Goldfinches & stale niger seed

datura2005

15 years ago

Hi, I made the mistake of putting out niger seed out for the goldfinches this spring that I purchased last fall and overwintered (unopened). From what I have read the goldfinches seem to be very picky about this, and once they sampled, decided that they did not like it and have not returned. I have seen a few of them at the platform feeder dining on sunflower, but not at the tube feeder. After I found out that they do not like the old seed, I cleaned out the feeder and put in fresh seed that I just purchased. I just did this yesterday. My question is, will they return to the tube feeder now that the fresh seed is there, or have I lost them for this summer?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

bandjzmom
15 years ago
Well, I think that only time will tell datura. I have also heard of them being particular, refusing to eat old seed or even certain brands of thistle seed. Since it got so expensive, I have stopped feeding the thistle/niger, and my Goldfinches gorge themselves on plain old Black Oil Sunflower Seed. Sometimes, I splurge and buy them some Sunflower chips, and they really adore those. You might try also offering some Sunflower chips in a different feeder. Good luck, and I hope you see them soon.~~Angie
mlkbskt
15 years ago
I have had "trouble" with my thistle seed feeder this year too. They are NOT eating it. So, I dumped what was in the feeder, and put in "fresh" that had been stored in a sealed plastic bin. The finches are still not frequenting the tube feeder. What's up with that?! I bought a new bag of nyger seed, but I seriously hate to open it until the last batch is gone. It's too expensive!

I also have not seen as many gold finches in my yard as I normally do. Are they just not as plentiful this year? I see them drinking from the birdbath and sometimes on the No-No black sunflower seed feeder, but not on the tube feeder.
Related Discussions
squirrel and bird seed
Q
Comments (8)
I had the most fun with my squirrels when I got to watch them slide off the feeder pole! I don't want the squirrels to eat my tomatoes, so I don't want to feed them all winter. I made a little platform and put it on top of rebar I'd put into the ground. I placed it far enough from the roof and a tree that they couldn't jump onto it. They climbed the rebar very easily, so I greased it with Crisco. Oh, that was so funny! each squirrel would get a couple of feet up, start sliding, then turn around and jump down. Some tried climbing a nearby shepherd's crook in hopes of jumping from there to the feeder, but their paws were so greasy, they slipped off of that! After a day or 2 of that, I thought they gave up forever. Actually, they knew when the Crisco got dirty enough to be sticky, and there they were in the feeder again! I used vaseline for the second dose, as I don't think it will get sticky like that. I've had the feeder in place for about 9 months, and only had to apply grease twice--I'm happy! Hosta, I researched how to give the squirrels a gentle zap, and couldn't find a good way. It's nice that your husband knew how to set that up.
...See More
Yikes! Sunflower seed is almost not available!
Q
Comments (4)
I bought birdseed at the feed store this week. I've been to the grocery store since it snowed but haven't made a trip to Walmart for quite awhile. It's nice to know that so many people feed the birds that they've run out of seed. We found out snow shovels are in short supply too. DH broke ours trying to pry up icy snow from our driveway and I called several places that were out. I think we're just going to wait for the meltdown. : ) How funny Helen - I threw out some old chow mein noodles too. lol I also found a box of stuffing mix from Thanksgiving that was pretty stale and some old cereal. I don't mind feeding the starlings that. I decided I would tolerate them after watching a Youtube video of a starling that could say several words. It almost makes them cute.
...See More
Thistle seeds bad?
Q
Comments (13)
I am beginning to think there is another reason thistle seed might be bad - I've always had thistle socks out - year after year, and suddenly this year the price of the seed skyrocketed. I had put out a large circular screened feeder becz I had so many goldfinches. But they didn't stay long and I thought there was something wrong with the feeder. I know they raise young in July so I put out more socks and it attracted them again right away, but in less than 5 minutes they were all gone. It's the seed they don't like - is there something wrong with this year's 'crop' of Thistle Seed?? Has anyone else noticed this? My pet store (where I get cracked corn for the wild turkeys) told me many people were complaining there were 'no goldfinches this year' - well they come, but they quickly leave. I think the seed is actually bad - and not becz of reseeding thistle plants - which it does, if you don't mow well. I have the goldies on my coneflowers, but not at the feeders as before. I wonder if the seed is contaminated? I don't know how anyone could tell except the birds rejecting it.
...See More
Goldfinch Question
Q
Comments (20)
BOSS = Black oil sunflower seed I don't feed nyjer, just BOSS, home-made suet and raw suet. There seems to be something for everyone this way. The Goldfinches and other finches don't care for suet, but like the BOSS just fine. Last week's ProjectFeederwatch count was 18 Goldfinches, 18 Pine Siskins, and 6 House Finches. Last year, I let some of the BOSS sprout and grow, also grew enormous Mammoth Grey stripe Sunflowers. I observed Goldfinches, Warblers, and Chickadees on the BOSS seedheads, and many different types of birds and squirrels/chipmunks loved the Mammoth grey stripe. It is a lot cheaper to grow these, vs. purchase the seed. Btw, Niger/Nyjer or whatever it's called is NOT thistle (Cirsium species). It is Guizotia abyssinica, an herb grown in Africa and India and imported to the US from these countries. Goldfinches do love the actual Thistle, but care should be taken if growing these plants - they are very prickly and quite a few are classified as noxious weeds.
...See More
birdist
15 years ago
My gold finches left my area in March and only a few have returned to feed. The socks contain old nyger from earlier in the year. Maybe I'll freshen them up a bit. I used to see as many as fifty or sixty at a time on the socks. I did see one Lesser Goldfinch with baby a couple of weeks ago so I know they're breeding in the area.
Renkosiewicz
15 years ago
I have noticed that the Goldfinches will not come to the feeder if the nyger gets wet at the bottom and turns moldy. But after cleaning and refilling, they come right back. I have also been feeding Safflower seed in the regular feeder in order to keep the Grackles away. The Purple finches and the Gold finches are eating it but it took a while for them to eat it. Also Cardinals like it and the Mourning Doves eat it right out of the feeder (not necessarily on the ground).

Goldfinches & stale niger seed

Comments (4)

bandjzmom

mlkbskt

Related Discussions

birdist

Renkosiewicz

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US