I have been purchasing peanuts and peanut butter from an 'animal feed' wholesaler in North Carolina for about the last four years. I typically get a couple deliveries of ~300lbs. during the year.
A couple of things I have learned: all birds, from Wrens to Jays, prefer whole kernels. They also prefer them with the thin, dark skin removed. (blanched) If you set out 4 with skins and 4 w/o.. you will have four with skins leftover for quite a while. I have never set out peanuts-in-the-shell, so I cannot compare them.
They did not have any 'hearts' (the little thing at the base of the two kernels) so I got 200lbs of 'ground' that were overage from a wholesale baker. Since almost every bird we have eats peanuts, I figured the Wren, Titmouse, etc... would feast on smaller portions. Not so?! The ground birds will 'clean their plate' but the feeder-birds prefer black-oil or whole (or half whole) peanuts.
I also buy peanut butter in 40lb tubs that I mix with oilseed - load in saved suet tubs - and freeze before hanging.
Jim
A couple of things I have learned: all birds, from Wrens to Jays, prefer whole kernels. They also prefer them with the thin, dark skin removed. (blanched) If you set out 4 with skins and 4 w/o.. you will have four with skins leftover for quite a while. I have never set out peanuts-in-the-shell, so I cannot compare them.
They did not have any 'hearts' (the little thing at the base of the two kernels) so I got 200lbs of 'ground' that were overage from a wholesale baker. Since almost every bird we have eats peanuts, I figured the Wren, Titmouse, etc... would feast on smaller portions. Not so?! The ground birds will 'clean their plate' but the feeder-birds prefer black-oil or whole (or half whole) peanuts.
I also buy peanut butter in 40lb tubs that I mix with oilseed - load in saved suet tubs - and freeze before hanging.
Jim
