Unsalted peanuts, in or out of the shell, are a protein source for many different birds.  Providing nuts is a great addition to seeds and seed mixes.  The strong-billed blue jays and woodpeckers are attracted to the peanuts in the shell as they have no problem cracking them open.  Out of the shell, you'll additionally attract juncos, white throated sparrows, chickadees, nuthatches, cardinals and more. 

Peanuts can be offered alone or with seed mixes in hoppers, fly-thru and tray/platform feeders.  If you choose to offer peanuts by themselves, there are many different feeder options available.  For peanuts in the shell, the special feeders have larger holes, large enough for the birds to pull and/or crack the shells out and away.  If the peanuts are already out of the shell, other style feeders provide a hole just large enough to pull the nuts out.  These feeders are usually tube shaped but can come in a variety of styles.

Squirrels love peanuts too and "munch box" feeders are available to hold the nuts, available to the squirrels once they learn to open the top and self-serve themselves.  

Don't miss this opportunity to offer a variety of food to your backyard birds.  A peanut feeder will be a great addition to your feeding station.