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.

Why have my goldfinches stopped coming to feeder?

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.

Will goldfinches eat old nyjer seed?

5) MORE SPECIES THAN JUST GOLDFINCHES EAT NIGER SEED

Niger seed is one of the favorite seeds of goldfinches, Pine Siskins, Common Redpolls and other small-billed seed-eating birds.

Do all finches eat Nyjer seed?

The birds that feed on Nyjer seed are primarily finches, but you can attract a variety of other birds with the promise of Nyjer seed. While using Nyjer as your main birdseed may not be ideal for attracting the largest variety of birds, it is a great complement to sunflower seed and suet.

How do I know if my Nyjer seeds are good?

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.

The Truth About Nyjer® and Attracting Finches to Your Feeders

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 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.

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.

Do finches prefer Nyjer or thistle?

Picking the correct bird feeder and birdseed can determine whether you'll be seeing finches or not. Finches like to eat nyjer thistle seed.

Where do you put the Nyjer feeder?

Nyjer feeders have small holes placed above the perches. The holes are so tiny that only tiny beaks can extract the seeds. Sock feeders are reusable and usually last for 3 or 4 refills before they are too worn to continue use. Wire feeders allow finches to perch anywhere on the tube and feed through the narrow mesh.

Is there a difference between thistle seed and nyjer seed?

Nyjer seed—also commonly known as niger or thistle seed—is popular with many backyard bird species, particularly seed-eating birds and winter finches. Knowing which birds eat Nyjer can help birders choose the best birdseed and appropriate feeders for their backyard flock.

How do you attract finches to thistle feeder?

Does nyjer seed sprout?

This plant seed is also sold under the trademark name Nyjer. It does not germinate and sprout in your lawn--for one very good reason. In 2001 the USDA required imported Niger seed for birds to be sterilized for 15 minutes at 120˚ C (248˚ F).

Why won't the finches eat my 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.

Why are the birds not eating my bird seed?

If the seed is not being eaten, observe your other feeders; it is possible the birds have migrated or are generally visiting the yard less, and therefore it will take them longer to get used to a new feeder. Also, check the seed quality you are offering in a new feeder.

Why are there so few goldfinches this year?

They habitually don't nest in much of the southern one-third of the U.S., and climate change may be pushing them even farther north. So fewer may be staying in the Tri-State.

What is goldfinch favorite food?

Nyjer® (thistle) is finches' favorite food. Nyjer's high oil content makes it an excellent energy source for active birds, and it's best used in our specially designed finch feeders. It is important to keep the food fresh because finches can be picky eaters.

What is the best goldfinch feeder?

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.

What seeds do finches not like?

Do starlings eat nyjer seed?

While starlings and House Sparrows do eat nyjer, both species prefer sunflower seed, and starlings in particular find it difficult to use tube feeders.

What is the best seed for finches?

The American goldfinch's diet consists of mostly seeds. They love Nyjer® Seed and Sunflower Seeds. These seeds are high in oil and easy to eat with their smaller beaks. Because finches prefer the combo of Nyjer® seed and socks, this duo is your best bet for attracting a bright yellow feathered friend.

Do rats eat nyjer seed?

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.

Should I feed goldfinches in the winter?

Winter finches are typically granivorous and eat a variety of seeds. Adding extra Nyjer, black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower, and millet to feeding areas will provide an abundant food source when these flocks arrive.

Do squirrels eat thistle?

Thistle, along with millet, canary, safflower, and canola seeds are the recommended feed to keep squirrels away.