Garden bird seed
Garden bird seed comes in several distinct types — sunflower hearts, nyjer seed, mixed seed and suet-based feeds — and each one tends to suit a slightly different mix of garden birds. Choosing the right type for what you actually want to attract matters more than picking whichever bag is cheapest or biggest.
What the different types actually offer
Sunflower hearts are husk-free, high in energy, and popular with a wide range of garden birds including finches, tits and sparrows, and because there is no husk they leave less mess under a feeder than whole sunflower seed. Nyjer seed is smaller and oil-rich, and is the seed most associated with attracting goldfinches specifically, though it needs a feeder with small enough ports to dispense it properly.
A general mixed seed blend covers a broader range of visitors but often includes some lower-value filler seed that many birds pick around, so checking the ingredient list on a mix — how much is genuinely sunflower, oat or wheat versus cheaper filler — tells you more than the bag's marketing. Suet-based feeds, in balls, cakes or pellets, offer a high-energy option that is particularly valued in colder weather.
Matching feed to feeder
A seed feeder with the wrong size ports will either let seed pour out wastefully or block up entirely, so nyjer seed in particular needs a feeder designed for it rather than a general mixed-seed hopper. Ground-feeding birds such as blackbirds and robins prefer feed scattered on a table or the ground rather than hanging feeders, which mainly suit birds that perch and cling.
Cleaning feeders regularly matters as much as the seed choice itself, since old, wet or mouldy seed sitting in a feeder can make birds unwell rather than help them.
Choosing what suits your garden
If you are starting out, a mix of sunflower hearts in one feeder and a general mixed seed scattered or fed from a table covers a broad range of visitors without needing several specialist feeders straight away. You can add a nyjer feeder or suet feeder later if you notice particular birds you would like to attract more of.
Our wild-bird-food range includes sunflower hearts, suet products and mixed seed blends across several pack sizes, so you can try a smaller bag first to see what your garden's regular visitors actually go for before committing to a larger one.
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 seed attracts the most garden birds?
- Sunflower hearts are one of the most broadly popular choices, attracting a wide range of species including finches, tits and sparrows, partly because there is no husk to remove and the energy content is high. A good general mixed seed also draws a wide variety of visitors.
- How often should I fill a garden bird feeder?
- This depends on how many birds visit and the size of your feeder, but check it every day or two, topping up before it runs completely empty, and always remove any old, wet or mouldy seed rather than adding fresh seed on top of it.
- Does bird seed go off?
- Yes, seed can go stale, damp or mouldy over time, particularly if stored somewhere humid. Buy an amount you can use within a reasonable time, store it somewhere dry and sealed, and never top up a feeder without checking what is already in it first.
- Is it OK to feed garden birds all year round?
- Yes, many garden birds benefit from supplementary feeding throughout the year, not just in winter, since natural food sources can be scarce at other times too, such as when adults are feeding chicks in spring. Always provide fresh water alongside any seed as well.
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.