Top 5 Things to Know about Niger Seed

1)  WHEN NIGER SEED DRIES OUT, BIRDS WON'T EAT IT 
Niger is a oily seed which makes it an excellent energy source for the birds that eat it.  But its oily nature also causes it to dry out AND LOSE ITS ATTRACTIVENESS TO BIRDS.  Birds will turn their beaks to old niger seed.  Avoid waste by only purchasing niger in a quantity you'll use in a month or two.

2)  NIGER SEED IS NOT THISTLE SEED (AND OTHER CONFUSING THINGS ABOUT THE NAME)
Niger seed used to be called thistle, but it is not the noxious thistle weed we see growing on roadsides.  It typically will not germinate under your feeders since the USDA requires that all niger seed imported to this country be heat-treated to sterilize the seed.

Niger is an agricultural crop imported primarily from India, Ethiopia, Nepal and Burma (Myanmar). In these countries, it is processed into both cooking and lighting oil. You may also see it called Nyger®.

3)  NIGER SEED HAS A SHELL
As small as it is, a niger seed does have a shell.  If you think birds aren't eating the seed because you see some on the ground, examine it more closely: you may be seeing mostly the thin niger hulls.

Goldfinches at WBU Eco-Clean Quick Clean Finch Feeder

 

4)  WHEN NIGER SEED GETS MOLDY, IT IS BAD FOR THE BIRDS
Niger seed is vulnerable to spoilage while in the feeder. Replace niger seed every 3-4 weeks if it is not being actively eaten. Shake the feeder daily to help prevent clumping and mold. Make sure the seed stays dry; a weather guard can help in this regard.
If the seed gets moldy, it should be discarded and a 10% bleach/water solution should be used to clean the feeder. The WBU EcoClean Finch Feeder has antimicrobial protection and a Quick-Clean™ base to help make cleaning a snap!

Common Redpolls eat niger seed from a mesh finch feeder.

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.  We've also seen nuthatches, chickadees, doves, Downy Woodpeckers, and other small birds eating it.  Let me know other birds you've seen eating niger.

And a bonus to feeding niger seed?  Squirrels typically ignore it when fed straight up!  So hang those niger feeders and enjoy the finches and other birds!

Comments

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Judy, the only way is to rake, or even shovel up all you can. Good luck and thanks for stopping by!

[Judy]

Glad to know that's not the entire nyjer seed that's all over the ground under the feeder, but probably the hulls. A possum has started eating it at night, so I raked up as much as I could today, but there's still some left on the ground that's difficult to remove. What is the best way to get rid of it or make it unattractive to possums & other wildlife?

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Terry,
While freezing niger seed may preserve the seed better than storing it at room temperature, the seed will still dry out over time.
Food that is frozen, including birdfood, is still exposed to air, which can cause food to oxidize and dry out.
Finches love niger seed for its high fat content (35%). Dry that fat out, and they are less attracted to it.
Bottom line, freezing niger seed might buy you some time, but the seed will still dry out, so don't leave it in the freezer for too long.
I'd still only buy niger seed in quantities you'll use in 2-3 months. The sale price don't mean nothin' if the birds won't eat it!!

[Terry]

I use the Droll Yankees Bottoms Up tube feeders and I'll get gold finches and chickadees eating on it year-around, and redpolls and juncos eating from it in the winter (even though the juncos are awkward as they humorously attempt to feed upside-down)

My question is if I buy Nyger seed in large quantities, can I freeze it to preserve its freshness before I use it all? Thanks for the info!

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Cassi, never feel obligated to fill your birdfeeder to the top every time, especially if bird activity has slowed down. Fill it partially each day if you like, and use a quality, fresh seed (old, dried-up seed that birds don't eat is costly!)
Thanks for stopping in and leaving a comment and question.

[Cassi]

So happy to find this article as I was wondering why the ground is turning black. I keep the feeder full and the finches flock to it but it seemed it was all falling to the ground.
Question: is it critical to keep the feeder full throughout the winter? Have I made the finches dependent on the Niger seed? It's expensive but I'll do it if needed (if you have a cost-effective seed source please advice.)

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Kathleen, I'm not really sure. My guess is that the oils could attract them and if they're curious about the feeder, that's all she wrote!

[Kathleen]

Are bears attracted to niger seed?

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Doug, it's fine to hang a sock filled with niger seed in a tree. The squirrels don't typically care for niger seed so hopefully they won't bother it. Unfortunately, if they try to find out and chew through the sock, you're out the sock. Mesh feeders are like a sock, but can't be chewed. We recommend a mesh feeder for this reason. Check one out online http://bit.ly/IzVgeh

[Doug]

Where is the best place to hang a Niger seed sock? I've heard outside a window, but not from a tree branch. True?

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Kathie, that's interesting! Thanks for sharing.

[Kathiesbirds]

White-throated sparrows are eating nyjer seed I spread on the ground for them since the grackles and squirrels gobble everything else up!

[Margo]

Hi Nancy,

I saw your comment about American grown niger seed on here a while ago and finally decided to try it. The goldfinches are going nuts for it!

Thank you,
Margo

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Beth, so interesting to hear of Black-headed and Evening Grosbeaks eating niger seed! With such big beaks, I would think they'd have trouble picking the seed out of most niger feeders.
Thanks for the fascinating report!

[Beth White]

We get pine siskins, black-headed and evening grosbeaks, and purple finches at our niger feeder along with lots of American and (in years when they are present) least goldfinches. This is in the Coast Range in Oregon.

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Hilary - Niger seed is required to be heat-treated to sterilize it so it won't germinate. Some might get through, but I wouldn't think much. So if you have a lot, it might be some other seed the birds/critters were also eating.
Just rake it up early (now's a good time) and get it in the compost pile.

[HILARY]

Having fed the Niger seeds all winter, I noticed that because the feeder only had a very small access
thatthey dropped seeds down for their friends. now I have a bed of Niger seed plants! what should I do? Hilary

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Marion - glad this article was helpful to you. Thanks for commenting.

[marion]

Great article! That's new to me. lol. Thanks cause I learned a lot in this blog.

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Steve - Good junco observations! They're not "clingers" but will try when the weather gets bad. Thanks for sharing.
Kathie - glad it was helpful to you and your friend!
ckc - thanks for sharing.

[ckc]

I vacum seal and freeze leftover niger seed from spring migration and use it for the winter migration.Had 50 goldfinches and a few pine siskins on my feeders this morning in charleston,sc.

[Kathiesbirds]

An excellent article. I learned some things I didn't know. A friend was just asking me about this seed this morning. I will pass this post onto her.

[Steve]

The Dark-Eyed Juncos around my feeder have developed a taste for niger seeds at my station, as they are available on the ground after shaking up my mesh feeder. In fact, after the latest snowstorm, I observed a Junco clumsily trying to cling to the mesh feeder to get the seends there.