are pumpkin seeds safe for birds

My pet birds have them in their general food mix but always leave them. I think its a shame to throw them away, I keep dried berries, left over brazil nut bits & rosehips and put them out on the bird table but Im not sure about the pumpkin seeds. I tried my tamish squirrels with them but they gave the paws down. I wouldnt want to make the birds ill.

They are in the general food mix for my pet birds, but they are never left alone. I think it would be a waste to throw them away because I save dried berries and leftover bits of brazil nut. I attempted to use my timid squirrels with them, but they gave up. I wouldnt want to make the birds ill.

Best Feeders for Pumpkin Seeds

You should definitely get a bird feeder that can hold pumpkin seeds until your birds come if you have a lot of them. To do that, you need a bird feeder with large ports that allow the seed to pass through.

Hopper feeders work well for dispersing pumpkin seeds because they can accommodate a large variety of seeds. As Halloween gives way to Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Holly Berry Gilded Chalet, for instance, is a charming feeder to have up.

Another option is any of our collapsible feeders. Pumpkin seed spacing is ideal for the diamond mesh feeding areas. The blue jays and cardinals also like these feeders.

Recipe: Roasted Pumpkin Seeds for Birds

See the complete recipe below for more information.

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.
Separate the pumpkin seeds from the stringy insides. The ideal time to do this is while the pumpkin guts and seeds are soaking in water. The seeds float, and the stringy stuff doesnt.
Wash the seeds well to get rid of all the pulp and debris. Dry them off fairly well.
Arrange the seeds in a single layer on a cookie sheet that has been lightly greased with vegetable oil. One tablespoon of oil is enough for the whole sheet.
Bake for approximately forty minutes, rotating the seeds after about five minutes. You can flip a spoonful of seeds at a time instead of having to turn each one individually.
Once theyre lightly browned, they ready to be removed. Before adding the seeds to a bird feeder, let them cool.

FAQ

Are raw pumpkin seeds OK for birds?

Graham says: “Pumpkin seeds are rich in protein, iron and zinc and contain essential fatty acids which help to lower cholesterol levels. “The extra good news is that no preparation is needed the seeds can just be scooped out of the pumpkin rind and added to a bird feeder or a dish. The birds will help themselves.”

Will squirrels eat pumpkin seeds?

Nuts and Seeds: Squirrels love nuts! Offer a mix of unsalted nuts like almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts. Seeds like sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds are also excellent choices. Try our Premium Nut Mix or Fruit & Nut Mix for a convenient variety of pre-mixed nuts that are ready to feed!

Are raw pumpkin seeds safe?

Pumpkins seeds are perfectly safe to enjoy raw. Now, if you do choose to eat raw pumpkin seeds, you’ll need to decide if you want to eat them with or without the shell. While shelled pumpkin seeds contain more fiber than unshelled ones, the shell is chewy and may take a bit more work to break down.