Wild bird peanuts — what to buy and how to serve them
Peanuts are one of the most popular things you can put out for garden birds, high in fat and energy at exactly the times of year birds need it most. The two things that actually matter are using a proper mesh feeder rather than a bowl or table, and never putting out salted or dry-roasted peanuts meant for human snacking.
Why peanuts are popular with garden birds
Peanuts are dense in fat and calories, which makes them a genuinely useful food for birds working hard to keep warm in winter or feed chicks in the breeding season. Tits, nuthatches, woodpeckers and finches are all regular visitors to a well-stocked peanut feeder.
That same richness is exactly why they need to be offered properly rather than just scattered on the ground or a bird table, since a whole peanut is a genuine choking hazard for a chick being fed by a parent bird that has grabbed one whole.
The feeder matters as much as the peanuts
A proper mesh peanut feeder lets birds peck pieces off rather than swallowing a whole nut, which is the main reason feeders are sold as mesh tubes rather than open trays. This matters most in spring and early summer, when parent birds are feeding chicks and a whole peanut taken back to the nest is a real risk.
Check the mesh size is right for peanuts specifically rather than reused from a seed feeder, since too fine a mesh can trap a bird's foot or beak and too wide a gap defeats the point of using mesh at all. A dedicated peanut feeder is the simplest way to get this right without having to think about it every time you refill it.
What to avoid
Never put out salted, dry-roasted or flavoured peanuts meant for human consumption, since the salt content and any added flavourings are not suitable for birds. Plain, unsalted peanuts sold specifically for wild bird feeding are the only kind worth putting in a feeder.
Check peanuts for mould before filling a feeder, particularly if a bag has been open for a while, since mouldy peanuts can carry aflatoxins that are harmful to birds. Buying in a quantity you will get through in a reasonable time, and keeping the bag somewhere dry, avoids the problem entirely.
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
- Can I just scatter peanuts on the ground for garden birds?
- It is best avoided, particularly in spring and summer when whole peanuts pose a choking risk to chicks being fed by parent birds. A proper mesh feeder lets birds peck pieces off safely and is the simplest way to avoid the problem altogether.
- Are salted peanuts bad for birds?
- Yes, salted, dry-roasted or flavoured peanuts sold for human snacking are not suitable for birds and should never go in a feeder. Only plain, unsalted peanuts sold specifically for wild bird feeding are appropriate.
- What time of year should I put out peanuts?
- Peanuts are useful year-round, but they matter most in winter when birds need the extra energy to keep warm, and in the breeding season when parents are feeding chicks. Whichever time of year, always use a proper mesh feeder rather than scattering them loose.
- How do I know if peanuts have gone off?
- Check for any grey or black mould, a musty smell, or peanuts that look shrivelled or discoloured, and discard the whole batch if you see any of these signs. Buying an amount you will use within a reasonable time and storing the bag somewhere dry helps avoid the problem in the first place.
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.