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How to Feed Chickadees

A chickadee is a small bird found in most parts of the United States, and, while you may not be familiar with their appearance, you most likely have heard their distinctive call, "chick-a-dee-dee-dee." Chickadees are friendly birds, and are often seen eating at a bird feeder. Their fast metabolism requires that they eat many small meals a day, and hide extra food for later, so they don't run out. Hand-feeding chickadees is often successful and once they start feeding from your bird feeder, you may find one in your hand, too.

Things You'll Need

Seed bird feeder
Suet bird feeder
Black-oil sunflower seeds
Peanuts
Striped sunflower seeds
Suet brick or cake

Instructions

- 1
  Install a seed bird feeder or suet bird feeder in your yard, preferably one that is squirrel-proof. A seed bird feeder will hold loose seeds for birds to eat, while a suet bird feeder contains a wire basket to hold the suet block, a high-calorie mixture of animal fats and seed that is healthy for birds like chickadees that eat insects.
- 2
  Fill the seed bird feeder according to the feeder instructions with one of the chickadee's favorite foods: black-oil sunflower seeds, peanuts or striped sunflower seeds.
- 3
  Insert the suet into the suet bird feeder and close the wire cage that surrounds it, according to the instructions.
- 4
  Watch for chickadees, recognized by their black head, white cheeks and grayish body color. Once one chickadee comes by to eat, more are sure to follow, although they will only land on the feeder one at a time.
- 5
  Stand motionless near your feeder with a handful of black-oil sunflower seeds to see if the chickadees will eat from your hand.

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