I seriously doubt that's a valid test. I just took some fresh seed, put in inside a paper towel and pounded it - no oil whatsoever. The test I use is smell, as in, I can't define freshness but I know it when I smell it. If the seed has no smell at all, it's not fresh. If it smells rancid, it's not fresh. Otherwise it should have that sweet, familiar smell of nyjer seed in which case it's fresh.

Thanks, Judy! I guess I can also see if the birds like it.

"I read somewhere online that you can tell if nyjer seed is okay by squeezing one and seeing if any oil comes out."

I bought nyjer at my local feed store but the birds wouldn't touch it. I asked the owner look at it. He tried squeezing it and said it seemed fine. I said it might LOOK ok the birds won't touch it.

He said he would show the bag to his supplier and then give me a credit or other product on my next visit.

I'm glad someone started this thread because I thought it was just me.

My opinion is, if birds won't eat it, it might have something wrong with it.

Does anyone remember the bird seed manufacturer class action suit? Makes me wonder if my nyjer might have been contaminated like this stuff was:

"Morning Song Birdseed products manufactured by the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company have been linked to the deaths of countless birds as a result of contamination with toxic pesticides. In 2012, Scotts Miracle-Gro pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $4.5 million to settle a number of federal charges, including claims that it knowingly sold toxic birdseed contaminated with two illegal pesticide chemicals, Storcide II and Actellic 5E. Scotts has since been named in a class action lawsuit alleging it sold toxic birdseed products to unsuspecting consumers throughout the U.S., resulting in the poisoning of countless bird species."

A link that might be useful:

www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/scotts-miracle-gro-morning-song-toxic-birdseed-class-action-lawsuit#sthash.WlIrm2jb.dpuf";

I thought I'd post an update: I guess that test about squeezing the seed and looking for oil is NOT valid.

The finches just love the seed I bought.

I do wish manufacturers would put dates on bird seed bags.

That's terrible that Scotts Miracle-Gro was poisoning birds!
You would hope they would test for purity before shipping. :(

nyjer does have a freshness period like all other seeds. I left my first round of nyjer seed out for over a month until the goldfinches found it. They actually ate that amount up and have been on top of the new seeds ever since. Birds can be picky, but not too picky. It may have been a case of them taking a while to get used to the feeder