Niger Seed

[jakep]

Does anyone have garden birds that actually eat niger seeds. We have not had greenfinches for two or three years but they did not seem to want them. We have goldfinches and chaffinches but they just don't eat the Niger seed.
Some birds sit on the feeder to reach the other stuff but that's as close as they get!

[Milvus]

Birds won't necessarily be eating much from feeders at this time of year as there is so much food available in fields, hedgerows and from garden plants. Fat balls should still be attractive

[sandyRoe]

The birds in my garden, Starlings mostly, are eating 6 fat balls a day.

[woofgang]

I don't find that it attracts birds either. The things that do attract the birds seem to be the fatty suety mixes and the robin mix that is loose and has mealworms in. This is all year, not just now. If it gets really really cold with snow and ice then they become less choosy.

[carrust]

I've had the same problem when I've put niger seed in the feeders, nothing touches it. I only use white sunflower seeds & fat balls now

[ladybirder]

I find the Greenfinches love the Sunflower Hearts and even the Goldfinches seem to refer it rather than the Niger seed. In fact almost all the birds seem to love the Sunflower Hearts. And fat squares of course.

[Chipchopper]

In my garden, at least black sunflower seed is a favorite.
I also avoid seed mixes that contain, wheat, flax and broken dog biscuit, that are just put in to bulk it up.

[jakep]

Thank you all for your answers. I think I will replace the Niger seed with a good seed mix. I also have sunflower kernels, fat slabs and balls. The local flock of thugs (this years starlings) can get through a fat slab in a day.

[ladybirder]

Glad to hear you're feeding the starlings jake, they are on the RSPB Red List.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/s/starling/index.aspx

[Baldric]

What are they saying on Twitter?

[Chaffinch]

My..well the Goldfinch round here, love Niger from there feeder, but not so much at this time of year as they get it "free" from all the teasal (excuse spelling), but leave your feeder out, because they will come when natural sources run out x