This blog post will cover all the important details regarding the following topic: Can You Put Thistle In A Regular Bird Feeder?. Read below to find out more.
Thistle—sometimes called Nyjer®—is ideal for attracting finches, pine siskins, buntings and juncos. Because of its
small size
, thistle is best offered from a finch feeder Whether it’s a tube feeder with narrow ports, a screen feeder or a mesh sock, finch feeders allow you to serve thistle without any waste.
Thistle Feeder: Where is the best place to put a thistle feeder
The Location of the Feeder is Key Feeders left out in the
open cause finches
to feel vulnerable to predators. Placing your feeders near trees and shrubs encourages safety. Position your feeders 10 to 12 feet away from shelters so that birds can quickly escape when a predator approaches.
Thistle Feeder: What else can you put in a thistle feeder
Thistle or nyjer seed attracts finch species such as
american goldfinch
, House Finch, Purple Finch, Cassin’s Finch, and Common Redpoll. We have also seen Dark-eyed Junco and
green-tailed towhee feed
on Nyjer and thistle feeders.
Seed Tube Feeder: Can you put thistle in a seed tube feeder
If you want to attract small seed-eating birds to your yard, start by trying a thistle feeder. It is usually constructed as a tube feeder with tiny feeding holes This type of bird feeder typically works with a thistle sock or a fine-mesh bag that the birds can cling to.
Thistle Seed: Why are birds not eating thistle seed
Nancy Castillo, co-owner of the Wild Birds Unlimited store in Saratoga Springs, New York, and author of the blog Zen Birdfeeder, points out that Nyjer contains
natural high-calorie oils
that attract finches. When the oils dry out, the seed loses both its
food value
and its flavor, and birds shun it.
What birds does thistle attract?
Birds:
Birds That Eat Thistle Seed Lure American goldfinches, pine siskins, dark-eyed juncos and chickadees with nyjer, a tiny black seed that is sometimes called thistle.
Thistle Feeder: How do you attract finches to thistle feeder
It’s a good idea to buy thistle on an as-needed basis; purchase a seed quantity that the birds in your yard will consume within a month or so If oil doesn’t come out when you pinch a seed with your fingernail, it’s not fresh, and the finches won’t enjoy it.
Thistle Seed: Do squirrels eat thistle seed
Squirrels (generally speaking) don’t eat thistle seed , but mice do. Be sure that you don’t allow thistle seed to reach the ground either.
Thistle Sock: How do you attract birds to a thistle sock
Finch Socks Finch sock feeders are made of thinly woven cloth mesh, typically nylon, and filled with thistle or nyjer seeds, both of which your local finches should find appealing. Finches use the feeders by clinging to them with their feet and pulling the seeds out through the mesh as they eat.
Is Nyjer and thistle the same?
Nyjer:
Nyjer is a small, thin, black seed from the African yellow daisy (Guizotia abyssinica). Though it is not related to the
thistle plant
, Nyjer is often referred to casually as “thistle seed.” High in oil, it is a nutritious source of energy for
backyard birds
and is one of the most popular types of birdseed.
Why won’t goldfinches come to my feeder?
Feeder:
If your food is fresh and providing your feeder isn’t filthy dirty like the above feeder with all the goldfinches. Remember birds don’t like eating off of dirty dishes any more than you do but will when they have fewer options. Dirty feeders can spread disease. Finches travel around in large nomadic flocks.
Thistle Seed: Do birds eat thistle seed in the winter
Nyjer (sometimes spelled nyger or niger) or thistle seed is a favorite food of winter finches such as pine siskins and common redpolls. This is another oily seed that offers a lot of calories, helping birds store the fat they need to keep warm through the season.
Bird Seed Cause Weeds: Does thistle bird seed cause weeds
Birdseed makes a weedy mess when it is scattered on the ground in part because the seed is minimally processed and still able to germinate No-waste birdseed comes pre-hulled so that it can’t germinate if it lands on the ground.
Best Feeder: What is the best feeder for nyjer seed
The best type of bird feeders for feeding Nyjer are mesh or sock feeders To prevent extra mess and wasted seed on the ground, look for a feeder that has a seed catching tray at the bottom. The seed tray will catch any uneaten seed that falls from the feeder and provide the birds with another opportunity to feed.
Do goldfinches eat the whole thistle seed?
Goldfinches:
Remember, birds don’t eat the whole seed ; they only eat the “meat” inside. The black on the ground is mostly empty shells. Because thistle tends to cost more than most other seeds, people hate to waste it. As result, they don’t rotate the food in their feeders.
Do finches like thistle?
Finches:
Finches like backyards that have open, grassy field-like space. Plant grassy, weedy species, as well as plants and flowers with many seeds. Goldfinches are known to enjoy thistle plants They eat the thistle plant seeds and use the mature thistle down in their nests during breeding season.
Nyjer Feeder: How do I attract birds to my Nyjer feeder
There are three easy options for offering nyjer to the birds. Tube Feeder – Tube feeders have small feeding ports with perches, which are perfect for goldfinches. Finches travel in flocks, so you may want a feeder with multiple feeding ports or even use a couple feeders.
