{"id":734116,"date":"2026-08-11T02:44:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T02:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/734116\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T02:44:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T02:44:13","slug":"robins-are-more-likely-to-survive-the-hot-weather-if-you-leave-1-food-outside-in-august","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/734116\/","title":{"rendered":"Robins are more likely to survive the hot weather if you leave 1 food outside in August"},"content":{"rendered":"

Robins need a lot of food in August as they can actually struggle to forage in hot weather, but there is a simple way to help them out without needing to spend any money.\"Picture<\/p>\n

Feeding robins now gives them the best chance of surviving in autumn (Image: Getty)<\/p>\n

Gardeners frequently cease topping up their bird feeders once warmer weather<\/a> sets in, but presently, during August, robins typically require all the help they can receive. Robins primarily hunt for insects on the ground, but this summer has been exceptionally dry, meaning worms are digging deeper into the earth to locate moisture.<\/p>\n

This can render it virtually impossible for robins to reach them, while other natural food sources, such as berries, are likely to shrivel and become less plentiful owing to the shortage of rainfall. Late summer represents a crucial period for robins, as not only must they consume more food to prepare for the cooler conditions in autumn, but they also commonly rear multiple broods throughout their breeding season.<\/p>\n

Robins will be using considerable energy at present, hunting for chicks, defending their nests, and developing new plumage, so providing food in your garden significantly improves their chances of survival.<\/p>\n

\"Picture<\/p>\n

Robins will be using a lot of energy in August so are more likely to be underfed(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n

What can you feed robins from your kitchen?<\/p>\n

Fortunately, the garden wildlife specialists at Home & Roost have revealed a straightforward approach to feeding robins, as they can actually consume quite a variety of leftovers that would otherwise end up in your rubbish bin.<\/p>\n

They said: “There are lots of things in your kitchen that robins will love, and adding these to your feeding routine adds variety, saves money and saves food waste.”<\/p>\n

One basic food that robins will enjoy is soft fruit like apples, pears, or bananas, but it needs to be cut into small pieces if you leave it outside.<\/p>\n

Robins have very small beaks and are unable to break down large pieces of food as humans can, meaning leaving out sizeable chunks of fruit could pose a choking hazard or prove dangerous for their young chicks.<\/p>\n

\"Picture<\/p>\n

Robins can be fed soft fruits as long as they are chopped up(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n

Grated cheddar cheese and chopped grapes are also suitable options, though these should only be offered as an occasional treat due to their high fat and fructose content.<\/p>\n

What else should you know about feeding robins?<\/p>\n

It is absolutely vital to highlight that bread, cakes or leftover baked goods must never be given to robins, despite being a commonly offered food amongst bird lovers.<\/p>\n

While many people across the UK assume birds enjoy bread due to its association with feeding ducks, it simply fills them up while providing none of the essential nutrients required for their survival.<\/p>\n

Should robins become accustomed to eating bread, their bodies will struggle to accumulate sufficient fat reserves ahead of the colder months, making them considerably more vulnerable when winter sets in.<\/p>\n

\"Picture<\/p>\n

Feeding robins now gives them the best chance of surviving in autumn(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n

While offering robins food scraps can be beneficial, they currently require substantial amounts of protein and fat to build up their energy stores, so purchasing specialist bird food where possible is highly recommended.<\/p>\n

What bird food should you buy for robins?<\/p>\n

Crushed peanuts are a suitable option for robins, however many supermarket varieties contain salt or added flavourings that can prove harmful. Purchasing peanuts specifically intended for birds is always the preferred choice.<\/p>\n

Birds are unable to process salt in the same manner as humans, meaning salty snacks can prove toxic if consumed in sufficient quantities and may place considerable strain on their kidneys.<\/p>\n

Mealworms are the ideal food for robins, as they closely mirror their natural diet and supply many of the essential nutrients required to build up energy ahead of autumn.<\/p>\n

\"Picture<\/p>\n

The best food to feed robins is mealworms and other protein packed foods(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n

They are also partial to sunflower hearts, nyjer seeds, and suet balls; all of which are rich in fat and will assist their bodies in preparing for the colder months to come.<\/p>\n

However, exercise caution with suet balls, as they have a tendency to melt rapidly in warmer conditions. It’s advisable to steer clear of them during this period, as the grease can foul bird feeders and coat the birds’ plumage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Robins need a lot of food in August as they can actually struggle to forage in hot weather,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":734117,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[2851,6738,90,56,54,55,4407],"class_list":["post-734116","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wildlife","tag-animals","tag-gardening","tag-science","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom","tag-wildlife"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/734116","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=734116"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/734116\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/734117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=734116"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=734116"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=734116"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}