Can Birds Eat Bread? What NOT to Feed Birds

Some of my fondest childhood memories were going to a nearby lake with my dad and feeding the ducks and geese bread. On one occasion, a duck was so enthralled with our bread that it followed us around the whole lake trail. While I hold these memories with love, it’s clear to me now that we shouldn’t have been giving the birds bread to eat. Not only is it not good for them, but the duck following us was a stark example of the repercussions of feeding birds bread. 

If you’ve been wondering, “Can birds eat bread?” this is the right place to be. We’ll discuss the many reasons why you shouldn’t feed any birds bread, including the birds in your backyard and at the park. We’ll also include a list of foods you should avoid feeding birds, and healthy alternatives you can use instead. 

Can Birds Eat Bread? 

Technically, yes: birds can eat bread. But just because they can doesn’t mean they should. There are several reasons why birds shouldn’t eat bread, including nutritional deficiencies, physical disorders, human dependency, and environmental harm. 

Bread Causes Nutritional
Deficiencies 

Most of us are aware that we should limit our intake of highly processed foods because they often lack essential nutrients and may contain harmful additives. The same is true for birds. 

In the wild, birds eat a highly diverse diet of insects, seeds, and plant materials. A diverse diet of natural foraged food provides them with the essential nutrients they need to support their bone structure, feather growth, strength, reproduction, and so much more. 

Bread provides very few nutrients to birds. It lacks protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Along with lacking essential nutrients, bread is filling and expands in the stomach. 

Because of this, birds will feel full and won’t continue foraging for food their bodies actually need. When their diet is supplemented or concentrated on processed food such as bread, they’re likely to experience nutritional deficiencies, which may lead to a variety of health concerns and physical disorders. 

At this point, you might be wondering, “Can birds eat bread if it’s just once in a while?” While it doesn’t seem like a “big deal” if it’s only a little bit and only occasionally, it’s still best to avoid it altogether. Birds don’t need to eat bread for any reason. It is not necessary. So just skip the bread altogether! 

Bread Gives Birds Physical Disorders 

When birds are fed a diet high in bread and other processed human foods, it leads to nutritional deficiencies, which result in developmental issues. While most studies are linked to waterfowl, it’s safe to assume that the birds in your backyard would also be negatively affected by eating bread. 

Two physical disorders in waterfowl that are linked to unnatural human or commercial food consumption include metabolic bone disease (MBD) and angel wing. 

According to the Wildlife Center of Virginia, 

“Waterfowl in public parks are often admitted to wildlife rehabilitation centers with metabolic bone disease (MBD). Birds with MBD have incredibly soft bones and joints that are often malformed and fractured; these injuries are caused by an overall calcium deficiency in the body, which is linked to an inappropriate diet. Calcium also plays a crucial role in the formation of eggs/offspring, clotting ability, cardiovascular and neuromuscular function, and a variety of other metabolic activities.” 

Angel wing is another condition that can be caused by humans feeding waterfowl unnatural food. This condition occurs when the bird’s wings and feathers develop faster than their joints. As a result, the bird’s wing rotates outward due to the weight of the growing feathers. 

While there are several causes for this condition, one likely cause is a high-calorie diet rich in carbohydrates, protein, and fats. Angel wing is more common in commercial waterfowl breeds, but it can still affect wild birds. As such, you shouldn’t feed wild birds commercial duck and goose feed.

Feeding Birds Bread Leads to Human Dependence 

The story about the duck following me and my family around the lake demonstrates two alarming points: human dependency and lack of fear. When waterfowl lose their fear of humans, it can cause them to be more vulnerable to predation by predators. It may also cause them to be more vulnerable to intentional harm by malicious people. 

Furthermore, during the breeding season, birds such as geese become much more aggressive. If they don’t fear humans, they can attack people passing by. This puts both humans and the geese at risk of unnecessary injury. 

Additionally, when birds—especially waterfowl—become dependent on humans, they can lose some of their natural foraging instincts and may not migrate when they should. It may also cause overpopulation in a single lake or pond because they rely on human food more than the natural resources available. This, of course, can lead to habitat degradation. 

Bread Can Cause Environmental Harm

Another reason the answer is no to “Can birds eat bread?” is that human dependence on food can lead to overpopulation of waterfowl in a natural area. A lake or pond is only able to provide food for a certain number of birds. When there are already too many waterfowl competing for resources in an area, the birds will spread out and go to other locations for food. 

This natural consequence of limited resources helps maintain the health of the ecosystem. When birds overpopulate an area because humans are feeding them, it leads to an increased amount of feces. 

This can degrade the water quality by increasing the amount of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The influx of these nutrients lowers the water’s oxygen levels and promotes harmful algae growth. For example, it can cause blue-green algae to grow, which is extremely toxic to humans and pets. When the water quality degrades, it negatively impacts every living organism that depends on the water, including the waterfowl, and can even lead to fish kills.  

With backyard and urban birds, one study found that feeding local pigeons increased the rat population. This not only posed an environmental risk, but also a human health risk. As such, you should only feed your backyard birds wild bird seed or other natural foods found on the list below. 

Foods Not to Feed Birds 

When stocking up on food for your backyard feeder, here’s a list of foods not to feed birds: 

• Any processed human “junk” food
  • Bread
  • Crackers
  • Chips 
  • Popcorn 
  • Pretzels 
• Sweet baked goods 
• Salted or roasted nuts and seeds
• Meat 
• Candy or chocolate 
• Dairy products
• Moldy or spoiled food 
• Commercial poultry, duck, or goose feed 

What Food Can Birds Eat? 

Now that we’ve covered what you shouldn’t feed birds, here’s a list of alternatives that are healthy for wild birds to consume: 

• Commercial wild bird food mixes 
• Unsalted black oil sunflower seeds 
• Sliced and peeled fresh fruit
  • Apples (remove the core)
  • Oranges
  • Strawberries 
  • Seedless grapes
  • Bananas 
  • Peaches (remove the pit)
• Leafy greens (Great alternative for waterfowl)
  • Kale
  • Spinach
  • Lettuce
  • Beet greens
  • Dandelion greens 
  • Chard 
• Live or dehydrated grubs 
• Millet
• Raw Oats (unsweetened and uncooked) 
• Raw and unsalted nuts and seeds
  • Pumpkin seeds 
  • Sunflower seeds 
  • Chia seeds 
  • Almonds
  • Cashews 
  • Walnuts 
• Rice (brown is best for more nutrients; cooked or uncooked) 
• Cracked corn 

Because birds rely on a diverse diet to meet their nutrient needs, it’s best to provide a combination of foods for birds to consume. Rather than just feeding birds one thing on this list, provide them with several so that they are eating a variety of foods. 

So, Can Birds Eat Bread? 

By now, your answer should be a definite “no,” followed by several reasons why birds shouldn’t eat bread. It may seem like a small and inconsequential thing to feed birds bread. However, this small act has a big ripple effect that not only harms birds but also their environment. 

Rather than feeding birds bread, provide them with a diverse diet of wild bird seed. Natural seeds and nuts will attract a variety of songbirds to your backyard, and you can be confident that this food will support their health and longevity. 

Do you have memories of feeding birds bread from your childhood? How do you relate to those memories now, as an adult? We would love to hear your stories and input in the comments below!