FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you might want to know about us and our birdseed, to help you enjoy a backyard full of birds, worry and peanut free.

In short, Wallis Johns produces premium, certified peanut-free wild birdseed made without filler seeds and designed to attract a wide variety of backyard birds. Our blends attract and are loved by all the seed-eating backyard birds, coast to coast, all year long.

Can’t find the answer to your question here? Please be in touch with us at hello@wallisjohns.com or here, we’re always happy to hear from you. 

 

Who & What is Wallis Johns?

Learn about us and why we do what we do here. 

Why did you start Wallis Johns?

Because we couldn't find peanut-free birdseed anywhere. With a peanut allergy in the family and birds we wanted to feed, we looked and looked. Nothing was safe. We wanted to change this, so we did. For our family and everyone else who also wanted to feed the birds, worry and peanut free.

What is Wallis Johns?

Wallis Johns is, as far as we know, the first and only certified peanut-free wild birdseed brand, created for households, schools, and community spaces navigating peanut allergies, and for anyone who wants to feed the birds, worry and peanut free. It’s also really, really great birdseed. Those two things have always gone hand in hand.

What makes Wallis Johns different from other birdseed brands?

Two things. We're certified peanut-free. We're the only birdseed brand we know of that is. And we use no fillers, ever. Every seed in every blend is there because birds love it. That's it.

Are you a Canadian brand?

We are proud to be a female-founded and owned Canadian business. Our roots and home base are in Canada. To continue growing sustainably, we now partner with a trusted U.S. manufacturer to ensure reliable, year-round production and to keep shipping costs as fair as possible for customers across North America.

Our blends are made with a careful selection of Canadian and internationally sourced ingredients, and every product is crafted to the same quality and allergen-safety standards we’ve always been known for.

How can I get in touch?

We're here to help and always happy to hear from you. Please be in touch here or at hello@wallisjohns.com

Where can I buy Wallis Johns?

Directly from us on our website, our catalogue is here. To keep shipping costs reasonable, we offer 2, 4 and 8 packs, saving up to 10% per unit. You can also Subscribe, which offers an additional 10% off for deliveries every month or every two months. Single units and our original blend (Something for Everyone 1) are available exclusively through our approved retail partners.

Do you ship internationally?

Currently, we only ship within Canada and the US, Standard shipping is included in all of our prices.

We’re working really hard toward finding the best way to make our products available outside of Canada and the US. If you’d like us to let you know once we’re available elsewhere (UK, you’re next!), please be in touch with us here or at hello@wallisjohns.com and we’ll keep you posted. 

Do you sell wholesale?

Yes. We work with approved retail partners including garden centres, specialty stores, nature centres, and select grocery retailers. You can learn more and apply for a wholesale account here.

How do I order from Wallis Johns?

Where can I purchase Wallis Johns birdseed?

You can purchase our Something for Everyone 2 (blend) and Something for Everyone 3 (straight sunflower chips) on our website in 2, 4 & 8 packs and (soon) in select retail locations (single units). Shipping within Canada and the US is included in our website prices. Our original Something for Everyone 1 (blend) is available exclusively in select retail stores. 

Do you offer a subscription or auto-ship?

Yes we do. On our website, we offer every month or every two month subscriptions, with an additional 10% off. 

How long does shipping take?

We aim to process your order within 1-2 business days and standard shipping is included in all of our prices. So, depending on where you live, you should receive your order within 3-5 business days. We primarily ship using UPS ground. 

What is your return or satisfaction policy?

Due to our strict allergen protocols, we do not accept physical returns of products. If your product arrives damaged in any way please be in touch with us right away at hello@wallisjohns.com or here and we’ll get it sorted.

As for satisfaction, we’re confident the birds at your feeder will speak for us.

Why Peanut-Free?

We’re always happy when people ask, learn why here.

Why does peanut-free birdseed exist?

Peanut-free birdseed exists for people, not birds. Birds aren't allergic to peanuts. But the people filling the feeder might be, or might live near someone who is. Conventional birdseed typically contains peanuts, may contain peanuts, or is processed in facilities that also handle peanuts, often all three, making it unsafe for people with peanut allergies and for peanut-free environments. We wanted to change this, so we did. For our family and everyone else who also wanted to feed the birds, worry and peanut free. 

Are birds allergic to peanuts?

No. There is no evidence that backyard birds are allergic to peanuts. Peanut-free birdseed is designed for people navigating peanut allergies and for use in peanut-free environments.

Is allergen labelling on birdseed required?

No. Unlike human food, allergen labelling on pet food, which includes birdseed, is voluntary. This means conventional birdseed often contains peanuts, may contain peanuts due to cross-contact, or is produced in facilities that process peanuts on shared equipment, with no obligation to disclose any of this on the label.

How is Wallis Johns certified peanut-free?

Every batch is tested and verified peanut-free by a third-party accredited lab. We also work with carefully selected ingredients and facilities to ensure allergen controls are in place at every stage of sourcing, production, and packaging.

