Peanuts for birds

Yes, they can be included as part of a balanced diet for birds during the colder months, providing a variety of nutrients and healthy fats.

We advise that peanuts should not be offered to birds from 1 May to 31 October, to prevent the risk of disease and too many birds gathering in one place. Find out more about feeding seasonally and safely.

It's also crucial that you buy high-quality peanuts, as the poor kind tend to be higher in aflatoxin – a type of mould fungus that can be fatal to birds. Our peanuts are of the highest quality, and as such we reject any peanuts containing detectable aflatoxin.

There are many species of bird that will eat peanuts, some of which include:

• Wrens
• Tits
• Jays
• Doves
• Crows

No, avoid feeding salted peanuts to birds as overconsumption of salt is toxic and can even be fatal to smaller species.

Peanuts in a shell are suitable for many birds and are likely to attract larger kinds like Jays, Crows, and Magpies. Just be aware that birds aren’t the only animals that you will attract with whole peanuts. You might find squirrels, Hedgehogs, foxes, and mice feeding on them, too.

Peanuts and other large nuts are a potential choking hazard for small and young birds, so it’s best practice to use a rigid mesh feeder. The best-sized hole for the mesh is approximately 6mm – this is large enough to prevent beak damage but also small enough to stop large pieces of nut from being pulled out.