A Guide To Feeding Garden Birds
Supporting garden birds throughout the year helps create a thriving and wildlife-friendly outdoor space. Using quality bird food, appropriate feeders, and good placement techniques encourages a wide variety of species into your garden. Here at Hagens Birds, we offer a broad range of bird food, feeders and nest boxes designed to support birds in every season.
What to feed birds and when:
Winter (December–February)
During winter, natural food sources are scarce and birds need extra energy to stay warm. Offer high-calorie foods that are rich in fats and seeds, such as fat balls, suet products, high-energy seed mixes, sunflower hearts and peanuts. These provide essential nutrients when insects and berries are limited. Keeping food and water available throughout the cold months can make a real difference for garden birds
Provide fresh water daily and check that it hasn’t frozen. Birds use water not only to drink but also to keep their feathers in good condition, which helps them maintain warmth
Spring (March–May)
Spring is a critical time as birds prepare to nest and raise their chicks. High-protein foods, such as mealworms and nut granules, are especially valuable during this season.
These nutrient-rich foods give parent birds the energy they need for breeding, nesting and feeding fledglings. Unfilled feeders can also be topped up with seed mixes that include a balance of grains and protein sources
Summer (June–August)
In summer, wild food such as insects and berries are more abundant, but birds still appreciate supplementary food, especially for busy parents feeding young or after heavy rain reduces natural food availability. Continue to offer seed mixes, sunflower hearts and mealworms, and make sure clean water is available for drinking and bathing.
Autumn (September–November)
Autumn is all about helping birds build up fat reserves for the colder months ahead. Seed-rich foods, peanuts and fat balls are ideal at this time. Leaving food out consistently from autumn through winter supports birds as natural food sources decline.
Types of feeders:
Seed and mixed seed feeders: ideal for a range of garden birds.
Peanut and nut feeders: great for tits, nuthatches and woodpeckers. When feeding peanuts, it is very important to use a mesh style feeder so the birds can peck through to get the feed. Putting whole peanuts on a feeding table can cause a choking risk if they take them whole. Please bear this in mind when feeding peanuts!
Suet and fat ball feeders: excellent high-energy option in winter.Mealworm feeders are perfect for attracting insect-eating birds.
Position different types of feeders at varying heights to attract the widest variety of birds, from ground-feeding species like robins to higher perching tits and finches.
Selecting nest boxes
Nest boxes give birds a safe place to breed and rest. Our nest boxes are engineered to mimic natural sites and cater to species such as tits, sparrows, robins and other common garden birds.
Nest box tips:
Match hole size to bird species: smaller holes (~28–32mm) suit tits and small species, while larger holes can accommodate robins or starlings.
Choose durable materials: wood, birch or woodstone boxes offer long-lasting protection.
Height and position: install boxes 1.5–3 meters above the ground, facing away from prevailing winds and harsh sun.
Where to place feeders and nest boxes...
Feeder location tips:
Visibility and safety: Place feeders in open areas where birds can see predators approaching but near enough to shrubs or trees so birds feel safe.
Height matters: Hanging feeders at different heights increases species variety — low for ground feeders, higher for tree-loving birds.
Keep tidy: Clean feeders regularly to prevent disease and ensure food remains fresh. This protects bird health year-round
Nest box placement:
- Position nest boxes away from direct sun and prevailing wind.
- Avoid placing boxes directly above feeders to reduce disturbance from feeding activity.
- Mount boxes on walls, posts or trees at least 1.5 meters high to deter predators.
Water matters...
Providing a fresh water source is just as important as food. Birds need water for drinking and bathing, particularly in summer and winter. A shallow bird bath placed in a sheltered spot invites birds to drink and preen safely.
Feeding and caring for garden birds is a rewarding way to bring wildlife closer to home. By offering the right foods in the right seasons, selecting appropriate feeders and nest boxes, and placing them thoughtfully, your garden can become a haven for birds all year round. Hagens Birds range of food, feeders and nesting products gives you the tools you need to support and enjoy a vibrant bird community in your outdoor space.