Who is peanut-free birdseed for?

For households, schools, daycares, nature centres, parks, and any peanut-free environment where people want to feed the birds safely. It’s also for anyone whose neighbour has a peanut allergy (squirrels, and pets can carry peanuts between yards, which can present a real safety risk), it always makes us smile when we hear about this sort of neighbourly gesture. 

Can I use Wallis Johns birdseed at a school or daycare?

Yes. Our birdseed is specifically designed for peanut-free environments. We also offer an Educational & Community Program with discounted pricing for approved institutions. You can learn more about that here.

Is your birdseed tree-nut-free?

Our products do not contain any tree nuts. Our facility is tree-nut-free. At this time, our individual ingredients are not lab-tested for trace amounts of tree nuts. (All of our products are lab tested and verified peanut free)

What about other allergens?

We understand first-hand how important it is to have allergen information you can trust.

Clear, honest information helps everyone make the decisions that are right for them. You can view our full allergen statement here.

How Do I Create a Backyard Full of Birds?

How do I start feeding the birds?

If you’re reading this, you’re already on your way. Good information, followed by good seeds and a good feeder are great first steps. Read through these FAQs, there’s also a lot of great information about backyard birds (seeds they like, habitat etc) here, why premium seeds really do make a difference here and why being a birder is really great for you and the birds here.

What sort of feeder do I need?

Birds will enjoy our blends in a tube, platform or hopper feeder. You can learn more here about which birds prefer which feeders, any of these options will be suitable for most backyard birds. They also enjoy a good pinecone bird feeder, which is a great project for kids, Mila will show you how to make one here. 

How do I take care of my bird feeder?

It's super, super important that you keep your feeders clean. Clean them once every couple weeks with a solution of bleach and water (one part bleach to nine parts water). Once dry, re-fill with fresh seed.

Does the birdseed I use really matter?

Yes, yes it does. You can learn more here about why premium, filler-free blends (like ours) really do make a difference.

What birdseed attracts the most birds?

Premium, filler-free seeds are the way to go. Our Something for Everyone blends are designed to attract and be enjoyed by all the seed-eating backyard birds. There’s a little something for everyone. You can learn more about different backyard birds, which of the seeds in our blend they like most and more great information about a backyard full of birds here. 

How do I store birdseed?

Store unused seed in a cool, dry place away from moisture and humidity. We recommend storing unused seed in a bin with a secure fitting lid in an area such as a garage.

Should I provide water for the birds?

If possible, providing a clean source of water for the birds is a really great thing, and helps them out a lot. Just make sure you keep the container and the water clean. This is super important.

I’ve heard about the 5-7-9 rule for bird feeders, what is this?

This is a suggested guideline meant, largely, as a way to try and keep squirrels away from your feeders. Its premise is that you should place your feeder 5 feet off the ground, 7 feet away from any potential launching point (trees, fences, decks), and 9 feet below any overhead branches or rooflines. To this suggestion, and although it is indeed a guideline worth trying, we will simply say that squirrels have been making a mockery of these silly human guidelines for, well, ever.

How do I keep squirrels away from my feeder?

In short, see above. The truth, you can’t. Squirrels will be squirrels and, we believe, the kinder and more realistic approach is to find a way to enjoy them as members of your backyard. Using a premium blend like ours means less filler that the birds toss to the ground, and that they then scavenge. This helps. We use safflower in our blends which many birds love (like cardinals and nuthatches) and squirrels tend not to like. This also helps. Our blends are free of one of their most favourite foods, peanuts, so this helps too. 

As for feeders that claim to outsmart squirrels, we’ve only found one that has stood true to that claim and it’s what we use at home. We’re not affiliated with this company in any way, just huge fans. So, you could try a Brome’s Squirrel Buster feeder and May the Force be with you.

Why Premium Birdseed?

You can learn more about why premium birdseed really does matter, and why, here.

Does it really matter what birdseed brand I buy?

Yes. More than most people realize. Most commercial birdseed contains up to 70% filler seeds that backyard birds largely ignore. Understanding what's actually in your birdseed, and what birds will actually eat, makes a significant difference to how many birds visit your feeder and how much value you get from every bag.

What are filler seeds and why do they matter?

Filler seeds (corn, milo, wheat, red millet) are cheap ingredients used to increase bag weight and reduce cost per unit, they make it seem like you’re getting a lot of seed for not a lot of money, but most backyard birds actively avoid them, tossing them to the ground where they can develop mold (this is genuinely bad for birds), attract rodents, and create mess. We decided early on we wanted nothing to do with them and so you can be assured that Wallis Johns blends are 100% filler-free.

Is cheaper birdseed actually cheaper?

Not when you do the math. A bag that's 70% filler contains significantly less seed your birds will actually eat than the weight on the label suggests. The real cost per pound of seed birds love is often higher with a discount blend than with a premium one. You can learn more about said math here.

