Last years peanuts

[Jo-grez]

I bought a load of peanuts last year - about 10kg - and started putting them out for the birds but then I read somewhere that they shouldn't be fed peanuts outside of winter so I stopped and started to put out seed instead.

I've still got about 9.5 Kgs of peanuts left and as it won't long until winters heer I wondered if it's Ok to put them out again yet and if it's OK to use last years lot. Do fungus grow on peanuts that could be harmful to birds? they look OK and they been in a sealed plastic bag.

[rog9748]

I've been feeding peanuts all year as my local RSPB warden said it was fine as long as you used a mesh feeder.
The problem with peanuts is that if birds get whole ones (or large peices of nut) and feed to their youne then they choke on them. With feeders they can only get the small bits they peck through the mesh.
Nuts should be fine as long as they have been stored in a dry place, preferably in an airtight container.
Rog

[Jo-grez]

That's great news. I was thinking that I'd have to make a special trip to zoo to try an offload all the peanuts in the monkey enclosure

I didn't realise that it was the choking hazard that would be the reason for not feeding peanuts in summer, I thought it would be something to do with fat content.

The birds have been pretty uninteersted in the seed feeders that I've got hanging out, so I'm sure they'll be over the moon to see the peanuts are back again.

[StuartDH]

Hi Jo,

Unfortunately, peanuts are very susceptible to harbouring Aflatoxins, which can be a major problem for birds. They are basically odourless, colourless and tasteless toxins that are obviously very difficult to identify. If you've got any doubt about the peanuts it would probably be best to not feed them to the birds.

[Alan]

I believe these toxins build-up with age, so it's best to use fresh ones if possible. Also you get industrial grade peanuts which can be very toxic, so always purchase from a reliable source.

[digi]

Its no longer last years peanuts Alan but the year before

[Alan]

Originally Posted by digi

Its no longer last years peanuts Alan but the year before

Well there you go, their even more toxic now!

[Boddie]

I had this worry but I tried a handfull and they seem to be fine with me feeling no side effectssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss sssssssssssss