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.

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 won't the birds eat the 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 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.

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.

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.

What is the difference between nyjer seed and thistle?

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.

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.

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.

Will birds eat old nyjer seed?

Wild Birds Unlimited Birds will turn their beaks to old nyjer seed. Avoid waste by only purchasing nyjer in a quantity you'll use in a month or two. Nyjer seed used to be called thistle, but it is not the noxious thistle weed we see growing on roadsides.

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.

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.

Does nyjer seed attract squirrels?

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.

Can you put sunflower chips in a Nyjer feeder?

Sunflower Chips, like Nyjer, are small enough to fit through the openings of our finch feeders, and can also be offered in other specialty feeders such as our Dinner Bell Feeder.

Why aren't finches coming to my feeder?

Finches Need Clean Feeders Finches don't like dirty feeders and will avoid a feeder if it's moldy or otherwise unclean. When it rains, seed can also become clumpy, and the birds won't be able to pull seeds out of the feeder. Adding a weather guard to your feeder can prevent the seeds from getting wet and clumping.

How can you tell if Nyjer seeds are fresh?

Simple, take a few seeds and a piece of white printer paper or paper towel. Crush the seeds onto the paper and look for oil blotches. If oil stains are present the Nyjer® is still fresh. Purchase Nyjer® in smaller quantities to avoid any drying out of the seeds.

How do I keep sparrows away from my finch feeder?

Tips for feeding birds without feeding House Sparrows

1. Provide suet without embedded seeds.
2. Try preformed seed shapes.
3. Use nyjer-seed feeders to attract finches. ...
4. Protect sunflower seed feeders with a halo baffle.

Do birds tell each other where food is?

There are also contact calls, which birds can use to talk to each other when foraging for food. So I would say yes, birds do talk and communicate where food is, in their own way.

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.