Best Nyjer Seed Feeder

November 15, 2024 Post a Comment

Best nyjer seed feeder

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.

What kind of feeder for thistle seed?

Triple Tube Finch Feeder This is the most common type of finch feeder, and it will be very popular with the finches if it is cared for properly. Since the tube can trap water, and water can cause the seed to mold, you should clean this feeder frequently. Psst—we found even more large capacity bird feeders.

Do finches prefer thistle or nyjer seed?

Nyjer Seed (aka niger seed or thistle seed) is a teeny-tiny, high-oil content seed (~40%) mostly favored by finches and siskins.

Can you put nyjer seed in a regular bird feeder?

Because of its small size, most seed feeders aren't suitable, as the seed will just fall out of the holes. We recommend purchasing a pre-filled Niger Seed feeder to start off with so your birds can get used to it.

Do I need a special feeder for niger seeds?

As niger seed is such a fine seed, these seeds should be used with a specific Niger seed feeder to stop the seed from spilling out. These feeders are designed so that the feeding port has got 4 small slits in them to allow the birds to access the niger without it all falling out onto the floor.

Why are the goldfinches not eating nyjer 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.

Do I need a special feeder for thistle seed?

Using a Nyjer and thistle feeder is a great way to attract large flocks of gorgeous winter finches like Pine Siskins. While sunflower seed feeders can also accomplish this task, thistle feeders rarely attract other feeder pests like squirrels, House Sparrows, and European Starlings.

What is the difference between Nyjer seed and thistle seed?

Nyjer seed is NOT thistle. The seed is not derived from any native or non-native thistle plant; but instead, the 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.

Why won't finches come to my thistle feeder?

Make sure your thistle feeder is clean and full of fresh seed. If it has been hanging out for awhile with no activity, take it down, clean it and fill with fresh seed. Don't fill it up all the way at first, use a small amount of fresh seed, then adjust as your bird activity improves.

Does nyjer seed leave a mess?

A: It does leave waste but it is not as much as with other seeds, like sunflower shells. If you have your feeder on a solid ground or with woodchips, you will notice some mess. If you have it in the grass or in a garden with dirt, you will hardly notice anything.

Does nyjer seed attract rodents?

Nyjer is a tiny seed which goldfinches will crack open to eat the edible interior; squirrels and rats are generally not interested in this seed.

Do squirrels eat nyjer seed?

Squirrels' favorite natural foods are hickory nuts, pecans, black walnuts, and acorns. Their favorite feeder food is black oil sunflower seeds, their least favorite feeder food is Nyjer® (thistle) seed.

Do birds eat the entire nyjer 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.

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.

What birds are attracted to nyjer seed?

Nyjer is suited for attracting finches, chickadees, pine siskins, juncos, sparrows, mourning doves and buntings, among others. Nyjer seeds are tiny, but they still have a shell. If you think your backyard birds might be just pecking at their food—not eating it—check the ground litter for thin hulls.

Do birds eat nyjer 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.

What type of feeder is best for finches?

While finches will eat off of nearly any feeder, the best feeders to use are the Finch Stations, Feeder Socks, and Feeder Tubes. Because finches are smaller birds, they are able to access the seeds in socks, but these are all designed to hold food that finches love.

What is the shelf life of nyjer seed?

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.

Do Blue Jays eat nyjer seed?

Finches, cardinals, doves, and jays eat them also. You can get special nyjer feeders with tiny holes, like the 17-inch Spiral Finch Thistle Feeder. It dispenses the rather expensive nyjer seeds one by one, so they don't get dragged out onto the ground at one time.

What is the best seed to feed goldfinches?

Nyjer (Guizotia abyssinica) is a tiny seed which goldfinches love. The seeds are so tiny that you need a special feeder with small holes so the nyjer doesn't blow away.