Should You Put Rice In Your Bird Feeder? Here's What Experts Say

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Bird feeders are aesthetically pleasing additions in your yard. They attract birds to your home and garden, so you have the privilege to observe different species, admire their colors, and listen to their calls while watching them eat. You might've heard the circulating tale about rice and birds. The myth is if you allow a bird to eat dry rice, it will swell up the bird's stomach and become fatal. That's why you can't throw rice at weddings anymore, right? Wrong! You actually can put rice in your bird feeder, cooked or uncooked, and experts agree that it is not harmful for birds to eat. Rice is actually good for birds' health and energy.

Since you can feed birds rice, there are some important methods for how to do it. First of all, you must leave the rice plain and unseasoned, since spices can cause birds to have stomach problems. Second, you don't want to just have rice in your bird feeder, but provide a more well-rounded, nutritious diet. Invest in feed that has rice in it with other good bird foods, like this Lyric Small Songbird Wild Bird Seed. You can also DIY your own bird seed with rice to attract more birds to your yard.

There are plenty of leftover kitchen scraps that attract birds and that you can add to your feeder. Some of the more popular food items people like to include (and likely have around the house) are peanut butter, crackers, grains, nuts, seeds, fruits, and, of course, rice. Rice happens to be full of essential nutrients for birds, so it's a great treat for them. The main thing to remember when feeding it to birds is that it's meant to be eaten moderately. Birds also need other minerals, proteins, and vitamins.

The experts weigh in as well when it comes to birds and eating rice. Ornithologist Steven C. Sibley said (via American Monk), "Rice is no threat to birds. It must be boiled before it will expand. Furthermore, all the food that birds swallow is ground up by powerful muscles and grit in their gizzards." Plus, a bird's stomach does not heat up enough for rice to cook itself if left uncooked.

Adding rice to a feeder is similar to adding potatoes, which is another safe food for birds. Avian nutritionist Amanda Bacchi shared on The Bird Identifier, "Rice is high in carbohydrates which provide energy to birds. It also contains essential amino acids that are necessary for growth and maintenance of feathers and muscles." The rice is a quick source of energy, so it's valuable within their diet. Further, rice is great for attracting birds in the winter season, when they will want more energy for warmth. It's simple enough to cook — just boil it in water, and many different types of birds can digest it easily.

The type of rice also matters when feeding birds. The primary types of rice people tend to keep in their pantry are brown rice and white rice. Brown rice is a whole grain, and white rice has parts within the grain removed, making it more starchy and less nutrient-rich. Both are considered healthy, but brown rice is better for birds' health because it contains a higher nutritional value. It's rich in vitamins and fiber, as well as antioxidants, which protect their body's cells from damage. This helps keep the birds healthy.

Even though brown rice has a slightly better nutritional value, white rice is still a good option. Whichever you choose to incorporate into your bird feeder will be a welcome and healthy treat. How you decide to prepare the rice may depend on the bird's preference. Some birds may like dry rice, others may like it to be cooked, and some may prefer the brown rice over white. Have fun experimenting to see which birds come visit your yard or garden by incorporating cooked and uncooked, white and brown rice in your feeder.