Bird Seed Mixes
Developed by experts, loved by birds
Birds are the ultimate judges of our food. We’re proud that our bird seed mixes have helped to attract over 80 species of birds to peoples’ gardens! Every seed mix, peanut butter, and peanut cake we develop is carefully researched by our in-house experts. We also work with wildlife charities across the UK to ensure we offer the very best food for wildlife.
Our company was founded by an ornithologist and wildlife enthusiast, Chris Whittles, who was eager to source the most nutritious for wild birds in his garden. Building on this important principle, CJ Wildlife became the first company in the UK to introduce several specially developed bird foods, including our Hi-Energy No-Mess Seed Mix, kibbled peanuts, sunflower hearts and nyjer seed, among others. In 1990, we became the first company to sell peanuts with nil-detectable aflatoxin levels in the UK – aflatoxins are produced by certain moulds and can be harmful to birds. This remains a standard we pride ourselves on today.
How do we source our ingredients?
We prioritise producing bird food in-house, mainly at our farm. We also source our ingredients close to home wherever possible, to minimise our carbon footprint. All our products are made with natural ingredients and do not contain any genetically modified material.
To ensure our birds receive the highest possible quality foods, some ingredients must be sourced from further afield. For example, peanuts require warmer climates to grow, so these are purchased South America and the USA. We are very strict about the peanuts we source for our bird food mixes – they are always human-grade quality.
We were the first company to sell black sunflower seeds into the wild bird market. We primarily source our sunflower seeds from Europe. We use some UK-grown sunflower seeds, but if we bought the entire UK harvest, it would only last around 12 weeks!
How do we know what food is best for birds?
We have pioneered many bird foods, working closely with ornithologists and wildlife charities. We put our products through rigorous testing to ensure birds receive the best possible quality of food, packed with the nutrients they need to thrive. Once we have developed a new food that meets our own high quality standards, we typically send these off to our partners to endorse too. Food samples are also sent to an independent company to determine the nutritional value. We strive to be as transparent as possible about our bird food by providing accurate nutritional information, including energy content, for every product. This way, you can be sure you are providing the very best food for your garden birds.
Members of the CJ Wildlife team across all departments take part in the development process by taking products home to test with their garden birds. We have also set up gardens at our offices in the UK and the Netherlands with a range of products for birds to try out. If you’re curious about this process, be sure to check out our live webcams!
We hope our food helps encourage a variety of birds to your garden and bring you closer to nature. If you have any questions about our bird food, we are always happy to help!