Would bird seed be something potentially useful in a home emergency kit?

[abcdefghij]

@Banksiaman

When society collapses will your bird-feeder attract vegetarian zombies?

GRAAAAINS!!!

[kanicbird]

We got an infestation of grain weevils (or some such insect) from bird seed stored too long. Apparently these buggies have eggs that are laid in the seeds that can be dormant for a very long time and birdseed is not so screened for such things as food for human consumption.

[Jasmine]

You could use it to attract and trap birds, and then they would be a food source for you.

[puzzlegal]

@Broomstick

@Mangetout

Back when I kept budgies, I tried milling and cooking some of the seed mix (which was various millets, oat groats and a few other things), as well as the same thing with just some plain millet. It had a really pervasive ‘raw grain’ flavour that did not seem to go away with any amount of cooking. I know millet is eaten by humans, but maybe there was something about the storage of this stuff, or maybe people who eat millet just get used to the flavour.

I cook and eat millet - millet intended for people cooks up just fine, like any other grain. Not sure what was going on with what you were eating? Maybe you still had seed hulls in it?

I’ve had cooked cereal that included millet. (It was called “12 grain cereal”, and was a mix of a lot of grains, cooked like oatmeal or Wheatena.) The millet has a strong flavor, and was much more noticeable than any of the other grains. It didn’t taste “raw” to me, but it did taste “different”. Like kasha has a really distinctive taste. (Although to get up to 12 grains it probably had some of that, too.)

I didn’t love that cereal, or millet, but i didn’t hate it. I’d have to be pretty hungry to break into the millet-heavy birdseed. You can stockpile oatmeal and lentils just as easily as bird seed. On the other hand, i do enjoy watching the birds at the bird feeder. So if you are stockpiling it for entertainment, why not?

[psychonaut]

@Bonum_Legatum

If nothing else, millet can be cooked to a gruel, and would be healthier than highly-sweetened breakfast cereals.

“What do you mean, ‘would be’?” asks this poster who regularly eats unsweetened millet porridge for breakfast.

[Saint_Cad]

@Yllaria

I don’t think I’d trust sea gulls not to taste like sludge. If you’re interested, here’s a tip. You can find lots of sea gulls at your local landfill.

I think those two facts are related. AKA there’s a reason I don’t eat catfish.

[Mangetout]

Whilst I think it’s true that some things taste bad because of what they eat, the counterexample to that seems to be: crabs and lobsters.

[abcdefghij]

Are you suggesting dipping seagulls in melted butter?

[Mangetout]

It’s worth a try

[Dag_Otto]

I’ve tried a couple of types of bottom feeding birds (coots and avocets) before. They are not good. My yard is full of dove and quail, so in a real emergency I would do ok.

[si_blakely]

@El_DeLuxo

When we buy bulk seed for our feathered companions, we put it in the freezer for a few days to kill any bugs or weevils and their eggs.

I do this with just about anything I buy from the bulk-food store.