Gardeners are putting rice in bird feeders as a nutritious snack – but you have to serve it in a specific way to avoid harm

I love having a bird feeder in my yard and watching feathered friends come and enjoy the food I put out for them. As well as using typical bird feed, like seed mixes and suet balls, I like to give garden birds an occasional treat. That's why I was intrigued to discover you can give birds rice from time to time.

When it comes to helping garden birds in summer, you can give them treats like putting pasta in a bird feeder. Cooked rice is no different as a nutritional snack for birds, packed full of goodness to help their health. Of course, whenever you give birds human foods, there are some words of warning to follow. In this case, it's all about how you prepare the rice, although you may be surprised to hear both cooked and uncooked rice is safe for birds to consume.

So, if you're keen to help the garden birds in your yard with nutritious food sources, consider putting rice in bird feeders. Here's how to do it safely;

Why should you put rice in bird feeders?

There's a long list of what not to feed birds, but rice isn't on it. In fact, rice is actually full of essential nutrients for birds that make it a good treat.

More specifically, rice is high in carbohydrates (just like feeding birds potato), which bird feeding expert Isabelle Manseau tells me provides a quick source of energy for birds. This makes rice (both white and brown) a particularly valuable treat when feeding birds in winter and they need more energy to stay warm.

Only feed birds plain rice occasionally

It isn't just as simple as putting cooked rice in bird feeders, though, as there are some considerations to keep in mind.

While both uncooked and cooked rice are safe for birds to consume, you shouldn't provide it to them as their main food source. Things like this bird seed mix from Amazon or these suet balls from Walmart provide a much more rounded diet for birds, providing a wide range of essential nutrients.

Instead, put rice in bird feeders occasionally as a treat and for a boost of energy. This can also be a great way to attract birds to your yard, alongside growing plants for birds.

Something else to note is the rice should be plain and unseasoned. Spices, herbs, and other seasonings may be harmful to birds, causing gastronomical issues and even pain. Always check packaging for this reason. This white long grain rice from Walmart, for example, is a fine option.

FAQs

Is white or brown rice better for birds?

Brown rice is generally considered better for birds because it has higher nutritional value. More specifically, it retains bran and germ that white rice is stripped of during the milling process. These elements are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. However, both white and brown rice make a healthy treat for birds, packed with carbohydrates to provide feathered wildlife plenty of energy.

What's the best type of bird feeder for rice?

Because rice is a grain, it's best given to birds via a dispenser bird feeder (from Amazon) that will stop the grains falling out. You can also use bird feeder trays (from Amazon), or simply place a pile of rice on an outdoor surface for birds to feed from.

Next time my bird feeder is empty, I'm going to put rice in it to provide the birds in my yard with a treat. If you aren't feeling confident with providing birds human foods, try bird feeder alternatives to help them out instead. For example, you can fill your borders with nectar-rich plants and berries as food sources.

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