Supplementary Winter Bird Feeding that Works (AB12 & AHW2)

Supplementary winter feeding bridges the "hungry gap" for farmland birds from December to April, when natural seed sources run low. Under Countryside Stewardship (AB12) and Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI, AHW2), farmers supply a compliant seed mix weekly across a minimum of two feeding sites per hectare. Using small seeds alongside cereals, feeding little and often and placing feed near existing habitat helps support species such as yellowhammer, corn bunting, linnet and hedge sparrow, improving winter survival and breeding success.

On a hard February morning, the difference between a thin line of fresh seed and none at all is the quiet patter of yellowhammers dropping in instead of drifting on. Done well, supplementary feeding bridges the hungry gap without turning into a rook-and-pigeon buffet.

Why feed farmland birds during the winter?

Seed-eating farmland birds hit their annual low point between December and April - the "hungry gap" - as natural seed runs low just before breeding begins. This has been exacerbated by improvements in combine efficiency and weed control, as well as a shift towards more autumn cropping, reducing the amount of weedy stubbles left over-winter. Despite long-term monitoring showing farmland bird declines, research is demonstrating that supplementary feeding is one of the positive levers we can pull alongside habitat creation and management.

Two government-backed options pay to do this properly:

• AB12 (Countryside Stewardship)

• AHW2 (SFI)

Extensive research on UK farms shows that supplementary winter bird feed can improve the chances of local breeding populations for some target species of granivores (e.g. yellowhammer and reed bunting), especially when targeted properly and used at meaningful volumes alongside habitat options, helping to stop or at least slow population declines (Siriwardena et al., 2007) and potentially even increase numbers of breeding birds and territories (Redhead et al, 2017).

What our experience, science and schemes say

1. Start supplementary feeding before the habitat supply runs out

SFI guidance for AHW2 is explicit: begin before sown winter bird food tails off, to avoid birds moving away and losing condition. This matches what we see on farm and in research - plots sown with seed-bearing plants generally cannot provide food throughout the full winter period (Broughton et al., 2020).

2. Little and often beats occasional gluts

Weekly feeding is the minimum. Scattering smaller amounts across days and areas reduces spoilage and non-target take (e.g. by crows, pigeons and rodents) and keeps food fresh. Spin or scatter thinly and don’t leave piles or long, dense trails. Research suggests that daily feeding may be the gold standard, although the cost and practicality of doing so are generally prohibitive on commercial farms.

3. Use the right seed mix

Schemes require small-seed components (millets, canary, linseed, oilseed rape and sunflower hearts) alongside cereals. Small seeds suit buntings, linnets and finches and make it harder for larger non-target birds, such as pigeons and rooks, to dominate. We offer supplementary food seed straights, as well as standard and bespoke mixes.

4. Feed where birds already are for maximum impact

Locate feeding areas near winter bird food plots (AB9 / CAHL2), enhanced stubbles or game covers on firm, free-draining ground so you can keep visiting even in poor weather. Establish feeding sites to cater to different species' foraging preferences (e.g. lines adjacent to cover such as hedges may be preferred by tree sparrows and yellowhammers, while corn bunting prefer more open lines along fences or ditches, with vantage points to scan for predators.

Our clients’ most reliable spots are edges of winter bird seed plots or stubbles where finch and bunting flocks are already working the hedges.

5. Keep hoppers to a minimum

Less than 10% should be supplied via hoppers (AHW2 and AB12 requirement). Ground-spread seed supports mixed flocks and reduces disease build-up at single points, provided you don’t create piles and that you periodically move sites. I suggest using elevated, multi-site small bird feeders.

6. Hygiene matters

Garden-feeder experiences are a cautionary tale: finch trichomonosis has caused large declines in greenfinch and chaffinch populations, with disease linked to feeding interfaces. To minimise the risk of disease transmission (and predation) in field feeding - broadcast seed widely within plots, avoid heaps and move between feeding sites. Change feed sites regularly to prevent rodents from establishing themselves.

