Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Order before 1pm (11am on Fridays) for next working day delivery to most UK addresses.

We use DPD’s 24-hour service, with deliveries made Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm. Once your order has been dispatched, you’ll receive tracking details by email or SMS so you can follow your delivery and set preferences such as a safe place or delivery instructions. No signature is required.

During busy periods or bank holidays, delivery may take slightly longer.

Some areas fall outside standard next working day delivery:

Up to 48 hours:

AB21–56, BT, FK17–21, G63, GY1–10, IM, IV1–63, JE1–5, KW0–14, PA20–78, PH15–50, TR8, TR10, TR12, TR13, TR19, TR26, TR93

Up to 72 hours:

HS1–9, KA27–28, KW15–17, PA80–88, ZE1–3

• Orders under 1kg may occasionally be sent via Royal Mail 1st Class. Please allow up to 3 working days for these deliveries.

Delivery is £3.99 per order, including handling.

Orders over £35 qualify for free delivery.

No. If delivery isn’t possible, your parcel may be left in a safe place or with a neighbour.

You can also manage delivery preferences in advance, including choosing a safe place, or rescheduling (as long as your order hasn’t been dispatched).

Yes. You can check your order status at any time in your account. Once dispatched, you’ll receive a tracking link by email to follow your delivery.

This website delivers within the UK only.

For European orders, please visit www.vivara.com or www.vivara.ie for Ireland.

In short: they’re very similar, both are designed for clean, hassle-free feeding.

No Mess seed mixes contain only edible ingredients, with all husks already removed. That means birds eat everything, leaving no shells, no waste and no debris on your lawn or patio.

No Weed mixes take this one step further. Because the husks are removed in advance, there’s no chance of leftover seeds germinating, so you won’t get unwanted plants growing under your feeder.

So while both keep things tidy, No Weed gives you extra peace of mind when it comes to preventing weeds.

Hi-Energy No Mess which is both 'no mess' and 'no weed' plus the birds love to eat it. So win=win=win!

Yes, absolutely. Our peanuts are fully tested and certified aflatoxin-free, so they’re completely safe for wild birds.

Aflatoxins are naturally occurring toxins caused by mould, and they can be harmful to birds if low-quality peanuts are used. That’s why we don’t take shortcuts. Every batch of our bird peanuts is carefully checked and quality controlled to ensure it meets strict safety standards before it reaches your garden.

So whether you’re feeding blue tits, robins, woodpeckers or sparrows, you can offer our peanuts with total confidence.

High in energy, rich in natural oils, and safe for feeding, especially during colder months and seasons when birds need that extra boost.

Feed confidently and safely with our high-quality peanuts.

Birds’ needs change with the seasons and adjusting your feeding makes a real difference.

Here’s the simple guide: Breeding season = more protein and calcium, Winter = more fat and calories

During the Breeding Season (spring & early summer)

This is when birds are nesting, laying eggs and feeding hungry chicks. They need protein-rich, nutritious food, and above all, calcium to support growth.

Why calcium?

Calcium is essential for a strong eggshell formation, healthy chick development and bone growth in young birds.

Best foods for breeding season:

• High-protein seed mixes
• Sunflower hearts
• Mealworms

Why protein?

Growing chicks need it for healthy development, and parent birds need strength to keep up with frequent feeding trips.

Important note: Avoid offering loose whole peanuts during the breeding season, as they can be a choking hazard for young birds.

During Winter

Winter feeding is all about energy and survival. Birds burn extra calories to stay warm, especially overnight.

Best food for winter:

• Peanuts
• Fat balls and suet treats
• High-energy seed mixes

High-fat foods help birds maintain body heat and energy when natural food sources are limited.

Feeding with the seasons helps birds thrive, not just survive.

Short answer: both are good. Here’s how to choose.

Live mealworms

Live mealworms are the closest match to what many garden birds naturally eat. They move, they trigger hunting instincts, and they’re especially attractive during the breeding season.

Best for:

• Feeding parent birds with chicks
• Attracting robins, blackbirds and wrens
• Giving birds a natural protein boost
• They’re high in moisture and protein, ideal when chicks need fast, digestible nutrition.

Keep in mind: They need proper storage and handling, and they’re a bit more effort.

Dried mealworms

Dried mealworms are the convenient, no-fuss option. Same great protein source, just without the wriggle.

Best for:

• Easy, year-round feeding
• Mixing into seed blends
• Clean and simple storage

Top tip: Soak dried mealworms in water for a few minutes before feeding during breeding season. This adds moisture and makes them easier for chicks to digest.

So, which is better?

Want maximum attraction and natural behaviour? → Go live.

Want convenience and easy storage? → Go dried.

Both provide valuable protein.

