Thistle

[Lucille]

I've seen 'thistle' seeds advertised as finch food. What exactly is this, and is it good for zebra finches?

[Babs _Owner]

Lucille

I have it in my Healing Herbs package for my finches. They seem to like chewing on the dried leaves herbal mix, but most of it falls on the floor of the cage I notice.

Heres a link to some really neat bags designed just for thistle seeds. I would imagine zebras would like it too.

Wonder if a small bag like this could be made from the same material they use and hung from the top of the cage..

That would be a cool project.

[Leo519]

Many kinds of wild finches love it..
I've heard what is typically sold as "thistle" seed for finches is actually nyger or niger seed, and that thistle and nyger / niger are not the same.
I don't know what the differences are or what thistle seed actually looks like, but I'm guessing they probably look similar since the names are often used interchangeably. Whatever name it goes by, it is an oily seed that has a higher than average fat content. Some finches enjoy it, and it's said to be good for when they're moulting, or for young birds that are weaning, because the seeds' smaller size and the softer hull is easier for them to crack open.

I have six kinds of finches and one canary.
My canary absolutely loves the stuff. I have to ration out how much I give him otherwise I think he would live on that alone if he had his own way LOL.
When I give it to my finches, toward the end of the day when I blow the empty hulls from their seed feeders some of the nyger/thistle seeds have been eaten, but it's definitely not their favorite seed and I don't know which of my finches have been eating it..

[Sheather]

Not a single of my finches eat it.

The three canaries will nibble it.

[Sojourner]

My wild finches are crazy for nyjer (which is a sterile version of thistle seed that comes from Africa) and sunflower seeds.

My caged buddies don't care for either. They won't touch the nyjer but will nibble the sunflower seeds if it is mixed with dry egg food. They won't touch the egg food if I wet it. They are weird little birdies.

On the other hand, my wild finches won't touch canary grass seed - which is a high protein seed and you would think would be a great dietary addition for them - but my caged pair chow down on it with as much gusto as they do millet seed.

[Kelly]

Babs

What's in your healing herbs package? If you don't mind me asking

Thanks

[Babs _Owner]

Kelly

Heres the link with all the ingredients. We are trying to figure out whether to give it to the birds or sprinkle it on our baked chicken!!

The smell is amazing

http://www.glamgouldians.com/product-herbsalad.php

[Kelly]

Babs

Thank you