7. Feeding is a bridge, not the silver bullet

Best results come when supplementary feeding sits within a whole-farm package, including winter bird food plots, stubbles, insect-rich margins and well managed hedges. Studies show that winter seed availability together with summer habitat are what ultimately moves the dial (Redhead et al., 2017).

The bigger picture

Farmers undertaking supplementary feeding and implementing AB12 or AHW2 provide critical aid to bird populations and contribute to their farm's ecological resilience. However, feeding works best as part of a whole-farm year-round approach: winter seed (winter bird plots, stubbles), insect-rich summer forage and safe nesting within reach of cover. Studies show that winter options raise winter bird numbers and, for many granivores, spill over into higher breeding-season numbers, especially where farms also provide spring and summer habitat (Redhead et al., 2018) and targeted control of nest predators (Baines, D., 2025).

Supplementary feeding works best as the winter cog in a year-round machine.

At landscape scale, the extent of bird-friendly habitat matters. In England, analyses linking agri-environment delivery to breeding bird survey trends found positive population effects when the right options (notably winter food) were delivered at scale. (Baker et al., 2012) Separately, cereal stubble was associated with recovering skylark and yellowhammer trends - useful planning yardstick for farm clusters (Gillings et al., 2005).

Many of our target "seed-eaters" are granivorous in winter but switch to invertebrates for nestlings, including yellowhammers (Hart et al., 2006), corn bunting (Donald, P.F. & Evans, A.D., 2009), tree sparrow and grey partridge.

Grey partridge breeding success, for example, tracks insect supply on field edges. This is why flower-rich margins, tussocky and rough edges, low-input headlands and well-managed hedges, which lift invertebrate biomass and accessibility, are the essential summer counterpart to winter seed.

In our best-performing locations, the late-winter feed line and the June flower-rich edge are two halves of the same promise: supporting birds through February, then feeding the chicks in June.

Seed mix options available from Oakbank

We supply three main mixes for the AB12/AHW2 option. One complete ration containing both cereals and small seeds, and two small seed mixes for you to bulk up with up to 70% of your own cereals.

Complete Ration: wheat, naked oats, oilseed rape, white millet, red millet and red dari.

Naked oats are a great addition to supplementary feed as they are high in linoleic acid and protein.

Small Seed Budget Mix: red dari, white millet, red millet, yellow millet, oilseed rape and black sunflowers.

A cost-effective option for those wishing to supply their farmland birds with a nutritious mix of small seeds.

Small Seed Premium Mix: red dari, sunflower hearts, oilseed rape, yellow millet, white millet, red millet, canary seed and black sunflowers

For those wanting to go the extra mile in farmland bird conservation. Slightly more expensive than the budget mix but caters for a wider range of farmland birds. Contains highly nutritious sunflower hearts.

Bespoke mixes and straights: if you have specific requirements for your farmland birds, please get in touch if you would like a bespoke mix or straight small seeds for you to mix yourself

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When should supplementary bird feeding start?

Ideally before natural seed runs out, but start no later than 1st December.

What seed mixes are allowed under AHW2?

≤70% cereals (e.g. wheat, oats, barley) plus ≥30% small seeds (oilseed rape, millets, linseed, canary, sunflower hearts).

How much seed do I need for AB12 compliance?

1 tonne for every 2ha of sown winter bird food, with each tonne split evenly over 2 feeding sites between December and April (approximately 25kg per week per site for 20 weeks).

Which birds benefit most?

Yellowhammer, corn bunting, reed bunting, tree sparrow, linnet, and other seed-eating farmland birds.

Why not just use hoppers?

Less than 10% may be fed via hoppers under the stewardship rules; ground-spread seed supports mixed flocks and reduces disease risk.

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👉 Order compliant AB12/AHW2 supplementary feeding mixes now to ensure timely delivery before feeding begins later this year.