How to Use Cracked Eggshells to Support Garden Birds This Spring
Garden birds 'need' 1 natural food item this spring – don't throw it away
Mirror
Image: Mirror
Cracked eggshells can be a valuable source of calcium for garden birds, especially during spring when female birds need it for egg production. Properly sterilizing and crushing the shells before feeding them to birds can help ensure their health and safety.
- 01Cracked eggshells are rich in calcium and minerals beneficial for garden birds.
- 02Baking eggshells eliminates harmful bacteria like salmonella before feeding them to birds.
- 03Female birds particularly benefit from eggshells during the spring nesting season.
- 04Crushed eggshells should be small to prevent choking hazards for birds.
- 05Common garden birds that benefit from eggshells include blue tits, sparrows, and robins.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Cracked eggshells, often discarded, can serve as a nutritious food source for garden birds during spring. Maureen Eiger, director of Help Wild Birds, emphasizes the importance of calcium for birds, especially females that need it for producing strong eggs. To safely feed eggshells to birds, they should first be washed with hot water and baked at 120°C for about 10 minutes to eliminate bacteria like salmonella. After cooling, the shells should be crushed into fine pieces to avoid choking hazards. Once prepared, the eggshells can be placed on bird tables or scattered in gardens, attracting various species such as blue tits, sparrows, and robins. This simple act not only helps the birds but also reduces waste.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Feeding garden birds with crushed eggshells can enhance their health and support local biodiversity.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
Do you feed garden birds with natural food items?
Connecting to poll...
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.