Finch Feeder: How high off the ground should a finch feeder be
The most popular bird feeder heights for popular backyard birds are: Cardinals and finches (feed at lower levels) – approximately eye level, 5-6 feet.
How long does nyjer seed last?
This also means that the nyjer seed has a very short shelf life – nyjer can go stale in as little as 4-6 weeks during the summer For this reason, it is important to only buy as much nyjer as your birds will eat in that period of time. Due to the small size of the seed, nyjer requires special feeders.
Thistle Bird Feeder Work: How does a thistle bird feeder work
Special Upside Down thistle wild bird feeders have the seed opening below the perch, so the birds can hang upside down to feed Very few birds possess this unique feeding ability; goldfinches, siskins, and chickadees are a few examples of birds that can eat upside down.
Mesh Feeders: Do finches like mesh feeders
Yellow Finch Tube Feeder Smaller birds like goldfinches like to cling to the metal mesh surface to feed.
Nyjer Seed: Will squirrels eat nyjer seed
Squirrels love birdseed (as well as nuts, sunflower seeds, fruit, and corn), but they don’t favor everything that birds eat. So stock your bird feeder with such fare as safflower seed, nyjer seed, and white proso millet, which squirrels don’t care for and they’ll likely head elsewhere for their next meal.
Thistle Year: Do birds eat thistle year round
Birds eat thistle all year round: spring, summer, fall, and winter Birds especially like thistle or Niger seeds in winter. They can attract siskins and redpolls that may not be an every-year bird in your area. Young goldfinches in fall may really swarm to your thistle feeders!.
Why do birds suddenly stop coming to feeders?
Feeders:
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the reason birds haven’t been coming to feeders is because of the overabundance of natural foods out in the environment This fall has been unseasonably warm and dry.
Why is nyjer seed so expensive?
Expensive:
It’s one of the more expensive seeds due to the transport costs from tropical regions and because it is heat sterilized to kill weed seeds such as Dodder that is present in many Niger seed harvests.
Thistle Seed: Do birds eat all the thistle seed
Do birds eat the whole thistle seed? Birds, including chickadees, don’t eat the whole thistle seed but only eat the meat portion from inside the hardened shell Chickadees, as an example, will often hold the thistle seed by their feet, using their beak to shell the seed and expose the fruit of the seed.
Thistle Seed: Do sparrows like thistle seed
3. Offer Other Bird Foods that
house sparrows tend
to Avoid: There are some foods that House Sparrows will typically leave along including Nyjer® (thistle) , suet, peanuts in the shell, mealworms, BirdBerry Jelly and nectar.
Bird Feeder: Which bird feeder attracts most birds
Hopper feeders are attractive to most feeder birds, including finches, jays, cardinals, buntings, grosbeaks, sparrows, chickadees, and titmice; they’re also squirrel magnets.
What is the best food to attract goldfinches?
Goldfinches:
Goldfinches are are big fans of bird feeders. Although goldfinches will eat most small seeds, they love thistle (Nyjer) and sunflower seeds Keep goldfinches coming back by replacing uneaten food every three to four weeks. Make sure the seed stays dry.
Do cardinals and finches get along?
Cardinals:
Cardinals Are Friendly With other Birds A cardinal is sharing a feeder with a male house finch. A female cardinal is sharing a feeder with a painted bunting. A female cardinal is sharing a feeder with a sparrow.
Black Oil Sunflower Seeds: Do goldfinches eat black oil sunflower seeds
Feeding Basics American Goldfinches may eat normal black oil sunflower , and both species will happily eat hulled sunflower chips alone or in a blend such as our No-Mess. One other food that is a particular favorite of goldfinches is a seed called Nyjer, or thistle.
Thistle Seed: Does thistle seed attract rats
Rodents aren’t usually a fan of thistle seed However not all birds enjoy it either, so this may not be a good option depending on what bird species you are hoping to attract. If you do try thistle, it’s best to use a
thistle feeder
which is made specifically for the small shape of these seeds.
Bird Seed: What bird seed do squirrels hate
Seed: While squirrels will readily sample most types of birdseed, they are less attracted to nyjer and safflower seed , both of which have a slightly bitter taste. By using these seeds exclusively, you close the squirrel snack bar without eliminating feeding the birds.
Thistle Feeders: Do squirrels go after thistle feeders
As a general rule, squirrels do not eat thistle seeds The seeds are too small for them to eat and the mesh on the bird feeders that hold the seed are too tight for the squirrels to grab from. Thistle, along with millet, canary, safflower, and canola seeds are the recommended feed to keep squirrels away.
Why is Nyjer called thistle?
Nyjer:
It was originally called Niger but frequently got mispronounced as a racial slur So many retailers referred to it as thistle. Since some got confused that it might be seeds of the noxious weed thistle, some cities tried to ban its sale.
Niger Seed: Does niger seed grow thistles
Niger seed used to be called thistle, but it is not the noxious thistle weed we see growing on roadsides It typically will not germinate under your feeders since the USDA requires that all niger seed imported to this country be heat-treated to sterilize the seed.
Sources
https://worldbirds.com/attracting-finches/