FINCHforum

Are they the same seed???

If you meant "thistle": yes.

That's what I meant. I must be getting dyslectic in my old age. Anyway thanks for the quick reply.

Actually they are not the same see Nyger/Niger is the small black seed usually seen in goldfinch feeders. Thistle is from the actual thistle plant seen in fields accross the country. There are many different species of thistle but Niger is not one of them.

Here is more info:

Niger has been cultivated in India and Ethiopa for thousands of years..It is not a thistle or related to any thistle. It is not sterilized because niger is a weed. It has none of the characteristic that make some plants weeds.

In 1982, large shipments of niger/nyger seed were detained at ports of arrival because during a U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection, they had been found with contamination of dodder seed (Cuscuta sp.)Dodder is a serious agricultural pest because it is a parasitic weed which attaches itself to the host.This eventually leads to the decline and death of the host plant. This variety of Dodder is not known to exist in the U.S. Exotic pests always tend to be much harder to control than domestic species, because there are no natural predators.

Excellent clarification on those seeds
Usually thistle seed will be wider on one end than the other and niger is uniformily slender from end to end.

I stand corrected!

That's why I like this forum so much, you can always learn something new. I was 100% sure it's 2 names for 1 thing...

Ursula wrote:I stand corrected!

That's why I like this forum so much, you can always learn something new. I was 100% sure it's 2 names for 1 thing...

I thought they were too but I really wasn't sure. That's why I asked. I had noticed that feed stores have thistle seed for around $25 for a 20 lb. bag. And the bird supply co. in New Orleans sells Niger for $35 for 8 lbs. So I figured there must be a difference.
Is thistle nutritious? Does anyone feed thistle to their birds???
I noticed that on the bags of thistle it claims "Finches favorite food". I realize that they mean wild finches. But I would think domestic finches would like them too if wild finches do.

It's supposed to be good for European Goldfinches. But mine doesn't seem to know that, he didn't touch it when I offered it to him... So I don't feed them any now.

(The American Gold and House finches in my yard love it though!)

Ursula wrote:It's supposed to be good for European Goldfinches. But mine doesn't seem to know that,)

They are like kids. They don't want to eat what is good for them. Only junk food.......

Actually niger (sold as thistle) is high in fat so you must be careful of the amount you feed your birds because it can cause "fatty liver disease".

Learned something new today! I always thought niger or nyger and thistle were one and the same--now I find that they are not at all, that niger was commonly called thistle for years, but that was wrong.

have a look at this site
http://nutriwing.com/birdseed.htm
it has great pictures of all the seed varieties

Is there any of the wild bird seeds that you have found the birds really like that can be mixed in with commercial finch foods to add a variety.

When raising hookbills I would use the commercial mixed and added pumpkin, sunflower (hulled) etc to add more of what they need and liked. I had to do it carefully since some birds will only eat what they like and leave the rest. The added mix was given twice a week and regular commercial food was served the other days along with veggies.

Right now I offer a good commercial mix and add finch grass seeds to it along with a separate dish of pellets and dried egg and of course mealies.

These seeds are these seeds that you would buy for your wild finches outside? What are some of the other type of seeds I could feed them? Thanks

Terry