I heard peanuts and corn in birdseed can contain mold that's harmful to birds. Is this true?

Yes. Corn and peanuts are among the seeds most susceptible to aflatoxin, a naturally occurring toxin produced by mold that can develop on crops under certain storage and humidity conditions. Aflatoxin is harmful to birds even at low levels. It’s one of the reasons Wallis Johns uses neither corn nor peanuts in any of our blends.

Will premium birdseed attract more birds?

Yes, noticeably so. When a feeder contains seeds birds genuinely want, and that are fresh and high quality, they come back. Regularly. Our customers tell us this consistently. You can hear what they have to say here.

Do people without peanut allergies buy Wallis Johns?

All the time. Many of our most loyal customers have no allergy in the family. They found us, tried us, and stayed, because our birdseed is just better, it isn’t just peanut-free birdseed, it’s really, really great birdseed. More birds, less waste, a feeder that works the way you hoped it would. But don’t take our word for it, hear what our customers have to say here.

Our Products

You can view our full catalogue here.

How many blends do you offer?

Three. All are tested and verified peanut-free by a third-party accredited lab. All are filler-free. All use only premium ingredients.

What is Something for Everyone 1?

This is our original blend. A premium, peanut-free mix loved by all the seed-eating backyard birds, coast to coast, all year long. It’s available exclusively through our approved retail partners.

Ingredients: Black Oil Sunflower Seeds, Sunflower Chips, Safflower Seeds, White Proso Millet.

What is Something for Everyone 2?

This is our mixed blend. It’s also a premium, peanut-free mix loved by all the seed-eating backyard birds, coast to coast, all year long. It’s available online on our website (2, 4 and 8 packs only) and through select retail partners (single units).

Ingredients: Black Oil Sunflower Seeds, Sunflower Chips, Safflower Seeds.

What is Something for Everyone 3?

This is straight sunflower chips, already hulled. Pure, premium, peanut-free. This is a great option for urban, balcony or patio environments where you may not want the hulled sunflower shells falling to the ground (these break down naturally in the soil, but on concrete not so much). They’re loved by all the seed-eating backyard birds. Available online on our website (2, 4 and 8 packs only) and through select retail partners (single units).

Ingredients: Sunflower Chips.

What birds will your birdseed attract?

A lot of them! Our blends attract and are loved by all the seed-eating backyard birds, coast to coast, all year long, including chickadees, nuthatches, finches, cardinals, and many more. Where you are and the time of year plays a part in which birds you'll see. Here’s a quick look at some of them. For more detailed information about backyard birds, their habitat, feeders they like and much more, visit here. 

Is your birdseed non-GMO?

Yes. Our birdseed blends are naturally non-GMO. The ingredients we use do not have GMO varieties, which means our blends are non-GMO by nature and by design.

Can I feed my pet bird your outdoor bird seed?

No. We don't recommend feeding pet birds our outdoor bird seed. Our outdoor blends have a higher fat content, which is great for outdoor birds, but not so great for indoor pet birds.

Our Packaging

It’s always evolving, with birds and the planet in mind. You can learn more about our packaging journey here.

What is PCR packaging?

PCR stands for Post Consumer Recycled. Our current packaging is made using recycled plastic waste collected from consumers, keeping materials in circulation and out of landfills.

Is your packaging PFAS-free?

Yes. PFAS are synthetic chemicals, commonly known as forever chemicals, that don't break down in the environment or in our bodies. Our packaging is completely PFAS-free.

Can I recycle your packaging?

Yes and no. Our PCR bags are a #7 on the recycling ladder. If you have access to a store-drop depot that accepts #7, please recycle there. Otherwise please do not put them in curbside recycling unless you know your program accepts #7. Please know that even if it ultimately ends up in the garbage, it was still a more sustainable choice than virgin plastic. Please visit here to learn more about why we chose PCR packaging and why it makes a difference.

Why did you move away from compostable packaging?

We loved our previous compostable packaging, and we know our customers did as well, but it wasn't scalable, and also BPI certified compostable material was simultaneously becoming accepted by some municipal programs and refused by others with no reliable consistency. We switched to PCR because it works more reliably for more people in more places. PFAS-free remained non-negotiable to us. Please visit here to learn more about why we made the change.

Educational & Community Program

Many schools, Montessoris and nature programs use our seeds. We love this and wanted to support these efforts so we created this program, learn more about it here.

What is the Educational & Community Program?

A discounted pricing program for schools, daycares, Montessori programs, nature centres, and community organizations. Approved institutions receive 10% off case pack orders, applied automatically at checkout on our website.

Who is eligible?

Schools, Montessoris, daycares, nature centres, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations focused on education and wildlife conservation.

How do I apply?

Learn more here, and then email us at hello@wallisjohns.com with your organization details. We review every application personally and aim to respond within a few business days. There's no lengthy form, just a quick email and we'll take it from there. Once approved, your discount (and tax exemption, if applicable) will all be automatically applied at checkout.