In this piece, I’m going to discuss the subject “Can I Put Thistle Seed In A Regular Bird Feeder?,” and I’m going to do my best to include as much relevant information as I can.
nyjer seed
(also referred to as Nyger or thistle), is a small,
black seed high
in oil content, making it an excellent source of energy for the birds who eat it. Many birders choose to offer Nyjer in their bird feeders throughout the winter months since many non-migratory birds feed on the
nutritious seed
.
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: What kind of birds eat thistle seed
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.
How long does thistle seed last in a feeder?
Thistle:
Bird seeds last for 6-12 months with proper storage. Store the seeds in a cool, dry place to preserve maximum freshness.
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.
Thistle Seed: What’s the difference between Nyjer and thistle seed
Nyjer seed is NOT thistle The seed is not derived from any native or non-native thistle plant, but instead, Nyjer seed is actually derived from a plant in the same plant tribe as sunflowers. The seed resembles a sunflower seed but is significantly smaller.
Thistle Feeder: Where do you put a thistle feeder
Placing the feeder near a shrub or tree will make the finches feel safe and can also encourage them to explore the new feeder. Once they have discovered it, you can move it far enough away from shrubs and trees so the squirrels can’t jump to it.
Why won’t finches come to my feeder?
Feeder:
Tempt with Fresh Black Seed Brown, stale-looking seeds do not attract finches , so one must always buy strong black-colored seeds. The general preference of your yellow beauties is a combination of sunflower seeds and Nyjer seeds, which are high in oil and easy to pick with small beaks.
Thistle Seed: How do I feed thistle seed to birds
The two most commonly used types of
thistle feeder
are a tube feeder with small, thistle-seed-sized holes, and a thistle sock A thistle sock is a fine-mesh, synthetic bag that is filled with Nyjer seed. Small finches can cling to this bag and pull seeds out through the mesh.
Thistle Seeds: Do wild birds like thistle seeds
Thistle seed is a staple food source for many birds From quails to buntings and doves to sparrows, there are a plethora of different types of birds that you can attract using thistle. Even birds such as woodpeckers, thrushes, chickadees, and even some finches are known to feed on the thistle.
Thistle Seed: Do squirrels like thistle seed
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.
Do finches prefer Nyjer or thistle?
Finches:
Picking the correct bird feeder and birdseed can determine whether you’ll be seeing finches or not. Finches like to eat nyjer thistle seed.
Nyjer Seed: Do birds eat nyjer seed in the winter
Nyjer. 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.
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.
Thistle Seed: Do finches like thistle seed
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.
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.
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.
Thistle Seed: Do cardinals like thistle seed
Birds with larger, less adept bills such as cardinals, starlings, and grosbeaks cannot easily munch on thistle seed , and they are more likely to use other feeders and try other seeds instead.
Old Birdseed: Will birds eat old birdseed
Birds may not be picky eaters, but spoiled birdseed can be unhealthy and unappetizing Not only will bad birdseed be less nutritionally wholesome for birds, but also if the seed is contaminated with mold, feces, fungus, chemicals or other substances, it can actually be fatal to birds.
Old Nyjer Seeds: What can I do with old nyjer seeds
Disposing of Old Bird Seed You can throw these seeds in a bag or container , which should be unreachable to birds and insects. Then you can wash the old containers, disinfect them, and let them dry before using them again with fresh seeds.
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 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.
Why have my goldfinches stopped coming to feeder?
Goldfinches:
Because of this, their nesting time coincides with the weed seed crop of late summer (July and August), which is much later than most other songbirds. During this part of the year, Goldfinches are busy, well..getting busy, so they tend not to visit our feeders as often as they do the rest of the year.
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 Seed: Do bears eat thistle seed
Another one had thistle seed and two others were suet feeders. These, said Timmins, are simply too high a quality of food (high in fat and protein) for bears to ignore They can smell it more than a mile away. Natural bear foods during spring and summer are generally high in carbohydrates and low in protein and fat.
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.
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.
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.
Homemade Finch Feeder: How do you make a homemade finch feeder
Simple tube feeders can be made from two-liter bottles. Drill a hole in the lid to run wire for a hanger. Drill small holes through each side of the bottle in varying locations, then run a thin dowel rod through each side to create short perches. Drill more small holes for the birds to remove the seeds.
How do you attract goldfinches in the winter?
Winter:
Offer Food Adding extra Nyjer, black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower, and millet to feeding areas will provide an abundant food source when these flocks arrive. Mesh or screen clinging feeders are ideal, and larger finches will visit hopper or platform feeders with comfortable perches.
Sock Feeder: What is a sock feeder for birds
A sock feeder is a nylon-mesh bag filled with Nyjer seed Small songbirds hang directly on the bag and feast from any and every angle conceivable-it’s fun to watch! Sock feeders are NOT, as intuition suggests, made out of actual socks nor do they even look like socks, so who knows how they got the name.
Do goldfinches like thistle?
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.
Why do birds throw seed out of feeder?
Feeder:
Birds throw seed hulls from the feeder Birds eat the meat of the seed, the kernel They discard the seed’s fibrous outer covering, the hull. If you examine the seeds under the feeder you may see that it is mostly the two inedible halves of the hull that have been tossed on the ground.
Safflower Seeds: What birds will not eat safflower seeds
Squirrels, grackles, & starlings don’t eat safflower! There is a food that exists that your favorite songbirds will readily eat but the pesky squirrels and obnoxious blackbirds should not touch!.
Thistle Seed: Do mourning doves eat thistle seed
Thistle seeds are an ideal wild bird food for several North American species. The species of birds that eat thistle seed include finches, juncos, and mourning doves , just to name a few. Thistle seeds are small and packed with nutrients, fat, and protein.
References
https://www.flockingaround.com/post/the-best-thistle-feeder