5th day of ice-snow, I am out of bird seed for critters. What about dry oats?

[Grasswire2]

I've fed them the bread crusts, and the cheerios, and some whole wheat crackers.

I live on the bank of a great river. Many, many birds of all kinds are hungry. This morning, neighbor called to tell me that a Great Blue Heron was sitting on my lawn chair. LOL Squirrels are hungry, too. Yesterday a platoon of Canada geese was foraging under my window.

I could make plain popcorn. I don't know what else to do for them. I still have power - I could bake something.

If I run out of cat food, I'm in trouble. LOL.

[ailsagirl]

1. Just read this...

Oats are a very nutritious grain and good for birds in moderation, especially in the winter months. Many birds enjoy oats, especially blackbirds. Never served cooked oats as they are sticky and may glue a birds beak closed as they dry. Always offer water alongside bird food.

Good luck

[Marthe48]

2. I think oats are okay

If you bake anything, make it as plain as possible. I've put out dried fruit, apples, oranges, grapes and suet at different times.
Could you get a delivery from a local store? Hope you get plowed out soon!

[Grasswire2]

6. yesterday the birds avoided fresh apple chunks

squirrels ate them, but not birds
I wonder about dried fruit. I have raisins and dried plums.

[Marthe48]

9. I've put raisins out

I hope the birds don't overeat, like humans do

[Grasswire2]

7. oh, and nobody is delivering.

not even amazon currently

[Marthe48]

10. We wouldn't want people to risk their safety

We're in-between snow storms here. I was out for the first time since last Friday, will probably be in for the weekend. I think it is the timing of the snowfall and the cold temps keeping people off the roads. We got the last one overnight and this one will start after midnight and keep on till 10 or so.

[quaint]

3. Some birds will eat it dry. More prefer mixed with water, cooled, formed into balls.

Dry rolled oats can be dangerous to squirrels but I've forgotten why.

You are obviously a very good human.

[wishstar]

12. If squirrels overeat, raw oats expand and swell in their stomachs and can cause a problem

but should be okay if small amounts of raw oats are scattered around where several squirrels will partake and not eat too much at one time.

[quaint]

13. TY. Squirrels look like they overeat everything.

[MFM008]

5. Bread crumbs

Fruit slices
French fries
Peanut butter
Something will eat it.
Possum, raccoon....birds will pick.

[Grasswire2]

8. I wonder about plain cooked rice. Worth a try.

HOWEVER, I don't want rats coming for the food, either.

LOL

[Grasswire2]

11. So, the local battalion of Canada geese came slip sliding up the hill and gobbled most everything.

Hopefully the smaller birds can find some crumbs. If the Canada geese would disappear, I would put out some more stuff.