Nyjer seeds are beloved among finches. We heat-sterilize these tasty morsels so they won’t sprout in your garden!
Many types of mixed bird seed contain filler seeds that birds don’t prefer and toss away onto the ground, where they become unsightly weeds. To minimize discarded seeds, choose only one type in each feeder to help cut back on wastage.
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Sterilization
Assuming you put out fresh bird seed can result in unwanted weeds in your lawn, there are ways to minimize this effect by choosing non-sprouting varieties like nyjer or black oil sunflower seeds that won’t sprout.
So as to prevent any imported nyjer seed from sprouting, the United States Department of Agriculture requires all imported nyjer seed to be heat sterilized as a condition of entry. This ensures that any wetness will never cause it to sprout when purchased nyjer seeds come into contact with water; you don’t have to worry about them sprouting after falling on the ground!
Cleaning birdseed with heat or microwaving is another effective method for sterilization, though some experts warn this could compromise its nutritional value. Many bird enthusiasts report no significant changes in germination rates after doing this; to reduce weeds in your garden and yard, purchase mixes without undesirable seeds such as Nyjer seeds. Or create your own feeder specifically tailored to them.
Freshness
Assuring your feathered friends’ wellbeing is best achieved with fresh seed. This will provide them with enough energy to fly around, spend their days perching in trees singing their favorite tunes, and play together as part of a flock.
Selecting a quality bird seed mix will also attract more diverse wild bird species. Wagner’s Deluxe Blend Wild Bird Food is one such mix, offering foods beloved by chickadees, cardinals, titmice, woodpeckers and nuthatches as well as raw peanuts without their shell for Blue Jays.
Black oil sunflower seeds feature a thinner black shell and higher oil content for increased energy; white millet can be enjoyed by finches, siskins, juncos, sparrows and crossbills alike; while sterilized at high temperatures nyjer seeds won’t germinate at all – if there is an offensive musty smell when filling your feeder or the seed appears damp or wet when filling up, toss it as it likely gone bad and could make birds sick.
Weeds
Bird seed can provide fertile ground for the growth of all sorts of noxious weeds. Indeed, according to research published in Invasive Plant Science and Management journal, most commercially available birdseed mixes contain seeds which grow into harmful weeds.
For best results in keeping errant bird seed from germinating on your lawn, the best strategy is to use sterilized seeds that do not sprout, as well as using a feeder with small feed holes that require birds to remove each seed individually from its storage tube. This way you’ll avoid spillage of seeds into your yard!
Assure the seed you buy is free from hulls and any unwanted material before purchasing it. Homegrown seeds can easily be sterilized at home by baking in a preheated oven; alternatively, the USDA requires that imported Nyjer seed (commonly known as thistle) must first be heat sterilized prior to being sold in America and Canada, making it safe for feeding goldfinches. It consists of thin black seeds with yellow daisy-like flowers growing four to six feet high – it makes an excellent option when feeding goldfinches!
Discarded Seeds
Birds typically prefer certain kinds of seed over others, and when offered a mixture of mixed seeds they will discard those they don’t enjoy, leaving behind waste on the ground that could contain harmful bacteria. Instead, offer only black oil sunflower seed or nyjer thistle seed or mixes that include them and you will find much less mess beneath your feeders.
Millet, sorghum or milo are typically included as fillers in wild bird seed mixes; they won’t appeal to birds and quickly spoil. Furthermore, these seeds may sprout into an unsightly patch under your feeders. Instead, look for no grow seed mixes which only include birds-preferred items like hulled sunflower hearts, black oil sunflower chips and nyjer thistle seed; this will attract more birds while creating less mess at your feeders. It is easy to sterilize these seeds yourself by baking them at 250F for 15 minutes in your oven!