Yes, we do. We offer a selection of organic bird food options, made with ingredients grown without synthetic pesticides or artificial fertilisers. That means cleaner farming practices and a more natural food source for the birds visiting your garden.

Organic bird food is a great choice if you prefer environmentally responsible sourcing, want to support biodiversity beyond your garden or are looking for high-quality, traceable ingredients.

Just like the rest of our food assortment, our organic products are carefully selected for nutritional value, safety and quality, so birds get the energy they need, naturally.

You’ll find organic options clearly labelled in our shop, making it easy to choose what fits your garden best.

Good for birds. Better for nature.

Ideally, clean your bird feeders about every two weeks. In warm or wet weather, it’s best to do it weekly, as food can spoil faster and bacteria grow more easily. A quick clean keeps food fresh and helps prevent diseases from spreading among visiting birds.

Cleaning is simple. Empty the feeder, brush away old food and debris, and wash it with warm water. For a deeper clean, use a bird-safe solution, rinse thoroughly and let it dry completely before refilling.

A clean feeder means healthier birds and a busier garden and that’s exactly what we all want to see.

If squirrels or larger birds are emptying your feeders, a few simple tweaks can make a big difference.

First, try using squirrel-resistant guardian caged bird feeders or feeders with weight-activated perches like our Cork feeders. They help keep the food safe and the birds coming back.

Placement helps too. Hang feeders at least 2-3 metres away from trees, fences or roofs, so squirrels can’t launch themselves onto them. With the right feeder and setup, the food goes exactly to the birds you want to attract.

Yes, most of our high quality bird feeders are designed to handle the weather. But the level of frost- and weather-resistance depends on the materials and design. Here’s what you should know:

Our feeders are built for year-round outdoor use. Many models are made from durable materials such as metal, polycarbonate plastic, or weather-resistant wood, which can withstand rain, wind and temperature changes.

Features that make a feeder more weather-proof include:

• Wide roofs or covers that keep rain and snow off the seed
• Drainage holes to prevent moisture and mould
• Metal feeding ports and bases, which cope better with freezing and thawing than thin plastic parts

These details help keep the food dry and the feeder functioning properly even during cold or wet weather.

What about frost and winter conditions?

A well-designed feeder can stay outside in winter. Models with metal components and sturdy plastics usually perform best because they are less likely to crack or jam in freezing temperatures.

Yes, we do. Many of our bird feeders are designed so you don’t have to replace the whole feeder if one part wears out.

We offer a range of spare parts for selected models. Simply check the product page or our bird feeder accessories for spare parts to see what’s available for your feeder. Replacing a small part is quick, affordable and better for the environment and it keeps your feeder working perfectly for years to come.

Our WoodStone® products come with a 10-year guarantee.

WoodStone® is an innovative material made from wood fibres and concrete, combining the natural look of wood with the strength and durability of stone. The result? Nest boxes and insect hotels that are extremely robust, breathable and resistant to weather and rot.

That means your garden animals get a safe, long-lasting home and you get peace of mind for many seasons to come.

Our wooden nest boxes and feeders come with a standard warranty against manufacturing defects.

We carefully select durable wood and design our products for outdoor use, but as natural materials age over time, exposure to weather will gradually affect the appearance. This is normal and doesn’t affect the function of the product.

With proper care and occasional maintenance, wooden nest boxes and feeders can last for many years in your garden.

When you buy selected products from us, you’re helping support the vital conservation work of the National Trust.

A contribution from these purchases goes directly towards protecting historic landscapes, wildlife habitats and nature reserves across the UK.

So every feeder, nest box or bird food doesn’t just help the birds in your garden, it also helps protect nature on a much larger scale.

We want you to be completely happy with your purchase. If something isn’t quite right, you can return your product within the return period for a refund or exchange.

Simply contact our customer service team and we’ll guide you through the process.

Our goal is simple: make returns easy, fair and hassle-free, so you can shop with confidence.

Yes. The wood used in our products comes from FSC®-certified sources.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) certification ensures that forests are managed in a way that protects biodiversity, wildlife habitats and local communities.

By choosing sustainably sourced wood, we make sure that supporting birds and wildlife in your garden also helps protect forests and ecosystems for the future.

We’re continuously working to reduce our environmental footprint and packaging is a big part of that.

Wherever possible, we are reducing plastic, switching to recyclable materials and optimising packaging sizes to minimise waste. We’re also exploring innovative packaging solutions that protect products while using fewer resources.

Our goal is simple: less unnecessary packaging, more focus on nature.

Yes. Many of our bird food products are developed and produced in-house.

This allows us to carefully control ingredient quality, nutritional value and sustainability. Our mixes are designed by wildlife experts and specifically formulated for the needs of wild birds and other garden wildlife, providing the energy, protein and nutrients they need throughout the year.

Producing in-house also means we can maintain high standards while constantly improving our recipes.