Nyger seed high waste (1 Viewer)

[Coltech]

I'm have a regular charm of over 100 Goldfinches visiting my garden. They feed on 4 Droll Yankee 20 port feeders, as well as the sunflower heart feeders. The problem is that they appear to drop a large amount of the nyger seed. I've tried putting trays on the bottom of all the feeders but, they fill up and need emptying several times a day. I've now placed a large piece of material under the feeders so I can clear away the dropped seed. Are the Goldfinches dropping good seed, bad seed, empty shells or are they simply very messy feeders. Has anyone else got this problem and solved it.

 

[etudiant]

Congratulations on your garden! You must have a record of sorts for goldfinches.
Only idea is if the feeder ports are big enough for sunflower hearts, the nyjer seed will dispense too easily and much will be lost. Are the 20 port feeders nyjer specific? Goldfinches are pretty careful to eat what they pull out of a nyjer feed sock or feeder. There will however still be a blizzard of shell fragments, which may be what you are seeing, as 4x20 port feeders implies a lot of seed consumption.

 

[Clive Watson]

Strewth! My maximum count so far is 2!

 

[Coltech]

Yes the feeders are nyger specific. They have tiny slots in them. I'll have to study the stuff they're dropping with a magnifying glass to see if it's mostly shells.

Hi Clive, it's taken about 3 years to build up to this many. It also costs me a fortune in seed. It's well worth it though!

 

[Coltech]

Here's a pic of one feeder.

 

[mike from ebbw]

Here's a pic of one feeder.

OMG! I have never seen so many Goldies on one feeder!

 

[Coltech]

Didn't think my garden was unusual. here's some more pics. Sorry about the poor quality.

 

[Clive Watson]

So far all my birds occur in ones and twos and there can be long periods with no birds present at all. The highest number of birds present at once (all species) is only about 6. It's only the first year of my feeding station, though. Do you get any Siskin, Redpoll, Brambling or other interesting birds mixing with the Gold and Greenfinches?

 

[Coltech]

Yes Clive, I've had Siskins and Bramblings this year and Bullfinches, Nuthatches, Redpolls and once a lesser Redpoll in previous years. I also get regular visits by Sparrowhawks attracted by the large numbers coming in. Oh, I did have a Reed Bunting in once this year, haven't seen it since.

 

[brettski]

We have had a strong alliance with the American Goldfinches, starting with the tube feeders. Same thing; tons of seed seemed to be wasted. I watched closely and figured that for every seed the GF pulls out, 3 - 4 would drop to the ground.
We switched to socks and the seed bill dropped dramatically. It took a few weeks for the GF to get used to the new program, but they came around. We had to leave both options available and ween them off of the tubes. Going to the socks provided another unintended benefit. The only other bird that will even have a chance at snagging dinner is the housefinch. All the other bandits are outta luck.

 

[brettski]

...oh yes, and btw....
That is a great flock you have gathered, Coltech. The only way we would see a Euro GF is in the pet store. Really!

 

[Larry Lade]

Today we had a very handsome, raspberry-red, male Purple Finch come to our backyard feeders. We only get them very occasionally here in our yard. I only think I have seen them four or five times in our yard during the 30 some years we have been living here.

Coltech, that is a lot of goldfinches you have coming to your feeders!

 

[razorsharp]

Wow, thats a lot of Goldfinches! I get 8 on average and I thought that was loads! And you have well......tonnes(well a very big amount of grammes of goldfinches ). I need to get one of them big huge contraptions, I'd say it cost a fair whack....but it definetly looks worth it. And for the sparrowhawk i'd say it looks worth it too!

 

[Coltech]

Thanks for all the replies. What's a sock look like and can we get them in the UK? I'm going to try and get a pic of all my feeders close together to see how many goldies and others I can get in one pic. Need some sunshine though......

 

[brettski]

I just googled nyjer seed sock and got this one: http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/RTProduct.asp?SKU=WLA-S-10015 I'm not advocating the link as a good source; only an example. I purchased our socks at a chain home center that is popular in the 'States; Menards. They cost about $4 US. They are made of a nylon mesh with holes that are just big enough that a) the finches can grab on with their feet, and b) they can poke their sharp little pointy beaks into the holes and grab a seed and pull it out. Nothing else falls out. One of the down-sides to these socks, tho, is that they are not weather proof. When it rains, it gets wet and so does the seed. What we did is go to a dollar store (store full of cheap stuff, all likely made in China) and purchased some larger plastic salad bowls. We tossed the lids (I know...bad joke), drilled a 1/4" hole in the bottom of the bowl, inverted the bowl like an umbrella, and bolted it to the seed sock hanger with an eye bolt. The sock is then hung from the eye of that same bolt. It works good. The birds will often land on top of the bowl-umbrella and wait around.

 

[The Valley Walker]

Brilliant stuff...that looks like Goldfinch heaven....I am in Sth Wales but have never had a goldie to my feeder (couldn't spare a few could you?) - stuck nijer seed out for 10 month with no joy...today had a pair of siskin in to the feeders...that's a 1st.

 

[Kezza]

Fantastic Coltech!! Must be absolute heaven for the finches, well done!

 

[Kits]

Amazing! Green with envy! We have never had a single goldfinch in our garden despite loads of niger seed being out and I know they visit gardens about 4 miles away.

Fabulous to see yours!

 

[joannec]

Like everyone I am amazed at the numbers of goldies you get, Coltech! I've had a maximum of 6.

One of the down-sides to these socks, tho, is that they are not weather proof. When it rains, it gets wet and so does the seed. What we did is go to a dollar store (store full of cheap stuff, all likely made in China) and purchased some larger plastic salad bowls. We tossed the lids (I know...bad joke), drilled a 1/4" hole in the bottom of the bowl, inverted the bowl like an umbrella, and bolted it to the seed sock hanger with an eye bolt. The sock is then hung from the eye of that same bolt. It works good. The birds will often land on top of the bowl-umbrella and wait around.

That's a great idea, brettski! I had a sock and was concerned about the lack of weatherproofing so I hung it under the eves of our open fronted woodstore....guess what happened? A mouse climbed up the structure, down the string that was holding the sock up and ate holes in the sock.:-O No more sock. 33 But if I find another one I'll do what you suggest.

Joanne

 

[Judo]

WOW!!! you have Goldies like I get Starlings! Wanna swap??