Wild birds can benefit greatly from cracked corn as a supplementary food source, especially during winter when natural food supplies may be scarce. However, there are some important factors to consider before offering cracked corn to wild birds.
What is cracked corn?
Cracked corn is whole corn kernels that have been broken into smaller pieces. It offers more surface area than whole corn kernels, making it easier for birds to access the nutrients inside. The partial cracking allows the hull, germ, and endosperm to remain intact in each piece.
Cracked corn is commonly used as a feed grain for livestock like chickens, horses, and cattle. It’s also a popular food to offer wild birds because it provides energy from carbohydrates and some protein, fat, fiber, and minerals like phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc.
Benefits of feeding cracked corn to wild birds
Here are some of the top benefits of offering cracked corn to wild birds:
- High-energy food source – The carbohydrates in corn supply birds with readily usable energy. This can help support their high metabolic rate and active lifestyles.
- Supports winter survival – Natural food sources like seeds, fruits, and insects decline in winter. Cracked corn offers essential calories when food is scarce.
- Provides important nutrients – In addition to carbohydrates, cracked corn delivers protein, healthy fats, fiber, and minerals like phosphorus and magnesium that birds need.
- Easy to digest – The partial cracking makes it easier for birds to digest compared to whole corn kernels.
- Widely enjoyed by birds – Many common backyard birds like chickadees, doves, jays, cardinals, sparrows, woodpeckers and more will readily eat cracked corn.
- Inexpensive and accessible – Cracked corn is an affordable and widely available bird food option found at most feed stores.
Potential downsides of feeding cracked corn
While cracked corn certainly can benefit wild birds, there are also some potential downsides to consider:
- Nutritional deficiencies – Corn lacks crucial nutrients birds need like calcium, sodium, and certain vitamins. Relying solely on corn could lead to deficiencies.
- Risk of choking or crop impaction – Whole cracked corn kernels may pose a choking risk for smaller bird species. The sharp edges could also impact the crop.
- Quickly becomes inaccessible – Cracked corn gets scattered, buried under snow, sprouts if it gets wet, and is vulnerable to pests like rodents, making it quickly unavailable.
- Can attract unwanted species – Deer, bears, squirrels, raccoons, and rats may converge on easily accessible corn feeding sites meant for birds.
- Increased disease transmission – High concentrations of birds at feeders can facilitate spread of bacteria, viruses, and parasites between individuals.
- May become dependent – Birds may grow to depend on readily available cracked corn rather than foraging naturally.
Best practices for feeding cracked corn
If you do opt to offer cracked corn to wild birds, here are some tips to do so safely and responsibly:
- Always mix with other grains and seeds – Combine with a variety of other grains, seeds, nuts, and fruit to ensure balanced nutrition.
- Use fine cracked corn for small birds – Larger pieces pose a greater risk to smaller species like chickadees and finches. Opt for finely cracked corn.
- Avoid moisture spoilage – Store cracked corn in a cool, dry place in an airtight, wildlife-proof container.
- Offer in a specialized feeder – Use tube feeders designed for corn rather than platform feeders to reduce waste.
- Clean feeders regularly – Disinfect and clean feeders regularly to prevent disease transmission.
- Use squirrel guards – Protect corn from squirrels, rats, and other pests with guards over feeder openings.
- Supplement seasonally – Offer more corn in the winter when food is scarce, less in warmer months.
- Scatter thinly if broadcasting – Scatter thinly over a wide area to prevent crowding and allow all birds access.
Recommended bird species for cracked corn
Here are some examples of common backyard birds that can benefit from cracked corn:
Doves and pigeons
- Mourning doves
- Rock pigeons
- Eurasian collared doves
Jays and crows
- Blue jays
- American crows
- Fish crows
- Steller’s jays
Sparrows
- House sparrows
- Chipping sparrows
- White-throated sparrows
- Song sparrows
Cardinals, grosbeaks and buntings
- Northern cardinals
- Blue grosbeaks
- Indigo buntings
- Rose-breasted grosbeaks
Woodpeckers
- Downy woodpeckers
- Red-bellied woodpeckers
- Northern flickers
Chickadees
- Black-capped chickadees
- Carolina chickadees
Sprouted cracked corn for wild birds
Allowing cracked corn to sprout before feeding provides some nutritional benefits:
- Sprouting increases protein content as enzymes break down starch into amino acids.
- It boosts levels of some B vitamins like niacin, riboflavin and folic acid.
- Sprouting makes nutrients like iron, zinc and magnesium more bioavailable.
- Enzyme activity generates natural antioxidants such as vitamin C.
However, sprouted corn has a very short shelf life. It should only be prepared in small batches right before feeding. Rinse sprouted corn well and drain thoroughly before offering in feeders.
Risks of moldy cracked corn
Cracked corn that becomes moldy poses some significant risks:
- Mycotoxins – Mold can produce toxic secondary metabolites called mycotoxins that have hepatotoxic, neurotoxic, and nephrotoxic effects.
- Aspergillosis – Aspergillus mold species can cause fatal aspergillosis infections in birds.
- Aflatoxins – Corn is prone to aflatoxin contamination, the most carcinogenic mycotoxin that can be deadly even in small doses.
- Immunosuppression – Many molds suppress the immune system, making birds more prone to infectious disease.
- Reduced palatability – Moldy corn has an unpalatable taste and odor, reducing feeding and caloric intake.
Discard any visibly moldy cracked corn. Store corn properly in cool, dry conditions and avoid letting it get wet to prevent mold growth.
Frequently asked questions
Is cracked corn good for all wild birds?
Cracked corn is enjoyed by many backyard birds, but it may not be ideal for all species. Very small birds have difficulty eating it. Species with specialized diets like hummingbirds and orioles won’t benefit much from corn. Waterfowl that need aquatic vegetation or fish-eating birds are also poor candidates for cracked corn supplementation.
Does cracked corn need to be cooked before feeding?
Cooking cracked corn is not necessary and could actually increase risks. Dry, raw cracked corn has a long shelf life compared to cooked corn, which would spoil quickly in outdoor feeders. Cooked corn also softens the kernels, which could increase choking hazards.
Is cracked corn okay for chickens and ducks too?
Yes, cracked corn is commonly used as feed for domesticated chickens, ducks, geese, and other poultry. It provides energy and nutrients essential in poultry diets. However, poultry fed corn-heavy diets may also need supplementation with protein meals, vitamins, and minerals for balanced nutrition.
Can too much cracked corn be harmful to birds?
Corn should not comprise the entirety of wild birds’ diets. While high in carbohydrates, it lacks key nutrients like calcium, sodium, and certain vitamins and amino acids. Feeding corn alone could lead to malnutrition and deficiency disorders over time.
Does cracked corn need to be stored in the refrigerator?
Cracked corn has a relatively long shelf life at room temperature when stored in a cool, dry location in an airtight container. Refrigeration is not necessary for pure cracked corn with low moisture content. However, mixed birdseed blends containing corn and other ingredients are best kept refrigerated or frozen.
Summary
Cracked corn can serve as an excellent supplementary winter food source for many wild birds. However, it should never be their sole source of nutrition. Use good storage practices to prevent spoilage or mold contamination. Offer cracked corn responsibly by integrating it into a diverse mix of bird feed. With some caution and moderation, cracked corn can be a safe, nutritious food supplement for backyard bird feeding.