Feeding wild birds is beneficial throughout the year, but every season calls for a different approach. During summer, vitamin-rich foods such as fruit and protein-packed treats like mealworms are ideal. As winter approaches, switch to energy-rich foods such as peanuts, sunflower seeds, and fat balls to help birds cope with the cold. A varied menu always works best. Seed mixes attract sparrows, finches, and great tits, while soft-food eaters such as blackbirds and robins prefer raisins or fruit placed on the ground. With the delicious seed mixes from Benelux and Primus, your garden will quickly become a lively bird paradise.
And don't forget the water – a bird bath is just as important as food!

Dense shrubs, ivy, and native trees provide shelter from predators and harsh weather. The more greenery your garden offers, the more attractive it becomes to birds. Nest boxes are highly recommended. Choose the correct entrance hole size for the species you want to attract (great tits prefer slightly larger openings than blue tits). Ideally, install them in autumn, about 2 metres high against a wall or smooth tree trunk, in a shaded location with a clear view so birds can spot danger in time. Leave a small corner of your garden a little wild with piles of branches or longer grass, and on warm days always provide a dish of fresh water - perfect for drinking and cooling down.

Put up nest boxes in good time, preferably during winter or early spring, giving birds plenty of opportunity to discover and inspect them. Provide nesting materials nearby, such as small twigs, moss, and dry grass, and disturb nesting birds as little as possible. Constantly checking a nest box is more likely to scare the parents away than help them. Most garden birds hatch after around two weeks, and the chicks remain dependent on their parents for several more weeks before leaving the nest.

A clean feeding station and a fresh bird bath are essential for keeping wild birds healthy and happy. Spoiled food and stagnant water can quickly become breeding grounds for disease. Also choose a safe location away from windows and dense shrubs where stalking cats may be hiding.

A healthy canary starts the day with a varied seed mix rich in vitamins, minerals, and grit. The well-known seed mixes from Benelux and Primus are an excellent choice. Offer small portions (5 to 15 grams per day) to prevent your canary from picking out only its favourite seeds. As a special treat, occasionally provide apple, fresh vegetables, or egg food, all packed with extra vitamins. However, never feed avocado, as it is toxic to birds.
This way, your canary will stay healthy, active, and full of energy.

A canary feels happiest in a spacious cage or aviary where it has plenty of room to fly and play. Provide several perches, fresh water, and high-quality food every day. Place the cage in a bright, quiet location, away from draughts and direct sunlight. An aviary is also an excellent home, provided there is a sheltered area where the birds can spend the night. When a canary feels completely at ease, it will often reward you with its cheerful song!

Once a male and female have bonded, the female builds a nest inside a nesting box. She usually lays three to five eggs. After approximately two weeks, the chicks hatch. Around six weeks later, the young canaries leave the nest and soon become fully independent. Fun fact: young canaries first communicate with soft chirping sounds. Male canaries only learn to sing their beautiful songs later.

Does your canary have a slightly long beak? Give it a mineral block or grit block. By pecking at it, the beak wears down naturally. The small grit particles also support healthy digestion and provide valuable natural minerals.

The male is usually the singer of the group. Besides song canaries, there are also breeds with stunning colours, unique feather patterns, or distinctive body shapes. These cheerful birds originally come from the Canary Islands and, with proper care, can live for up to 10 years. Fun fact: a canary can learn to sing more than 20 different melodies!

A happy and healthy budgie starts with a high-quality seed mix as its main diet. The seed mixes from the Benelux and Primus ranges are an excellent choice. Choose a blend containing a variety of seeds, vitamins, and minerals, and always make sure grit is available. As a special treat, you can offer millet spray, a real favourite among budgies. However, limit this to no more than twice a week so they continue eating their regular food. Fresh vegetables and fruit also make a healthy snack. Although budgies do not drink large amounts of water, they should always have access to fresh, clean water every day. This will help keep your budgie healthy, active, and full of energy.

Budgies are happiest in a spacious cage, preferably with another budgie for company. Choose a cage with horizontal bars so they can climb and explore. Make their home even more enjoyable with toys, a bird bath, and a cuttlebone to help keep their beak in good condition while providing an extra source of calcium. Position the perches carefully, leaving plenty of space for flying. A content budgie is an active budgie - and you'll hear it in its cheerful chatter!

