What is bird mill?

A bird mill is a type of grain or seed mill that is designed specifically for crushing and grinding grains and seeds for bird feed. Bird mills allow bird owners, breeders, stores, and sanctuaries to create customized bird food blends from raw materials like wheat, millet, oats, corn, and other grains and seeds.

Why Use a Bird Mill?

There are several advantages to using a bird mill rather than buying pre-made bird food:

• Cost savings – Buying raw grains and seeds in bulk and milling them yourself can save up to 70% compared to buying pre-made bird food mixes and blends.
• Customization – Bird mills allow you to create customized mixes and blends suited to your specific bird species and nutritional needs.
• Freshness – Home-milled bird food contains freshly ground ingredients, unlike bagged bird food which can sit for months.
• Control ingredients – You can control the quality of ingredients going into home-milled bird food.
• Reduce waste – Milling only as much food as needed reduces waste from uneaten bagged bird food.

Bird mills provide bird owners and aviculturists with greater flexibility, control, and cost savings around bird food and nutrition.

Types of Bird Mills

There are a few different types of mills designed for milling grains and seeds for bird food:

Electric Bird Mills

Electric bird mills quickly grind grains using fast-spinning metal or ceramic burrs. They can grind 2-10 pounds of grain per minute and have settings for coarse or fine grinding. Popular electric bird mill brands include NutriMill and Fodder Solutions.

Crank Bird Mills

Crank bird mills consist of a hand-turned top burr that presses grain against a bottom grinding plate. They grind more slowly than electric mills but are less expensive and do not require electricity. Popular makes include Corona and Victoria.

Impact Bird Mills

Impact mills rapidly grind grain using swinging hammers that pulsate against a sifting screen. They produce high output but can heat the grain. Popular impact bird mill models include Bliss Industries and Schmid Mills.

Best Grains and Seeds for Bird Feed

The grains and seeds below are commonly used in home-milled bird feeds:

Combining 2-4 grains and seeds allows creating custom bird feed blends for different bird species and nutritional needs.

Steps for Milling Bird Feed

Milling bird feed with a bird mill involves just a few simple steps:

1. Purchase raw grains and seeds in bulk based on the types of birds you want to feed.
2. Clean and sort the grains to remove any dirt, rocks, chaff, etc.
3. Run grains through the bird mill on the appropriate coarseness setting.
4. Collect the freshly milled grain in a container or bag.
5. Customize and blend ingredients as desired to create your bird feed mix.
6. Store in an airtight container to preserve freshness.

Tips for adjusting coarseness – Finches and small birds prefer smaller seeds, while bigger birds like pigeons do well with coarser grinds. Adjust mill settings to achieve the right texture.

Important Bird Mill Features

When selecting a bird mill, look for the following key features:

• Adjustable coarseness – Ability to adjust grinding from fine seed to coarse cracked grain.
• High capacity – Larger hopper and grinding capacity for efficiency.
• Sturdy construction – Durable milling heads and hoppers stand up to frequent use.
• Easy to use – Simple controls and operation for fast milling.
• Easy to clean – Removable parts and hoppers for quick cleaning between batches.

Investing in a heavy-duty bird mill with adjustable coarseness and large capacity enables efficiently producing customized bird feed blends.

Setting Up a Bird Mill

Follow these tips for setting up and using a bird mill:

1. Select a stable mounting surface able to handle vibration.
2. Level the mill properly to ensure consistent grinding.
3. Plug in and test electric mills before first use.
4. Break in new mills by running grain through on coarse setting first.
5. Set hopper height to create optimal grain flow into mill head.
6. Keep area around mill clean by vacuuming up residual grain and dust.
7. Wear protective eyewear when operating mill.

Proper set up and operation helps optimize performance and safety.

Maintaining a Bird Mill

Regular cleaning and maintenance keeps a bird mill working efficiently:

• Clean after each use – Brush out leftover grain, wipe down surfaces.
• Check milling heads – Inspect for wear, replace burrs if damaged.
• Check drive belt – Ensure proper tension, replace worn belts.
• Lubricate – Keep drive chain oiled on electric mills.
• Check hardware – Tighten any loose screws or fasteners.
• Calibrate – Periodically recalibrate coarseness settings.

Well-maintained bird mills can provide 20+ years of reliable service for milling bird feeds.

Safety Tips

Observe basic safety practices when operating a bird mill:

• Tie back loose hair and clothing.
• Wear eye protection.
• Keep hands away from milling head when operating.
• Unplug electric mills before servicing or cleaning.
• Support heavy hoppers when attaching or removing.
• Use handles when moving portable mills.

Staying alert and using caution helps prevent injuries when milling bird feed.

Best Bird Feed Recipes

Some simple recipes to try with a home bird mill:

Basic Bird Feed

• 3 parts millet
• 2 parts cracked corn
• 1 part black oil sunflower seeds

Wild Bird Feed

• 2 parts whole oats
• 2 parts wheat
• 1 part sunflower chips
• 1 part peanuts

Dove Mix

• 4 parts millet
• 4 parts cracked corn
• 1 part safflower
• 1 part black oil sunflower seeds

Experiment with mixes and proportions to create custom blends for your birds.

Cost Savings

Home-milled bird food can cost a fraction of premium store-bought blends. For example:

Milling bird feed at home saves 50-90% compared to packaged bird food. The precise savings depend on the specific grain prices and mixes used.

Conclusion

Bird mills provide bird owners, breeders, and stores with a cost-effective method for creating customized bird food. Electric and crank bird mills allow grinding a wide assortment of grains and seeds to cater to diverse bird species and nutritional needs. Properly setting up and operating a bird mill enables efficiently producing large quantities of fresh bird feed. Following basic safety precautions and implementing a consistent maintenance program keeps bird mills running smoothly for many years. With a quality bird mill, anyone can conveniently and affordably produce nutritious bird feeds tailored to their birds’ needs.