Robins can find it tough to feed as their food sources begin to dry up in autumn, but gardeners can easily help support these struggling birds during the colder months. Once September arrives, robins need to start building up fat to survive the winter but also begin to shed their old feathers, a process that demands extra energy and nutrients.
As berries and insects become scarce after summer, robins that cannot put on enough weight will be more vulnerable to the harsh winter weather and less likely to survive. However, the wildlife experts at Beaky Bites have revealed it is simple to find food to leave in your garden for robins, as they absolutely love peanuts.
One expert said: “Peanuts and sunflower hearts are healthy options Robins love. These foods provide the proteins and fats they need. Sunflower hearts are particularly nutritious and are a Robin favourite during breeding season.
“You can offer peanuts and sunflower hearts by scattering them on the ground or in platform feeders. These foods are not only healthy but also very attractive to robins so add them to your feeders to increase interaction from robins.”
Peanuts, as well as sunflower hearts or seeds, are packed with fat and will provide a good source of lots of calories at a time robins need to be eating more.
They will give robins the energy and protein they need to grow new feathers, which will help keep them warm and protect them from frost once the colder weather arrives.
However, it should be noted that robins cannot eat salted or roasted peanuts, as they cannot process salt and it can lead to dehydration, kidney failure or even death.
You should only ever feed birds natural and unprocessed food due to their delicate digestive systems, so make sure to only feed robins raw peanuts.
Once you have your bird-safe peanuts, you will also need to chop them up or crush them into small pieces. Robins have soft peaks and cannot easily crack open nuts, and whole peanuts can also be a choking hazard for small birds.
Then, simply scatter the peanut pieces on the low surface in your garden like a tray or table, and robins will keep coming back so you see lots of these beautiful birds this autumn.
The expert said: “Robins prefer ground feeding, which means they will feed from trays placed on the ground or directly off the ground itself amongst the grass. This is how they naturally feed and makes them feel more comfortable and safe.”
Robins also love dried mealworms if you want to buy them food, as these insects are packed with nutrients and proteins they naturally eat in the wild.
You can also feed robins suet pellets or balls, which are made if animal fat and perfect for helping robins build up their fat reserves and keep their energy to survive the upcoming cold weather.