Budgies are curious, friendly, and intelligent birds that can become very tame with patience and gentle handling. They enjoy living with another budgie, making a pair the ideal choice. Provide plenty of toys to prevent boredom and a bird bath, as they love splashing around. Fun fact: Budgies originate from Australia, can live 10 to 15 years with proper care, and are the most popular pet bird in the world. Males can be recognised by their blue cere, while females usually have a pinkish-brown or brown cere.

When a pair of budgies feels comfortable and secure, breeding can begin. Provide a nesting box with a thick layer of wood shavings, and the female will usually lay four to six eggs. After about three weeks, the chicks hatch. They remain safely inside the nest box for more than four weeks and continue to be fed by their parents for a while after leaving the nest. Before long, the young budgies are flying around independently.

Wild budgies in Australia naturally occur in just one colour: green with a yellow head and black barring across the back. The blue, white, yellow, violet, and many other colour varieties seen today are all the result of selective breeding over many years. In fact, there are now more than 30 recognised colour mutations. Fun fact: The English name "budgerigar" (often shortened to "budgie") comes from an Aboriginal word believed to mean "good food", as these birds were once part of the local diet.

A healthy large parakeet starts with a high-quality seed mix as the foundation of its diet. The trusted seed mixes from Benelux and Primus provide an excellent nutritional base. Supplement their diet with fresh fruit and vegetables suited to the specific species. Offer additional breeding or conditioning food when needed, and always make sure grit is available. As a tasty treat, many large parakeets also love millet spray. With a balanced diet, your parakeet will receive all the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and energetic.

Large parakeets are happiest in a spacious cage or aviary where they have plenty of room to fly, climb, and explore. Choose a cage with horizontal bars to encourage climbing. Enrich their environment with stimulating toys and sturdy natural wooden perches made from birch, hazel, or fruit tree branches. These provide comfortable resting places while also satisfying their natural urge to chew. A spacious and varied living environment keeps large parakeets active, curious, and content.

When a pair of large parakeets feels comfortable and secure, breeding can begin. Provide a suitable nest box, and the female will usually lay three to six eggs. After the incubation period, the chicks hatch. Even after the young birds leave the nest, their parents continue feeding them for some time until they gradually become strong, independent birds.

Large parakeets are highly intelligent birds that love climbing, chewing, and discovering new things. Rotate their toys regularly, provide fresh branches to chew on, and, whenever it is safe, allow them supervised time outside the cage to stretch their wings. A bird that stays mentally stimulated is generally healthier, more active, and happier.

Keep in mind that many large parakeet species can be quite vocal and require plenty of space to climb, exercise, and explore. Because they investigate everything with their powerful beaks, a sturdy metal cage and plenty of durable toys are essential to prevent boredom. Most species also thrive when kept with a companion of the same kind.

Fun fact: Some large parakeet species can imitate sounds and even learn to mimic words. Many species originally come from Australia, Africa, and South America.

Everything starts with a high-quality tropical seed mix. The Benelux and Primus ranges offer the perfect blend for your exotic birds. Supplement their diet regularly with egg food, especially during the moulting and breeding seasons, and occasionally offer fresh vegetables such as endive or spinach. Grit and a cuttlebone should always be available, and don't forget fresh drinking water every day -these little birds love to splash around!

Exotic birds are active and social, and they love to fly. The more spacious the aviary, the happier they will be. Provide plenty of perches at different heights, dense greenery where they can hide and feel secure, and a quiet, draught-free location. Always consider the social needs of each species. Zebra finches are best kept in pairs, while species such as Gouldian finches and Java sparrows thrive in small groups. An outdoor aviary is also an excellent option, provided your birds have access to a sheltered, preferably heated, night shelter during colder weather.

Exotic birds are ideal if you enjoy observing colourful, active birds without excessive noise. Keep in mind that many species are naturally shy and prefer being admired from a distance rather than being handled. Species such as Zebra finches, Bengali finches (Society Finches), and Gouldian finches bring an incredible variety of colours to your aviary. They make wonderful companions, but because of their small size, they should not spend winter outdoors without suitable protection.

If you're ready to begin breeding, start with a healthy adult pair. Young birds are best left until they are around 10 months old before breeding. Provide a cosy nest box with coconut fibre or hay, together with extra protein-rich food such as egg food. The female will usually lay four to six eggs, which hatch after approximately two weeks. The chicks leave the nest after around three weeks but continue to be fed by their parents for several more weeks. By the age of five weeks, they are generally fully independent. Tip: Give breeding pairs plenty of rest and limit them to two or three broods per year.

