Peanut query

[honeybee]

Hi,
Just wondered how safe it is to feed peanuts to birds. It may sound a bit silly but I am allergic to them and I know animals such as dogs can become sensitive to things. It's just our native birds wouldn't naturally feed on them (grow underground anyhow). I realise people have fed them to birds for years so it's probably a stupid idea but just wondered if anybody had considered it?!

[Bushcraft]

Originally Posted by honeybee

Hi,
Just wondered how safe it is to feed peanuts to birds. It may sound a bit silly but I am allergic to them and I know animals such as dogs can become sensitive to things. It's just our native birds wouldn't naturally feed on them (grow underground anyhow). I realise people have fed them to birds for years so it's probably a stupid idea but just wondered if anybody had considered it?!

Hi Honeybee,

Not a silly question but I think as long as you stick to good quality peanuts you will be fine. I would only buy from good brands or use peanuts meant as human food. As far as reactions I have not heard of this.

Best wishes
Kris

[honeybee]

Hi,
thanks,
yeah, I know you have to be careful they're not mouldy ones/ some have some toxin and have killed birds before.
Don't know if it's just people who become allergic to them?

[glsammy]

Also remember to use them in the correct feeders when there's young birds around, so that they can't take whole nuts and choke on them.

[honeybee]

Yeah, have seen they sell the crushed variety now. Although some research suggests parent birds are cleverer than we think and don't give things to the babies that would choke them. I recall Springwatch with B. Oddie where the parent swallows were picking the hard bits off insects and just giving the babies the juicy bits. Best not to risk it though.

[glsammy]

Your right, birds aren't daft. During this spring we've had fat blocks out for our Blackbirds and Starlings. The parents come and feed on that for themselves, but were capturing insects for the young. They generally know what's good for them, but as you said, why take the chance?

[wildone]

Just like humans, you always get ones that don't use their brains. The aflotoxins are not always seen, so just because they don't look moldy doesn't mean that they are safe. A reputable suplier, not usually the cheapest, is the safest. Or peanut nibs, which are not crushed peanuts but the growth point, which is bitter to human taste, so excluded from peanut butter etc.

[eeyore]

another good point to remember is that even the best peanuts can develop aflotoxin problems if they get damp so make sure you store the bird food in a dry place and make sure that feeders are cleaned and if poss sheltered from the worst of the rain.

[glsammy]

We've learnt to only put out what they usually eat within a few days, this has the added benefit that our local squirrels can't nick so much when they raid them!