Making a birdfeeder--what attracts cardinals or blue jays?

Question

I'm making a homemade birdfeeder but I don't know what kind of things to put on it. What foods attract cardinals or blue jays?

Please don't suggest birdseed..I really don't feel like going out in the cold weather. I want to use everyday household things. Thanks :-)

Answer 1

I use just plain old dried bread from my kitchen they like it . they also like black oil sunflower seeds when the weather gets better . good luck and God bless.

Answer 2

Blue Jays

Answer 3

Most birds don't subsist well on household things, they need the kinds of food they can get in the wild. Breadcrumbs are ok as a suppliment, but don't give them the nutrients they need. Apples, other fruit are good, suet for woodpeckers, but if you expect to attract them you are going to have to go get some birdseed. I put black oil sunflower chips in my feeders, all the birds like those. And just plain bird seed mix for the groound feeders, like the doves and sparrows. If you get the 25-50 lb bags you don't have to buy it as often.

Answer 4

Both Jays and Cardinals are ground feeders. Sunflower, peanuts, other general seeds will attract as long as they are on the ground.

Answer 5

black oil sunflower seeds make the feeder big enough to hold a couple of pounds of seeds so you dont have to go out but every two or three days

Answer 6

peanuts and sunflower seeds (both can be shelled or unshelled) attract both, the bluejays (noisy guys) prefer the shelled seeds.

Answer 7

sunflower seeds ...plain old white bread has no nutitional value...