, and are used readily by species like starlings, woodpeckers and tits.
Hygiene matters as much as the food
Feeders that are not cleaned regularly can spread disease between birds gathering at the same spot, which is a genuine and well-documented risk at garden feeding stations. Cleaning feeders every one to two weeks with a suitable disinfectant, rinsing thoroughly, and moving the feeder's position occasionally all help reduce the build-up of droppings and bacteria in one spot.
Stopping feeding for a period and cleaning the area thoroughly is the recommended response if you notice sick or dead birds nearby, rather than continuing to feed in the same spot.
Placement affects both use and safety
Positioning a feeder within a couple of metres of cover such as a hedge or shrub gives visiting birds somewhere to retreat quickly from predators, while keeping it a reasonable distance from windows reduces the risk of collisions. A spot that is easy for you to observe and refill regularly also makes you far more likely to keep feeding consistently, which matters more to visiting birds than an occasional large top-up.
Height matters too: a feeder mounted at least 1.5 metres up keeps most feed out of reach of cats waiting below, though nothing beats keeping the area around a feeding station genuinely clear of dense low cover a cat could use to approach unseen. Moving a feeder's exact position every few weeks, even by a metre or two, also helps stop droppings and spilt husks building up in one patch of ground underneath it.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Peckish Complete Seed
A husk-free garden bird seed mix with Peckish's own added vitamin pellet
From£3.00
Peckish Winter Warmer Extra Energy Seed Mix
A 1KG winter seed mix with 9 ingredients and 20% oil for extra energy
£3.99
Peckish Complete Seed and Nut No Mess Wild Bird Seed Mix
A no-mess seed and nut mix for the garden, built from 12 ingredients for up to 16 bird species
£20.99
Peckish Sunflower Hearts
Sunflower hearts for wild birds, a husk-free, high-energy straight for feeder or table
£5.39
Peckish Extra Goodness Energy Balls
A 6-plus-6-free pack of energy balls with peanuts, sunflower seed and beef tallow
£3.99
Peckish Complete Ready to Use Bird Feeder
A pre-filled, refillable wild bird feeder, ready to hang straight out of the packaging
£5.99
Peckish Robin Seed Mix
A 1KG insect-added seed mix from Peckish, marketed specifically at robins
£3.75
Peckish No Grow Seed Mix
A weed-free wild bird seed mix, husk-free and treated so it won't sprout in the garden below
From£5.49
Peckish Suet & Peanut Feeder
A perforated stainless steel feeder that takes either suet pellets or peanuts
£12.99
Peckish Extra Goodness Crumble Mix
A 1KG crumble-texture treat mix for garden birds, with added vitamins
£4.99
Peckish Winter Warmer High Energy Wild Bird Seed Mix
A high-energy winter seed mix for garden birds, feeder or table
£24.99
Common questions
- What type of bird feeder attracts the most birds?
- No single feeder attracts every species — tube feeders suit smaller finches and tits, ground trays suit robins and blackbirds, and suet feeders bring in a wider range including woodpeckers, especially in colder months. Offering more than one type gives a broader range of garden birds somewhere to feed.
- How often should I clean a bird feeder?
- Cleaning every one to two weeks with a suitable disinfectant, then rinsing thoroughly and letting it dry, helps stop disease spreading between birds using the same feeder. If you notice sick or dead birds nearby, stop feeding for a while and clean the area more thoroughly.
- Where should I position a bird feeder in the garden?
- Somewhere within a couple of metres of cover such as a hedge gives visiting birds a quick escape route from predators, while keeping some distance from windows reduces the risk of birds flying into the glass. It also helps to place it somewhere you can see and refill easily.
- Should I feed garden birds all year round?
- Many organisations now recommend feeding year-round rather than only in winter, since natural food sources can be scarce at other times too, particularly during the breeding season. Whatever the season, only put out as much food as gets eaten within a day or two to avoid it going stale or attracting pests.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.