Leftover Christmas food?

At Christmas time it’s inevitable that there’ll be a surplus of kitchen scraps, especially after Christmas dinner. We’ve been asked a number of times which kitchen scraps and leftovers can be put out for your garden birds over this festive period so they too can eat, drink and be merry.

A Mistle Thrush enjoying a very berry Christmas!

Garden Bird Supplies top tips for serving your birds their very own Christmas dinner:

Do feed:

✓ Mince pies and Christmas cake. Both are full of fat, fruit and energy – the perfect meal for all types of birds.

✓ Christmas pudding. Again, fruit, fat and energy rich – there’s probably no better leftover for your birds!

✓ Cooked potatoes. Roast potatoes are especially good as they’ll be high in fat. Cut into bite-sized chunks and watch your blackbirds and thrushes gobble it up!

✓ Cheese. High in fat and energy so will be particularly welcome. Mild cheese is best, grated or crumbled onto bird tables.

✓ Nuts and other finger food. Any unsalted nuts are ideal, make sure they are crushed or chopped first. Any other unsalted savoury finger foods will also be much appreciated.

✓ Fat from the roasting tin. Mix with lard, scraps and bird seed to make your own treat cake!

✓ Fruit. Chopped apples will be particularly loved by blackbirds.

Don’t feed:

Χ Leftover cooked meat. This is liable to attract vermin or cats which scare your birds away.

Χ Salted peanuts and other salted savouries. Salt is bad for birds and should never be left out for them to eat. You can see our unsalted peanuts here!

Χ Chocolate (including biscuits). Chocolate is a definite no. Chocolate contains theobromine which is highly toxic to birds.

Χ Crisps. The salt content of crisps is far to high to leave out for birds.

Χ Turkey stuffing. Shop-bought stuffing often contains artificial ingredients that can dehydrate your birds.

Χ Bread. Bread has little benefit to birds and will quickly fill a bird’s stomach. It’s important that birds eat high-energy foods.

Χ Leftover cooked veg. It is unlikely that the birds will choose to eat cooked veg and it will rot in the garden.

Make sure there is always a clean, fresh supply of water available to your garden birds. Even if you don't have a bird bath there are many household objects that can double up nicely as water supply for your birds, such as an upturned dustbin lid or shallow oven dish.

Photograph by Roy Wilson