Supplementary bird seed mix including millet, sunflower hearts and cereals for AB12 and AHW2

Supplementary Winter Bird Food (AB12 / AHW2 Seed Mixes)

During the late winter months, natural food resources are scarce. Our AB12 / AHW2 supplementary winter bird food mixes are specifically designed to keep farmland birds fed and healthy while meeting scheme compliance. Choose between complete, premium, budget or bespoke mixes depending on your needs.

Suitable for mid-tier option AB12 and SFI action AHW2 (Supplementary Winter Bird Food)
Probably the most important farmland bird option as it delivers guaranteed food through the winter when the birds most need it.
You can use your own wheat and oilseed rape but a percentage of small seeds such as millet, sunflower hearts and canary seed are essential to ensure you are feeding a range of species.
We offer straights as well as standard and bespoke mixes.

Our standard mixes:

Complete Ration: 60% wheat, 10% naked oats, 15% oilseed rape, 5% white millet, 5% red millet and 5% red dari

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

Small Seed Premium Mix: 20% red dari, 15% sunflower hearts, 15% oilseed rape, 15% yellow millet, 15% white millet, 10% red millet, 5% canary seed and 5% 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.

Small Seed Budget Mix: 30% red dari, 20% white millet, 15% yellow millet, 15% oilseed rape, 10% red millet and 10% black sunflowers

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

Want to know more about management? Read more about supplementary winter bird feeding that works here.

Is your Mid Tier agreement due to expire at the end of 2025? Read about one-year extensions here.

The AB12 Countryside Stewardship option, CAB12/COP3 Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier options and AHW2 Sustainable Farming Incentive action support the supplementary feeding of seed-eating farmland birds (such as corn bunting, linnet, yellowhammer and grey partridge) during the late winter “hungry gap” and when the breeding season starts.

To comply with AB12 / AHW2:

Seed must be spread at least once per week throughout the feeding period
Mixes must contain a maximum of 70% cereals and a minimum of 30% small seeds, with no single species making up more than 50% of the non-cereal component
You must keep a feeding diary recording the type and quantity of seed used, as this may be checked during audits

For CAB12 and COP3 (Higher Tier options, including supplementary bird food on organic land) you must agree all seed mixes with your Natural England adviser.