Is this a stupid idea?

B3

I bought some no grow bird feed. It had a lot of fillers like porridge and other stuff. This got chucked on the ground while the birds rooted about for whatever they wanted. So I ve given up on that.
What if I heated up proper seeds in the oven, just enough to stop them germinating? Would the seeds lose their nutritional value to the birds?
I'm thinking that if it was such a good idea, the seed sellers would be doing it already. 
Any comments?

josusa47

I think buying cheap bird food is a false economy, for the reason you've found out.  I buy mine from the RSPB, it is pricey, but their formulations are evidence-based.  

I'm not sure about heating the food.  Certainly some food plants contain toxins which are rendered harmless through cooking - red kidney beans come to mind.  I don't know if the reverse can happen, but I wouldn't chance it.  It also occurs to me that you might bake the seeds so hard the birds can't digest them.

madpenguin

I usually make a sort of no-grow mix with sunflower chips,peanut granules,mealworms,suet pellets etc.
You could probably add some home sterilised seeds as well.That way you would not have to bake so much,just the stuff likely to grow.

Lyn

I always buy this one, have done for years, no grow and every bit gets eaten. Take no notice of the negative feedback, they had to close down due to the virus and no one could wait, I waited 3 weeks for mine to arrive, I knew it would arrive eventually, they are usually so good, next day free delivery. No patience some people! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20Kg-Robin-and-Wild-Bird-Food-Mix-with-Sunflower-Hearts-Suet-Pellets-Mealworms/123931551507?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Hostafan1

Following @Lyn's suggestion, I buy the same one. It varies bag to bag, some has a bit more "filler" than others but I'm happy with it.

Greenbird

I only use sunflower hearts.

I might try this mix.

Fairygirl

I buy a similar one too, although I can't remember the name of the company I use. I use sunflower hearts too, and often add more to that mix. 

I used to buy a robin mix, then add a few things, but it was a long time ago and you could only get certain things.
Much easier now to get decent stuff  - the world's your lobster, as Del Boy said 

Dovefromabove

I find the ground feeders like blackbirds just love the ‘porridge’ that the other birds discard on the ground, especially in the winter. 

Fairygirl

I used to add pinhead oatmeal which many of the birds loved. 
 
My sister always puts a bit of porridge out for the blackies.

B3

The world is your ostrich apoeals more😉

B3

I had a blanket of discards, which I'm sure was attracting rodents . Although I never saw one, a lot of it would disappear overnight.
I'm trying to think of a solution that would suit both myself and the birds without attracting mice,rats and tree rats.