Birds that do not leave Germany even in winter are reliant on human feed in extremely low temperatures, as well as ice and snow. The jay is one of those birds. To ensure that feeding actually fulfills its purpose, knowledge of the animals' natural food is an essential part of the basic requirements. With our help, you too will be able to provide these interesting and versatile garden dwellers with the right food.
The jays menu
Generally speaking, the jay is a very versatile animal when it comes to food. While other bird species are very specialized in one source of food, they make a variety of different offers from their habitat their own. He does not disdain animal animals
Food, as well as herbal alternatives.Animal food sources
Animal food sources are primarily used to supply energy-rich proteins. They are rather rare and especially available during the warmer months:
- insects
- Beetle
- Larvae
- worms
- Snails
- Mice
- "Nestlings" (young birds)
- Bird eggs
INFO: The eating of young birds and bird eggs sometimes results from the fact that the corvid is active as a nest robber and systematically clears the clutches of other songbirds.
Vegetable food
Plant sources, on the other hand, often offer starch and sugar. These offers are usually available for a longer period of time and are usually the only natural ones in winter
Reserves that the birds can fall back on.- Acorns
- nuts
- Beechnuts
- Berry
- Apples
- Corn
- grain
Info: In addition to the best possible supply from our domestic resources, the jay's wide range of food fulfills another important function. Since the intelligent bird tends to hide nuts as winter reserves in a wide variety of places, it also contributes to the spread and reproduction of the resulting trees. Because, like the squirrels, it is not always guaranteed that the bird will actually find and use its depot.
Effects on winter food supply
For you as a potential food supplier, the jay's food repertoire ultimately means a very simple job. Because of course you can combine all of the components already mentioned as you like, depending on availability, without having to make any special effort or even special purchases. Because many things from your own kitchen are ideal as feed for them
- Oat or other cereal flakes
- Apples, pears
- nuts
- Raisins
- Corn
- Acorns and other seeds that may accumulate in the garden
If you are thinking of collecting acorns, seeds and other things for winter fodder and from your own garden Put aside until needed, remember that the birds use these very things as a source of food require. Therefore, never remove all acorns or nuts, as otherwise the winter food supply is at the expense of the birds' self-sufficiency in summer or autumn. Especially during the breeding season and the rearing of the young, the jay, like the other animals, is dependent on a particularly abundant supply of food.
When should you feed at all?
Usually the birds that winter with us are very capable of looking after themselves. On the other hand, the situation is different if, in particularly long winters or when there is heavy snowfall, the remaining food supplies run out or are simply not available. In these cases it can actually make sense to supplement the food supply in the home garden, which is usually not equivalent to nature anyway, with specifically offered sources.
