I finally stopped ignoring my neighbor's advice about putting out grit for the birds

My neighbor Mrs. Patterson kept telling me to put out crushed eggshells and small gravel for the birds in winter. I thought she was just being old fashioned and my seed mix was fine. Then last January after that big snowstorm I saw a junco struggling on the ground for like 10 minutes trying to eat something. I crushed up some eggshells and put them out next morning. Within an hour I had like 15 sparrows and finches picking at them. I guess the birds really need it for their gizzards to digest seeds when the ground is frozen. Has anyone else noticed a big difference with grit during cold months?

2 comments

2 Comments

jordanblack1d agoTop Commenter

Oh man that junco struggling part really got me. I had a similar moment last year when I saw a little house finch just sitting there looking weak and I felt so helpless. I started putting out crushed oyster shells I found at the feed store and it was like night and day. The chickadees went crazy for it and I even had a pair of cardinals that started coming around regularly after that. It's wild how such a small thing makes such a big difference for them when the ground is all frozen solid. You're a good person for listening to Mrs. Patterson eventually.

lily701d ago

Wait crushed oyster shells? Like for real?