Feeding dry rice instead of birdseed

Mikele Painter

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Mar 16, 2021, 7:19:55 PM3/16/21

to Colorado Birds

Hi all,

I've heard conflicting stories about the safety of feeding uncooked rice to wild birds. Does anyone care to make recommendations for or against this practice?

Greg Levandoski

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Mar 17, 2021, 9:41:51 AM3/17/21

to Colorado Birds

Hi Mikele,

If Cornell thinks it's safe, it probably is. Sounds like it could be somewhat messy if it gets wet though.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/im-getting-married-next-month-is-it-true-that-rice-causes-birds-stomachs-to-explode/

From another perspective, sunflower kernels have 50-100% more calories per gram and more than 3x the protein than white rice, so while rice may not hurt them, it might not as easily provide the fat calories they need to stay warm during our winter nights.

Please let us know if you see any concerning results if you try out rice. It might be best to start in conjunction with other food types to see what they prefer. And if anyone knows how well the other nutritional (vs. caloric) needs of wild birds are met (or not) by what we feed them, I'd be interested in that myself.

Best,

Greg Levandoski

Longmont, CO

Mikele Painter

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Mar 17, 2021, 4:04:32 PM3/17/21

to Colorado Birds

Thank you. My mother usually puts out birdseed and suet in the winter, but in this last storm she ran out and couldn't restock, but still wanted to put something out for the birds. She thought it would be okay this once to give them dry rice and oatmeal that she had in her pantry. I did find that article from Cornell, which made me feel better.