Why Feed Nyjer seed?
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Nyjer SeedExactly what is Nyjer seed? Nyjer seed that we feed to the birds comes from a flower that looks very much like a yellow daisy and is grown primarily in Ethiopia and India. Although Nyjer is sometimes called “thistle”, it is definitely not related to the invasive and prickly thistle plants found in the US. Nyjer is heat treated when it enters the US, so it can’t germinate and grow in your yard.
Finches, such as Goldfinches, Redpolls and Pine Siskins love Nyjer seed! That’s because their bills are adapted to cracking very small seeds, like the wild thistle seeds they also eat. And they love it because it’s nutritious and very high in oil content. If you serve Nyjer, you will have lots and lots of finches—they just can’t resist it! Chickadees, Juncos, Purple finches and House Finches are known to eat Nyjer, too.
You can mix Nyjer seed with seed blends and feed it from a tube feeder or platform feeder. But if you want to serve it alone, you’ll need to use a Nyjer feeder—a feeder that has very small feeding ports so the seed won’t fall out. Squirrels won’t often go after Nyjer feeders, but with Duncraft’s Squirrel Buster Finch Feeder you can be sure your Nyjer seed is safe for the birds only! Finches also love eating Nyjer from special, soft mesh Nyjer stockings.
You’ll most likely have Redpolls and Pine Siskins only in winter. But if you feed Nyjer year round, you’ll have the pleasure of watching Goldfinches change their plumage in the spring and turn from a cute and cheerful brown bird to a glorious lemony beauty. And your Goldfinches will stay all summer long—brightening your days with color and song!
