Niger seed

[DoveKeeper]

I have noticed several posters usig niger seed in unusual ways. I like to use it to attract goldfinches. It must work becauase before we put it out we did not have any. the first year I saw two or three goldfinches attempting to eat from our thistle socks. The second year they came and took to the tube feeders. Does anybody use thistle socks?

[LMG]

What's a thistle sock?

[DoveKeeper]

It's a mesh cloth bag that has drawstrings at the top. You fill it with thistle or niger seed whitchever you choose to call it. and hang it up. the finches can cling to the mesh with their feet. It is extreamly difficult for the sparrows to do. I think that feeding in this bag helps because the aroma is free to travel in the wind luring in the birds. I dont think the aroma gets out of the tube feeders too well. Our goldfinches knew the socks were there but were there but got beat up every time they triedto eat. We put up so many tube feeders the house finches could not cover all the pegs, This year we had four pair. http://www.jayandwanda.com/birdpics/goldfinch1.jpg

[smeltmill]

Dear DoveKeeper,

Thistle socks! They sound like something a gamekeeper would ware with a pair of plus fours.

I use a tubular Niger feeders supplied by Droll Yankee and they are very successful attracting a 14 to 16 Goldfinches at any one time and 40 plus Siskins.

The DY feeder has tiny beaked shaped holes which produce less wastage than the round holes used on other Niger feeders.
It is also important to use a large tray again supplied by DY which attaches to the bottom of the tube. The birds spend much time picking over the debris reducing the wastage still further.
To attract them initially - prime the tray with Niger and they will soon discover the feeding ports.

Good Luck.
Regards.
Gordon Boreham-Styffe.

[Elizabeth Bigg]

Gordon - I'm glad, having read your message, that my new niger feeder is a Droll Yankee one. No goldfinches yet - but it's only been in position for two days! A bluetit did hop on it the first day, but seemed a bit puzzled.

[smeltmill]

Dear Elizabeth,

Try priming the saucer with some Niger. If Goldfinch are about they will find it.
I never tire of watching them.

Regards.
G B-S.

[pduxon]

out of interest why are they called Droll Yankees?

[DoveKeeper]

Droll yankee products..... http://www.birdandyard.com/products-bay/feeders/all/access-5.htm I still dont see a thistle tube peg feeder. The tube-tray feeder must be the favorite.

[Elizabeth Bigg]

What's a thistle sock?

There was some discussion about this a while ago, and I have managed to trace it, (thanks to the search facility). There is a picture a sock with one of the messages in the thread - back on October 5th.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=6150&highlight=thistle+sock

I've never seen them in any catalogues in the UK. :eek!:

[DoveKeeper]

My Camera's Here! My Camera's Here! My Camera's Here! I found the bumped thread to be so interesting I had to read it all before I opened up my new camera. I learned a bit more about thistle and I will apply the knowledge next season. We just love our "Little Canarys"
Thanks!

[smeltmill]

Dear DoveKeeper,

Try this link.

http://www.birdandyard.com/products-bay/feeders/all/tube-4.htm

Second picture down the 8 port model on the right with a 7-1/2 inch seed tray attached to the bottom is what I use.

Code numbers.

DY CJTHM23G - $ 27.95
DY A-6T - $ 6.55

Regards.
G B-S.

[smeltmill]

Dear Pete,

I have no idea, but I am sure you could invent one of your wonderful shaggy dog stories to explain it.

Regards.
G B-S.

[Elizabeth Bigg]

My Camera's Here! My Camera's Here! My Camera's Here! I found the bumped thread to be so interesting I had to read it all before I opened up my new camera. I learned a bit more about thistle and I will apply the knowledge next season. We just love our "Little Canarys"
Thanks!


What camera is it - are you a digiscoper, or planning to become one?

[DoveKeeper]

I have gave way the use of my SLR/film camera to instant disposable cameras because of the enviorment. I like to take photo's of tuna and groundfish we catch durring the fishing season. I purchased one of the first digiatal cameras they came out with and was dissapointed with the performance of digital cameras...It didn't take too long to find its way to the rubbish. I have loved birds all my life, though never becoming part of a group I have certainly looked at birds a lot diffently than all of my friends. I just see the sheerwaters "flying" underwater behind the boat a bit more of a kick than others. We started feeding the birds in the backyard two years ago and have fell in love with it. New to my life is the computer..still havn't figured it out, but it works ok for me for now. I found some photo's poeple have taken with the digital camera's today like the blue dragonflys at the bugs department here and have decided to "go over the fence" to digital photography and combine it with our love for birds. First on the list is to take some photo's from hides "I can get within two feet of some of our birds" while learning to use this camera.... a Canon G-3. It has more buttons than I would expect to see in the cockpit of a 747. Ultimatly I wold like to be able to control the camera thats out in the garden from my desk here with the Pan Tilt and Zoom equipment I am working on. I will definatly work my way up to some form of digi-scoping when I become more familiar with the digital camera.

[Art Thorn]

Hmm. I've been feeding goldfinches with tube feeders for quite a few years. I have one that requires the bird to hang upside down - other birds don't use it. I don't recall having a problem attracting them and their numbers grow daily as the weather gets worse (there have been 40 or 50 at a time, in bad snow storms).

[christineredgate]

Anyone buying niger seed feeders may find them cheaper in their local pet shop than the Yankee drolls from the spec bird mags.Our local pet shop has niger seed feeders for £1-50p.They obviously are not as strong as the American version,but if you have lots of feeders could be cheaper in the long run!!.
Christine.

[Elizabeth Bigg]

The Goldfinch has landed!

Only four days since I put up the new niger feeder - and he's there. Stayed quite a while - I'm just hoping he's gone off to tell all his friends, or will he try to keep it to himself?

[pduxon]

The Goldfinch has landed!

Only four days since I put up the new niger feeder - and he's there. Stayed quite a while - I'm just hoping he's gone off to tell all his friends, or will he try to keep it to himself?

Nice to hear - they're a gorgeous bird that always make me smile when I see one. I still remember my first Goldfinch!

[smeltmill]

Dear Elizabeth,

Pleased for you.
Let’s hope he/she passes the word. They are such a JOY.

Regards.
G B-S.

[Elizabeth Bigg]

Two goldfinches now! :clap:

There are still two vacant feeding ports though. The other hanging feeders have been visited by bluetits, great tits and a great spotted woodpecker. There have also been two starlings on the seed tray.

[Steve Round]

Hi Elizabeth,
Good news about your goldfinches, I put up a nijer seed feeder about two months ago, I think I have seen one bird on it - a blue tit that didn't seem too impressed.
I have a fairly large feeding area with 4 large seed feeders that need filling daily with black sunflower seed, two peanut feeders, and a three compartment hopper on a table covered with a cage, because we have a squirrel problem here (anything up to 15 seen at once) I have only had the hopper a week, it has nijer, sunflower and table seed in it. Still waiting for the goldfinches though.

Steve

[Elizabeth Bigg]

Hi Steve - fifteen squirrels??? - and I thought I had a problem with the usual two, sometimes three and occasional four!!!

[Steve Round]

Yes, they are a nightmare, all the feeders are squirrel proof now because I think I was contributing to their increase in population before, plus the birds didn't get a look in.

Steve

[DoveKeeper]

We have four grey squirrels. We had more but they seem to come and go. On one occasion we had a uniqe visitor...A totaly jet black squirrel. He stayed for about four days then he vanished after a windstorm. We welcome the little critters they were only a nuisance when we only had one feeder. Now with the ground feeding for the doves they dont seem to apear malicious.