Birdfood Friday - Safflower Seed

My last Wordless Wednesday post featured a picture of a Black-capped Chickadee at a window feeder eating safflower.  Here's some information on this useful seed, which we call our "problem-solving" seed.

Black-capped Chickadee on WBU Window Feeder

 
-  Safflower seed is eaten by many birds.  At my feeders, the birds that frequent feeders filled with straight safflower seed include chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, Purple Finches, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Evening Grosbeaks.  Other birds that eat safflower include cardinals, house finches and more.

Purple Finches LOVE safflower seed!

 
-  When crows, grackles, or blackbirds are a problem dominating feeders, switch that feeder to straight safflower seed.  In most cases, they will disappear from that feeder immediately.

-  Safflower is not preferred by squirrels.  Though they may try it, and eat small quantities of it, they will not devour it as they do other seed.  Unfortunately, chipmunks seem to like it just fine.

-  Safflower looks and tastes different from other birdseed. To help birds acclimate, start by mixing it with other seed you currently provide and over time increase the safflower until it is straight safflower.

Evening Grosbeak

-  You can use safflower in the following feeder types:  tube feeders, hopper feeders, tray feeders, ground feeders, or window feeders.

Beautiful Purple Finch male

 
-  If squirrels are able to reach your window feeders, fill them with safflower seed.

Black-capped Chickadees

 
-  Safflower is also available in a cylinder form.  The seeds are compressed with gelatin into a cylinder which can be easily hung in the netting provided or on a cool WBU seed cylinder feeder.

-  Safflower has a tight shell on it so there will be hulls under your feeders.

-  Safflower is a high calorie, high fat food source which is especially beneficial during the winter.  It provides 517 calories per 100 grams, consisting of 322 fat calories (62%), 139 carb calories (27%), and 56 protein calories (11%).

Safflower seed and seed cylinders are available at Wild Birds Unlimited-Saratoga Springs NY, your local WBU, or online at Wild Birds Unlimited.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak male eating safflower seed

 

Comments

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Jennifer, I'm sorry, I can't speak from experience on whether rats eat safflower. It does vary amongst rodents; for example, chipmunks eat safflower seed!

[Jennifer]

Hi! Do rats like the safflower seed? I have seen one coming at night to eat off the ground under the feeder. I was hoping, if the squirrels don't like it, maybe the rats won't like it either?????

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Douglas, interesting to hear how pet birds enjoy safflower as well. Thanks for sharing.

[Douglas Smith]

I raise Fancy Pigeon's & Ring Neck Doves. English Barb's, Valencian Figuritas, & Damascenes. They all like Safflower seeds like it's candy. I feed it mainly in the winter. My birds raise young through the winter months, with no heat. It helps keep the body weight of the older birds while feeding there young. This has been my hobby for over 25 years.Doug Smith in TN. Dr2Lofts

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Kenny, the safflower seed could still germinate since there is a shell. The best way to eliminate that is to use sunflower without the shells, like Wild Birds Unlimited No-Mess Blends. Here's a link to my post about no-mess: http://wildbirdsunlimited.typepad.com/the_zen_birdfeeder/2014/04/seven-great-reasons-to-use-no-mess-birdseed-blends.html

[kenny]

question for you, I stopped using sunflower seeds because I got so many seedlings growing in the rocks, and the birds wasted so much..... if I start using safflower seed, will I have safflower seed blings growing in my rocks as we'll?

Hoping safflower seed might be an answer to the seedlings, and the pesky blackbirds.

thank you

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Jeff, each summer, new broods of birds and squirrels often will try out EVERY new food source. As you mentioned however, safflower may be picked at, but is not their favorite. Thanks for your visit!

[jeff]

i live in LYNN,MA.at first grackles and squirrels did not go for the safflower seeds.over time they have got used to it.it mayu not be their favorite but when they are hungry things change.it does keep pigeons away.a much better choice than regular bird seed.

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Dawn - glad I could help! Thanks for visiting.
Lana - birds do get spoiled. Keep trying on the safflower. Choose 1 feeder and stick with it.

[Lana]

Unfortunately safflower didn't seem to work for us. The squirrels still ate it & the birds didn't like it. We have weird critters, though. And spoiled (by sunflower seeds.)

[DawnFine]

thanks for the info...didnt know that about safflower seed..