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 seed can also be kind of dusty so seed processors may add a small amount of vegetable oil to the seed before bagging to keep the dust down.

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 nyjer or 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 bird activity slows, only fill the feeder halfway.

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!

Buy FRESH niger seed online.

Comments

[Ralph Wilder]

I have squirrel that loves Niger seed, he chewed through a plastic feeder. I got the last Niger feeder with a cage around it that was offered on Amazon, he now hangs on the feeder licking what seed he can from the bottom of it.

[Melissa]

I spill nyjer seed on the ground when re-filling my feeder. Doves, juncos, white thoated sparrows, song sparrows, house finches, and gold finches come down to eat.

[Don]

In San Diego our feeders are mobbed by Yellow Grassland Finches, by the larger House Finches (?) and occasionally Mourning Doves will settle in the catch pan and nibble on castoffs.

[Helen]

We've had purple finches, gold finches, chickadees,downy woodpeckers, pine siskins and even cardinals at our feeder--------a constant show, from dawn to dusk. A cheeky chipmonk sometimes
has the odd meal also.

[Nancy Collyard]

We have juncos eating from our Niger seed feeder

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Brynn, I'm pretty sure it's mold or fungus growing on the debris. Rake it up, throw it away in the trash. To keep it from coming, keep the debris under the feeder from accumulating by raking frequently.

[Brynn]

I have a black hair like growing under my bird feeder with Nyjer bird seed in it . Do you know what it is. It came after about 4day of rain it is around the bace of a white pine tree. Looks like fine babies hair about 4-6 in long. Will it harm the birds and myself. What do I do to get rid of it and to keep it from coming back. Thank you

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

S.Huffman, rake it all up and bag it for the garbage. Do this regularly - it makes your birdfeeding station safer for the birds!

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Bill, just put it in the trash or in a hot compost pile. Clean the can thoroughly, dry it in the sun. Buy Niger seed in smaller quantities. Store in that sealed can in cool conditions. Good luck to you!

[Bill Holt]

I have about 10# if seed that has been in a trash can (covered) for 6 months. I have seen small moths inside the can. I realize that the seed isn't good but what do I need to do to get the can prepared for this year. Also is there another bird that will eat this seed or should I just throw it away?

[S. Huffman]

What does one do with all the old seed on the ground. I have a lot of it and it is on mulch. It is the only place I can put the feeder that I can get to to fill it, and I also use the sock. They love both and I have many, many finches. Doves eat some on the ground, but it is piling up. Any suggestions?

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Glen, you're right - some people define a weed as a plant that is where you don't want it.

[Glen Sarvis]

This is picky but I don't consider thistles "noxious" in fact a small section of my rather large wildflower garden contains several species of thistles. They are aesthetically pleasing and ecologically important.

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

lmmy - check this out! http://wildbirdsunlimited.typepad.com/the_zen_birdfeeder/2013/04/faq-if-squirrels-dont-like-niger-seed-why-do-they-chew-my-finch-sock.html

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Hi Lori,
Bears are attracted to anything that smells like food. Even if they don't like the taste of it (I don't know if they do or not), they smell it and will pursue it!

[Lori]

Am up North for the summer and knew sunflower seeds were a Bad Idea because of black bears, but thought Niger Seed wouldn't be attractive to them. Had only goldfinches at the sock for past 2 weeks, but just caught a young Black bear on the deck pulling down the tube feeder, placed there a day ago (on a shepherd's hook out from the 2nd story deck)!

It's put away now, but bears are attracted to Niger Seed?

[Immy]

I bought the seed in a little white bag/net and watched a squirrel hang on it, chopped a bigger hole in it and ate about 1/2 the bag. I am dissapointed

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Nannette, a lot of what you're finding is probably shells. In any case, do NOT scoop it up and refill the feeder with it as it contains fecal matter from the birds. Not good for the birds!!
Sylvia, rain and moisture will make the seed clump and/or mold. Try to cover the feeder to minimize rain impact, and try to keep the seed loose and dry by shaking the feeder periodically.
Frank, no, vegetable oil will NOT rejunvenate it. It would only stick to the shell and have no impact on the seed inside. Plus it would make your feeder gunky.

[Frank]

Would adding vegetable oil to Niger seed rejuvenate it?

[Sylvia]

Hi there. Today I bought a sock because I saw a Blue Bunting or Indigo .Well it started raining out will this seed go bad. Thank-you Sylvia

[Nanette new]

I'm finding quite a bit of waste from the finch feeder's I feed them Niger Seeds.
Is what is on the ground edible for them do they like it can I refill the feeder what what hits the ground.

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

That's good news, Philip!

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Marcia, doves do like to forage underneath the niger feeder. Thanks for stopping in and commenting!

[Philip Peterson]

Yes indeed. I saw a squirrel walk up to it, sniff it and then wander off.

[Marcia]

I had spilled a good little pile of my niger, and was surprised to see my doves seem to love it, I know there is a bit of niger in some mixes, but didnt think doves like it, maybe there is something in it offers a change and different nutrient.
I have alot of gold finches, the lesser finches and other types of finches that love it at the feeders, and clean it out so quickly I think I need to buy larger bulk of it now...