Yes, absolutely! Nyjer seed is rich in oil and is highly nutritious, and is great energy source for garden birds. This also makes it a great choice for winter feeding.
Can you feed thistle to chickens?
Thistle/Niger Seed is a big favorite of goldfinches. If you want to attract them to your yard, put out a thistle sock or feeder. And don’t forget to share with your chickens. They will love munching on the thistle as well, and since it’s 35% fat and 18%, it will keep them warm and full of energy through the winter.
What is the difference between thistle and nyjer?
Nyjer seed is NOT thistle. The seed is not derived from any native or non-native thistle plant; but instead, the Nyjer seed is actually derived from a plant in the same plant tribe as sunflowers. The seed resembles a sunflower seed but is significantly smaller.
Is Nyjer and thistle seed the same?
Nyjer seed—also commonly known as niger or thistle seed—is popular with many backyard bird species, particularly seed-eating birds and winter finches. Knowing which birds eat Nyjer can help birders choose the best birdseed and appropriate feeders for their backyard flock.
Can I give my chickens wild bird seed?
Yes! Birdseed is a mix of seeds designated for feeding birds. Chickens are birds, so it is safe for them to eat this food. Chickens are awesome animals for many reasons, but what’s so cool about them is that they eat almost anything.
Is Nyjer seed good for chickens?
Yes, absolutely! Nyjer seed is rich in oil and is highly nutritious, and is great energy source for garden birds. This also makes it a great choice for winter feeding.
What kind of weeds can chickens eat?
8 Common Weeds Your Chickens Will Love
- Nettles. Nettles get a bad rap for their harsh sting, but they’re edible for humans and animals alike, and quite nutritious!
- Purslane. This succulent-looking weed is tasty and great for your flock.
- Bee Balm. What is this?
- Wood Sorrel/ Oxalis.
- Clover.
- Plantain.
- Dandelion.
- Chickweed.
Why are birds not eating nyjer seed?
Nancy Castillo, co-owner of the Wild Birds Unlimited store in Saratoga Springs, New York, and author of the blog Zen Birdfeeder, points out that Nyjer contains natural high-calorie oils that attract finches. When the oils dry out, the seed loses both its food value and its flavor, and birds shun it.
Does nyjer seed attract rodents?
Nyjer is a tiny seed which goldfinches will crack open to eat the edible interior; squirrels and rats are generally not interested in this seed.
Why is nyjer seed so expensive?
It’s one of the more expensive seeds due to the transport costs from tropical regions and because it is heat sterilized to kill weed seeds such as Dodder that is present in many Niger seed harvests.
Do birds eat the entire nyjer seed?
Birds, including chickadees, don’t eat the whole thistle seed but only eat the meat portion from inside the hardened shell. Chickadees, as an example, will often hold the thistle seed by their feet, using their beak to shell the seed and expose the fruit of the seed.
What grows from nyjer seed?
Nyger seed grows into Thistles. That is what Goldfinches love so much. Teasel – Large seed head, which is attractive to Goldfinches. Teasels are easily identified with their prickly stem and leaves, and the inflorescence of purple, dark pink or lavender flowers that form a head on the end of the stems.
What birds will eat nyjer seed?
Nyjer seed is one of the favorite seeds of goldfinches, Pine Siskins, Common Redpolls and other small-billed seed-eating birds. We’ve also seen nuthatches, chickadees, doves, Downy Woodpeckers, and other small birds eating it.
What should you not feed a chicken?
Hens should never be fed food scraps that contain anything high in fat or salt, and do not feed them food that is rancid or spoiled. Specific types of food that hens should not be fed include raw potato, avocado, chocolate, onion, garlic, citrus fruits, uncooked rice or uncooked beans [2].
Should you feed chickens cracked corn?
Cracked corn is a great treat for chickens. Because it is high in carbohydrates, it is particularly good in the winter months. But, like all treats, cracked corn should be fed in moderation. Never give your birds more than they will eat in 10-20 minutes.
What is the best thing to feed chickens for eggs?
Treats That Will Make Your Hens Lay More Eggs
- Mealworms.
- Eggs and Eggshells.
- Greens.
- Watermelon and Fruit.
- Japanese Beetles.
- Sunflower Seeds.
- Scratch Grains.
- Cracked Corn.
Can Nyjer seeds spoil?
Because of its high oil content and thin shell, Nyjer is known to spoil quickly – even in as little as a few days. There is also a chance that the seed could dry out prematurely during the heat treatment process, potentially spoiling it before being bagged and sold.
What is the best seeds for chickens?
Chickens love to eat seeds and dried morsels. These include goodies such as sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, cracked corn, chicken scratch, mealworms, raisins, barley and oats.
Does nyjer seed sprout?
This plant seed is also sold under the trademark name Nyjer. It does not germinate and sprout in your lawn–for one very good reason. In 2001 the USDA required imported Niger seed for birds to be sterilized for 15 minutes at 120˚ C (248˚ F). This sterilizes the seeds.
Can chickens eat thistle weeds?
Thistle seeds are safe for chickens if they are from the nyjer or niger plant, i.e., Guizotia abyssinica. Weed thistle seeds aren’t safe for chickens or for your backyard or garden. In contrast, milk thistle seeds and their aqueous solution are safe and healthy for chickens.
Are there weeds that are poisonous to chickens?
An incomplete list of plants that are poisonous to chickens includes daffodils, foxglove, morning glory, yew, jimson weed, tulips, lily of the valley, azaleas, rhododendron, mountain laurel, monkshood, amaryllis, castor bean, trumpet vine, nightshade, nicotiana, and tansy.