Best Seeds for Bird Houses in OSRS: Maximize Your Hunter Gains

If you’re diving into Old School RuneScape (OSRS) and looking to level up your Hunter skill efficiently, bird house runs are a fantastic method. Not only do they offer passive experience, but they also reward you with bird nests, seeds, and feathers—valuable resources for any player. One key question remains: which seeds should you use for bird houses to get the most out of your runs? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best seeds for bird houses in OSRS, how they work, and tips to optimize your runs for maximum profit and experience. Whether you’re an Ironman or a main account, this blog post has you covered!

Bird house trapping is a Hunter technique introduced with Fossil Island, requiring completion of the Bone Voyage quest. Players set up bird houses at four designated spots, fill them with seeds, and wait roughly 50 minutes for birds to fill them. Once full, you dismantle the houses to collect Hunter XP, nests, and other loot. The seeds you choose as bait are critical, but not all seeds are created equal in terms of cost, availability, and efficiency.

How Seeds Work in Bird Houses

Each bird house requires either 10 low-tier seeds or 5 high-tier seeds to activate. The type of seed doesn’t affect the number of birds caught or nests received—it’s purely a bait mechanic. This means your focus should be on affordability and accessibility rather than “quality” for better loot. The bird house tier (e.g., regular, oak, redwood) and your Hunter level determine the rewards, not the seed type.

Why Seed Choice Matters

While the seed itself doesn’t impact rewards, the cost and ease of obtaining them can make or break your bird house run efficiency. For mains, cheap seeds bought from the Grand Exchange (GE) maximize profit margins. For Ironmen, seeds sourced from shops or skilling activities are key to sustaining runs without relying on RNG drops.

Top Seeds for Bird House Runs

Here’s a breakdown of the best seeds for bird houses in OSRS, balancing cost, availability, and practicality. These recommendations cater to different playstyles—whether you’re buying in bulk or grinding as an Ironman.

Best Seeds for Main Accounts

For players with access to the GE, the goal is to minimize costs while keeping runs profitable. Here are the top picks:

Barley Seeds – Priced at around 4-6 GP each, barley seeds are a budget-friendly option. You’ll need 10 per house, totaling 40 seeds per run (160-240 GP). Their low cost makes them ideal for consistent runs.
Hammerstone Seeds – Often the cheapest hop seed at 2-3 GP each, hammerstone seeds are a steal. At 10 seeds per house, a full run costs just 80-120 GP, leaving more room for profit from nests.
Wildblood Seeds – These high-tier seeds require only 5 per house, meaning 20 seeds per run. At 10-15 GP each, the total cost is 200-300 GP. While pricier, they halve the seed quantity needed, saving inventory space.

Best Seeds for Ironmen

Ironmen can’t rely on the GE, so sourcing seeds from shops, pickpocketing, or other methods is essential. Here are the best options:

Jute Seeds – Available from Draynor Seed Market (Olivia), jute seeds cost 6 GP each and restock quickly. World-hopping can net you hundreds in minutes, making them a reliable choice.
Asgarnian Seeds – Also sold by Olivia for 5 GP each, these are another solid shop option. They’re slightly cheaper than jute and just as accessible.
Potato Seeds – Sourced from pickpocketing Master Farmers or buying from Amelia’s Seed Shop in the Farming Guild (45 Farming required), potato seeds are abundant and free for thieves.

Comparing Seed Costs and Availability

To help you decide, here’s a table comparing the top seeds based on cost and how to obtain them:

Seed Type	Cost (GP)	Seeds per House	Total Cost per Run (4 Houses)	How to Obtain
Barley	4-6	10	160-240	Grand Exchange
Hammerstone	2-3	10	80-120	Grand Exchange
Wildblood	10-15	5	200-300	Grand Exchange
Jute	6	10	240	Draynor Seed Market
Asgarnian	5	10	200	Draynor Seed Market
Potato	Free/1-2	10	0-80	Master Farmers, Farming Guild

Key Takeaways from the Table

Hammerstone seeds win for mains on a tight budget, while wildblood seeds are great if you value efficiency over cost. For Ironmen, jute and Asgarnian seeds from Draynor are quick to stockpile, and potato seeds shine for those with Thieving levels (38+ for Master Farmers).

Tips to Optimize Your Bird House Runs

Choosing the right seeds is only half the battle. Here’s how to make your runs as smooth and rewarding as possible:

Gear and Inventory Setup

For a standard run, bring:

4 logs (match your Hunter level: oak at 14, willow at 24, redwood at 89, etc.)
40 low-tier seeds or 20 high-tier seeds
A hammer and chisel
Digsite pendant (unlocked via The Dig Site quest)
4 clockworks (only needed for your first run; they’re returned after)

Optional: A strung rabbit foot increases the chance of ring/egg nests by 5%, boosting profit potential.

Efficient Route on Fossil Island

Follow this path for speed:

Teleport to Fossil Island with the digsite pendant.
Use the magic mushtree to Verdant Valley, set up/check the north and south bird houses.
Teleport to Mushroom Meadow via mushtree, check/set the north house.
Run south to Tar Swamp for the final house.

This takes about 1-2 minutes per run, making it one of the fastest passive methods in OSRS.

Maximizing Profits and XP

Upgrade Bird Houses: Higher-tier houses (e.g., redwood at 89 Hunter) yield more nests and XP—up to 1,200 XP per house when full.
Time Runs: Sync bird house runs with farm runs every 50 minutes for efficiency.
Sell Nests: Empty nests (500-1,000 GP), seed nests (variable), and ring nests (5,000+ GP with a dragonstone) add up fast.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bird House Seeds

Do Expensive Seeds Give Better Rewards?

No, the seed type doesn’t affect rewards. A 2 GP hammerstone seed works the same as a 1,000 GP ranarr seed in a bird house. Stick to cheap options unless you’re offloading excess high-value seeds.

Where Can I Get Seeds Fast?

Mains should buy from the GE—search for hop, allotment, or flower seeds and sort by price. Ironmen can hop worlds at Draynor Seed Market or pickpocket Master Farmers (level 38 Thieving recommended, 50+ with Rogue’s outfit for double seeds).

Are Bird House Runs Worth It?

Absolutely! At higher Hunter levels (e.g., 74+ with magic bird houses), you can earn 50,000-100,000 GP per hour and 50,000+ Hunter XP daily with minimal effort. Even at low levels, it’s a low-investment way to train.

Conclusion: Pick Your Perfect Seed

The best seeds for bird houses in OSRS depend on your account type and goals. For mains, hammerstone seeds offer the lowest cost, while wildblood seeds save space. Ironmen should stock up on jute or Asgarnian seeds from Draynor, or grind potato seeds from Master Farmers. Pair your seed choice with an efficient route and upgraded bird houses, and you’ll be raking in XP and GP in no time. Start your bird house runs today and watch your Hunter skill soar—happy trapping!