So you love the birds but hate the mess. How do you feed birds while keeping your lawn, patio, porch, or deck tidy?

The truth behind your bird food mix

The first place to look is your current wild bird food. Hulls from their beloved sunflower seeds and safflower seeds get scattered on the ground and just sit there. The other source of the mess is filler seeds often found in cheaper mixes, things like inexpensive milo. These ingredients bulk out the bags at less cost. But what happens is birds push these aside to get to the nuggets they really want to eat, such as whole seeds, chunks of dried fruit, and nuts.

The spilled seeds and scattered hulls can make a mess of the area beneath your feeders, leaving shells, hulls, and unsightly weeds behind.

Stop the mess at the source

Your best bet in dealing with bird feeder mess is to stop it at the source. Replace your current wild bird food mix with a no-waste mix.

What is a no-waste mix? A no-waste mix is 100% edible, with all shells and hulls removed before they’re placed in the bag. Birds can still (and more easily!) access their favorite nuggets. Small-beaked birds, such as bluebirds, may be more likely to swoop in for a visit because shell-less and hull-less food provides small bites that are easier to eat. So while the birds lose nothing, you get other benefits.

Simply put, No Waste Mixes, Feed More Birds.

Better value

Compared to a traditional mix, no-mess offers great value. Every ounce is edible, meaning you’re not paying for shells and hulls that add weight and volume to the bag.

No mess!

Not only are there zero hulls and shells to clear away, but no-mess mixes also prevent the growth of weeds under your feeders. Seeds can’t germinate without their protective hull. Even if a few pieces drop to the ground, they won’t add unwanted growth to your garden or turf.

Less mess means more enjoyment, which is why Lyric no-waste bird mixes are a favorite among bird lovers.

Feeders to use

Because no-waste bird mixes are 100% edible and don’t include shells and hulls, seeds are more at risk to natural elements. To combat this, use feeders that protect the nuts and seeds from rain, wind, snow, and general moisture. Use hopper feeders for seeds like Lyric Sunflower Kernels , platform or tray feeders with a cover, tube feeders with large ports for foods with large kernels like Lyric Woodpecker Mix, or tube feeders with regular size ports for feeds with smaller kernels like Lyric Fine Tunes. You can also use mesh feeders for nuts or single ingredient bird feeds, such as or Lyric Peanut Pieces.