I recently purchased a bag of seed from a big box store and found that the shells were covered with what looked like a white substance. Is it safe to feed to birds?
A. This may be the sign of an insect infestation and while the seed might be safe to feed to birds, it’s best not to take a chance. Birdseed can become spoiled at the store or while stored at home, and with summer’s heat coming on, now is the time to be extra vigilant. If you have any questions at all about your seed, toss it in the trash to keep it away from birds and other wildlife. Seeds are full of oils and can easily become rancid, thus unappetizing to birds. Mold, which is highly toxic to birds, grows easily in damp or wet seed in hot weather. I always recommend buying birdseed at a wild bird store, where great care is taken to insure that seed is fresh.
