Do birds eat entire millet seed? Or do they shell it? (1 Viewer)

[walterbyrd]

I am wondering about putting millet is a platform feeder, with a screen bottom.

If birds shell the millet, it won't work because the shells will pile up and get mixed with the millet seed.

 

[grobble]

I'm only guessing because I don't feed Millet.

However, with Black sunflower here it depends on the size of the birds. It gets shelled by sparrows, blue tits & finches. Pigeons & Doves swallow it whole.

 

[sirwired]

What won't work?

 

[walterbyrd]

What won't work?

The idea of feeding birds millet from a platform feeder.

If they shell the seeds, the shells will get mixed in with the seeds. I will be hard to know when to refill it, and when to throw it out. I will not know if I am looking a pile of millet seeds, or a pile of millet seed shells.

 

[Ruff]

The idea of feeding birds millet from a platform feeder.

If they shell the seeds, the shells will get mixed in with the seeds. I will be hard to know when to refill it, and when to throw it out. I will not know if I am looking a pile of millet seeds, or a pile of millet seed shells.

I take it this feeder isn't in a windy location? That would likely do the trick. If not, the shells, chaff, or husks- whatever the proper word for working with millet is, will be much lighter than the intact grains and it shouldn't be too hard to winnow them off by shaking or otherwise agitating the feeder and letting the heavier ones settle, then scraping or blowing off the top layer. Even if you get a few good millet seeds on the ground, something will find and eat them. But I would tend to think that the birds are pretty skillful foragers and I'll bet they could sort things out themselves, leaving you with a mere tidying task.

 

[Gretchen]

I have watched some birds shell millet, but I've forgotten now which (perhaps chickadees, who seem to shell everything, or goldfinches), while others (larger birds or sparrows?) don't. I do agree that birds will look the seed over carefully and not get confused. I never really noticed a pile of millet shells when I was feeding that to birds - perhaps because it blows away easily. I'd definitely give it a try.

 

[walterbyrd]

So far, the millet seems to disappear. No shells, that I can find.

The birds eating the millet include: house finches, red-winged black birds, grackles, collar doves, and at least one pidgin that is the size of a small chicken. BTW: the feeder is 7" x 7".

The gold finches seem to stick to the finch socks.

 

[Aloof1]

Some shell it some don't as Gretchen said. White Millet is a great choice as almost no clean up and the house sparrows and doves are driven to it while other "more attractable" birds like the Cardinals and finch can eat in peace at another feeder.

even if the shells pile up you can be sure the birds will pick thru it for the whole millet. I would suggest a regular cleaning every time you have to refill and spray the feeder down with a vinegar/water mix then rinse off and let dry. vinegar will kill the germs and is safe for the feathered fliers.