FINCHforum

Just for fun I put some birdseed out in the garden to see if/what would grow. A variety of grassy plants came up. I've not identified these. A broad leafed plant with pretty little yellow flowers that looks like rape (canola) also grew.

They have all put out seed heads. None of these are what I'd call ripe yet. Wild finches started to visit the plants so I tried the unripe heads on my birds. My Gouldians dive into the yet unripe grassy seed heads with vigor. My lovebirds love the rape both for the greens and the seed pods, also gnawing on the stems.

Seems like a good way to provide fresh seed and greens.

Anyone else do this?

I have a corner of the garden reserved for bird seed.
All the birds go nuts for them and it becomes a challenge to beat the wild birds to the seed.

debbie276 wrote: I have a corner of the garden reserved for bird seed.
All the birds go nuts for them and it becomes a challenge to beat the wild birds to the seed.

What a great idea!!! Can my finches eat the whole plant once it grows? I have sprouted seeds before, but this sounds like a fun way to get Lil Joe more involved with finch care. Anything I need to be aware of or careful to do /not to do? Want to make sure I give my birds only safe foods...

ginene: I don't know all the answers to your Q:. but...
I cut the grassy plants off the first or second leaf below the seed head. Maybe up to a foot or so. They pick at the leaves but really dive into the seed heads first. After watching wild birds feed on aphids I leave those on as well if there are any. They love 'em. A source of walking protein.

Safe? unless you are using some spray on them what could be purer? Or fresher?

I agree with Paul. I just use the seed from their bird seed mix, maybe a little wheat, alfalfa and clover added. They eat all but the real thick stems and use the leaves to build nests also. I also leave an area of the lawn un-mowed to give them long grass to build nests and make hay.
lil Joe should have fun and may just come up with other ideas we haven't thought of.
good luck

You know, I've thought of that, but never tried it. I'm not surprised something grew, because things sprout from the seed my doves knock out of their aviary in the yard. How long did you let it grow, or rather, how long did it take to grow to the point you were ready to feed it to the birds?

Usually in 6-10 weeks the plants are mature, though it will depend on weather conditions and variety. You can feed it earlier especially if you see wild birds starting to feast on it.

Toddmin wrote: How long did you let it grow, or rather, how long did it take to grow to the point you were ready to feed it to the birds?

Most of these things would be classified as 'weeds', so they grow pretty quick. 6-10 weeks sounds like a good timeframe for most of it.

I've never tried it, but my granddaddy used to grow millet. He would use old knee-high stockings to keep the wild birds off it - pull 3 or 4 clusters together a day or two after the flowers formed (gotta give the bees time to do their thing!), put the stocking over it and close it off with a rubber band. Worked great...

this started as a sort of experiment. I now have a good sized patch of grasses all about the same stage of development.
From here the preferred route will be to sow a smaller amount and do it at intervals of a couple of weeks so as to have a progressive supply of maturing seed heads.

DamonIRB wrote:

Toddmin wrote:
I've never tried it, but my granddaddy used to grow millet. He would use old knee-high stockings to keep the wild birds off it - pull 3 or 4 clusters together a day or two after the flowers formed (gotta give the bees time to do their thing!), put the stocking over it and close it off with a rubber band. Worked great...

This is a great trick! I've been wondering how to get the millet all the way to harvest.

Last year I threw some old bird seed from the bottom of the cages into a bare patch on my grass. I thought grassy plants would grow, but what I got was broad leaved plants like collards and kale. Very strange, because those are not listed in my bird mix ingredients....

Last year I threw some old bird seed from the bottom of the cages into a bare patch on my grass. I thought grassy plants would grow, but what I got was broad leaved plants like collards and kale. Very strange, because those are not listed in my bird mix ingredients....[/quote]

If they were broad leafed w/yellow flowers turning into long slender seed pods they sound like rape seed.

paul-inAZ wrote: If they were broad leafed w/yellow flowers turning into long slender seed pods they sound like rape seed.

Hmm, maybe I should try it again this year in a spot we don't mow. They never were allowed to get higher than four inches, so no flowers, and no seed pods.

Rape grows wild here in our back field. I should go take a look when it's in flower and see if it looks like the same plant.

Is this something that can be done in a pot? For now, we live in a third floor walk-up with no garden space....
How big do the plants get before they are useable?

The grasses are from about knee high to over 3 feet tall when they have seed heads.
A large, wide pot could work.

I definitely have to try it!