Katy Penland said:I still have Lesser Goldfinches who're covering the sock feeder every day. I didn't have this feeder last winter (put it up this past spring for the finches), so I'll leave this up and see how the Pine Siskins like it. The two I've had come in already this summer jumped right on it. Is your thistle feeder a tube or sock?
Katy Penland said:..... Do you know what kind of finches are ignoring your thistle seed?.....
affe22 said:Once you get the hang of it, Siskins won't look like much else out there. They shouldn't be hanging out in SW Missouri yet I don't think.
lvn600 said:I've got a fine screen mesh feeder which is like a sock but tougher. I've used a sock as well. They can attract a lot more birds at a time because they can cling on anywhere but the trade-off is you will go through a lot more thistle. As far as what type of feeder they like better I'm not sure I've asked them many times but the goldfinches only answer me with that high pitched sound that sounds like eeeeeeat!
lvn600 said:I like watching the Goldfinches pick the seed heads off of the Purple Coneflowers.
smudgepot said:I would love to see that! I have a crop of Purple Coneflowers in the front yard this year. Haven't seen anyone snacking yet, put I'll keep a lookout. Goldfinches are my favorite!
smudgepot said:When I first put my wire mesh feeder out I thought my thistle had gone bad or something.The goldfinches would only eat my sunflower hearts from a tube feeder but would not touch the thistle in the mesh feeder. After about 2-3 weeks they caught on to it. Now I have to fill the thistle feeder often as I get up to a dozen goldfinches on it at a time.I tried a screen mesh feeder because I was going through socks pretty fast. With cleaning them and everything they fall apart. The screen mesh feeder wasn't cheap, but I thought it would save money in the long run since I wouldn't be buying so many socks. But they didn't like it!