Can wild birds eat Almonds

If you can feed wild birds peanuts or mixes from feeders, you can be sure you can feed wild birds unsalted nuts, fed to them whole or crushed.

Wild bird can eat almonds just as they can all nut varieties; out of the shell and broken up if too big, but most common garden birds will take to eating almonds as its a good source of protein, so will provide that all important energy boost for the rest of the day.

What better way to offer visiting wild birds valuable nutrients then from a nut that is classed as the healthiest; it is high in protein, fibre and calories.

Big and chunky, a small garden bird is likely to find it difficult feeding on almonds with the choice between breaking it up with their beak or taking it away for later.

As you'd want them to stay in your garden at the bird feeding station as long has possible, you may want to crush up the nuts a little so they will find it easier to eat, thus staying in your garden for longer.

Make sure they're out of the shell and must be absolutely unsalted; yogurt or chocolate coated or even roasted for that matter are not good for birds.

Keep it simple by offering almonds in your peanut feeder, but again you will have to break them up so they can pass through the holes or wired mesh.

Good source of protein for birds

From a single almond it will be high in protein, which is what a wild bird needs to go about their daily routine.

Not just protein mind you, almonds are jam-packed with important nutrients, all of which will provide some value, however small or big.

Other nutritional value they will benefit from is that they are high in calories, which is import for storing fat in the winter, plus they're high in fibre.

Almonds are one of the highest nuts containing dietary fibre, so would be the one to choose to feed birds.

Likewise, almonds top the chart of the healthiest nut you can consume, which is also true for wild birds.

Remove from shell

It may seem like you should feed wild birds nuts in the most natural way, but most common British birds are not equipped to get into a hard shell.

So when feeding almonds - or any nut variety for that matter - make sure its removed from its shell. Not partially removed or half shell, we mean completely removed and thrown away.

Much of the almonds you can buy at the shops or in the supermarket don't come in shells, but if they do you will need to go through the bother of removing it from each and every one.

Christmas is a time nuts come in shells, which is true for almonds. And its this time of year wild birds need an intake of protein, so you might need to make an exception.

What kind of almonds

Well we've mentioned that almonds must be removed from their shell at all times, its the type of almonds you feed wild birds that matter.

By that we mean with all the cheaper, low value bags of almonds to the expensive kind, the recipe for each one varies greatly.

To be straight, make sure the almonds you feed wild birds are unsalted only.

Whatever type of almonds you feed birds, be it salted, unsalted or roasted, wild birds will delve into the nuts in a heart beat.

So its up to you to pull back the purse strings a little and only feed birds the healthiest nuts, and that the almonds are unsalted - or from the wholefoods range you can get.

That also goes for the chocolate, yogurt coated nuts - just unsalted - and nothing else.

Insert in nut/peanut feeder

Feeding wild birds almond nuts must possibly be the easiest thing you can do, all is set up to feed birds all kinds of mix nuts, so offering almonds should be a hoot.

One problem we can think of though is almonds are fairly large compared to most nuts, in which case you won't be able to fit them in the standard peanut bird feeders you can buy, so you'll need to make a few changes.

That's not a problem as you could simply crush the almonds to a more peanut size, but always make sure they fit through the gaps or holes on the peanut feeder.

Similarly, you could do away with the peanut feeder all together and pile up the nuts on a mesh feeder or the bowl on the bird feeding station.

Here the birds will help themselves while sizing up which nut to take or leave behind.

Crush almonds to hand feed

Go one better by crushing up a handful of almonds, or any type of nut really and just see if you can hand feed wild birds, offering your hand with a small pile of nuts in your palm.

This is not an essential way to feeding birds almonds as there're plenty of options, its just with their size you may have to break them, so why not try hand feeding well you are at it.

We have an whole article dedicated to feeding birds from your hands, but what this will tell you that all types of nuts are suitable.

Summary

You can feed almonds to wild birds in your garden, and as you'll see they will absolutely love them, just as they do with peanuts or mix nuts come to think of it.

Excellent source of protein, fibre and high in calories, so feed almonds all year round to visiting birds, but make an exception during the winter.

Almonds need to be out of their shell and unsalted, never feed almonds to wild birds that are salted or roasted, this is very unhealthy for birds, less so with roasted.

Small quantities are fine, but each bird is likely to consume a large amount in their short stay, so keep clear of salted nuts.

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