Not all exotic bird species are compatible. Never place different species together without first checking whether they can coexist peacefully. A little research beforehand will help you create a harmonious, colourful aviary where every bird can thrive.

A healthy diet starts with a high-quality seed mix specially formulated for European finches. The specialised seed mixes from the Benelux and Primus ranges provide an excellent nutritional foundation. Supplement their diet with fresh greens such as chickweed or dandelion leaves, and during the moulting and breeding seasons, offer egg food to provide the extra protein they need. Grit and a cuttlebone should always be available, and don't forget to provide fresh drinking water every day to keep your birds healthy and active.

How do you create the ideal home for European Finches?

The European Goldfinch, also known as the thistle finch, is admired for its colourful face and beautiful song and, together with the Eurasian Siskin, remains one of the most popular species among bird enthusiasts. The Northern Cardinal is unusual because both males and females sing, although the male typically has the more elaborate song. The Red Crossbill uses its distinctive crossed beak to extract seeds from pine cones with remarkable ease, while the Eurasian Bullfinch is admired for its striking pinkish-red plumage. If you're looking for an extra splash of colour, the bright yellow Yellow-fronted Canary (Mozambique Canary) is a wonderful addition. With so many fascinating species and personalities, there is a favourite for every bird enthusiast.

Begin with a healthy adult pair, provide a suitable nest box or nesting basket filled with soft nesting material, and offer extra protein-rich food such as egg food before and during the breeding season. Most species lay three to five eggs, which hatch after approximately two weeks. After the young birds leave the nest, they continue to be fed by their parents for some time before becoming fully independent. Tip: Allow breeding pairs plenty of rest and limit them to just a few broods each year.

European finches thrive when they can behave as they would in the wild - flying, foraging, bathing, and singing. Provide a varied environment that encourages these natural behaviours, and be sure to include a bird bath. These birds absolutely love splashing around and keeping their feathers in perfect condition!

A high-quality, well-balanced seed mix specially developed for lovebirds is the perfect foundation. The Benelux and Primus lovebird mixes are an excellent choice, offering proven quality and complete nutrition. Supplement their diet regularly with complementary feed to ensure they receive all the vitamins and minerals they need. Grit is also essential, as it plays an important role in healthy digestion. Offer fresh vegetables or fruit every day, together with a small amount of complementary feed. Would you like to spoil your lovebirds? Spray millet is an absolute favourite that they simply can't resist! In short, a varied and balanced diet will keep your colourful companions healthy, active and happy.

Think big! Choose a cage measuring at least 80 × 50 × 50 cm with a maximum bar spacing of 1.2 to 1.5 cm, as these curious little birds love to explore every corner. Provide natural wooden perches in different diameters to keep their feet healthy, along with plenty of toys and chewing materials. A bored lovebird can quickly develop unwanted behaviours such as feather plucking. Place the cage in a quiet, draft-free location, away from direct sunlight and not too close to the kitchen. Your pair will also appreciate 10 to 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night. The larger and more enriching their environment, the happier and more cheerful your lovebirds will be.

Start with a healthy breeding pair that is at least 1 to 1.5 years old. A DNA test is the most reliable way to confirm that you have a male and a female. Provide a suitable nest box and plenty of nesting material. Before the breeding season, increase their intake of protein and calcium to support healthy egg production. After that, nature will take care of the rest. A female usually lays 4 to 6 eggs, which hatch after approximately three weeks. The young birds leave the nest after 5 to 6 weeks, but they continue to be fed by their parents for another two weeks before becoming fully independent. Peace, patience and avoiding too many consecutive breeding cycles are the keys to successful breeding.

Lovebirds are happiest when kept in pairs, as they easily become lonely on their own. A bonded pair is content together, but daily interaction with you is still essential to build trust and keep them tame. Would you like to keep several pairs? Make sure they have plenty of space, as lovebirds can be quite territorial. In short: affectionate, loyal and full of character!

There are nine recognised species of lovebirds, with the three most popular being the Peach-faced Lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis), Fischer's Lovebird (Agapornis fischeri) and the Masked Lovebird (Agapornis personatus). Almost all species originate from Africa, with one exception: the Grey-headed Lovebird, which is native to Madagascar. So, it may be a small bird family, but it offers an impressive diversity.