If you are wondering why are finches not coming to my feeder, start with three practical checks: the condition of the seed, whether the feeder suits the food and birds you are targeting, and whether local finch activity has shifted with the season. American Goldfinches readily use nyjer and sunflower, but even a good setup … Read more
If your Nyjer feeder is hanging in the yard untouched, seed condition is one of the first things worth checking, but it is not the only possible cause. American Goldfinches readily eat both Nyjer and sunflower seed, and feeder use also changes with local food, season, weather, and whether birds are present in your area. … Read more
Attracting finches can involve more waiting than people expect, especially when a new feeder is filled with seed that local birds are not using. For American Goldfinches, nyjer and sunflower are both strong food choices, but freshness, feeder design, local bird presence, weather, and natural food all affect traffic. Start with small amounts of good … Read more
The best nyjer seed for goldfinches is usually the freshest seed you can buy in an amount your birds will use quickly. Nyjer is naturally high in oil, and finches may stop using seed that has become stale, damp, musty, or old in the feeder. Store type can matter because inventory turnover affects freshness, but … Read more
The seed sold as “thistle” for finches is not true thistle seed. It comes from Guizotia abyssinica, an African member of the daisy family whose common name is niger; Nyjer is the trademarked spelling widely used by the North American bird-feeding industry. Imported niger seed must receive an approved phytosanitary treatment before U.S. entry, commonly … Read more
If finches suddenly stop using a Nyjer feeder, stale seed is worth checking, but it is not the only possible cause. Two practical field checks are the seed’s overall condition and a crush test on white paper, where fresher oily seed may leave a visible grease mark. Neither test is a laboratory measurement, and color … Read more
Finding the best tube feeder for finches often feels like a frustrating guessing game. You buy a generic model, fill it with expensive seed, and wait for birds that never show up. I will show you how to check port sizes and mesh designs so you stop wasting seed and start attracting flocks. The Hardware … Read more