More than ever, you should be putting sunflower hearts or chips in your feeder/feeders. It’s one of the few seeds that all young birds can eat. That’s because the sunflower husk has been removed and it’s basically a fruit.
The chips and hearts are a little pricey and when there were 10,000 grackles hammering away, I had to stop using chips or take out a second mortgage. But they are gone now, and I can afford to feed my birds the seeds they truly love.
Sunflower heart chips are the broken-down versions of sunflower hearts. This helps smaller birds feed on them even more easily.
I frequently see young chicks (bluebirds, cardinals and even catbirds) at my feeder. Having the chips available saves Mama and Papa bird lots of effort in catching bugs and feeding their young.
The chips are about $14 a bag, but there is zero waste. If you love your backyard birds, buy a bag and get started.