Bird feeder seed...do they grow?

[Hammer Handle]

I feed a lot of bird seed each year. I have cardinals, blue jays, juncos, chickadees, finches, Pilated woodpeckers, etc.

Sometimes I get sunflowers growing in my yard from the seeds they drop. Question, do the thistle seeds have a chance to grow too? I seen to be getting more thistles in my yard...is this why?

I sure hope not.

[MN Shutterbug]

I'm no expert, but I think that may be what is happening.

[Steve Foss]

Yes, they'll grow.

[Hammer Handle]

That's it...no more thistle seed for me!

I am going to encourage my neighbors to do the same!

[Steve Foss]

Thistle seed is very expensive and I've always found it unnecessary. The birds that it's meant for (small finches such as golfinches, siskins and redpolls) will readily eat black oil sunflower seed, and if you have two or three separate feeding stations the little finches will be able to get their share when the bigger birds show up.

I have a tube feeder among my feeders, but it doesn't have the tiny holes for thistle (niger) seed. It's got the bigger ones. The small finches prefer the tube feeder over the platform feeders, but will use both.

I've long believed (been feeding birds since 1973) that thistle seed is overrated. I always tell people looking for advice on it to feed it if you want to and can afford it, but that there's really no need.

[Hammer Handle]

Great advice.

I like it for the finches (and others) seem to thrive on it...but will find a substitute. It is expensive.

I really enjoy bird feeders and grew up watching the birds come and get their seed. I can feed 30 - 50 pounds of sunflower seed a month in the winter and can have 10 - 20 cardinals show up at one time (multiple feeders). Squirrels can be a problem at times, but I set up spots to feed them to.

[JayinMN]

If you are buying thistle seed you are really buying Nyjer seed. It is not the common weed with the purple tassles and prickley leaves that live around here. The chances of Nyjer seed sprouting is pretty slim, since it is imported from Africa and Asia. It is heat sterilized to prevent germination, but occasionally a plant might sprout. It will not live long and does not do well with out care. The flowers of the Nyjer plant are actually yellow and more like a daisy. I guess to answer your question, no feeding Nyjer seed, which is incorrectly called thistle, will not cause thistle to sprout in your yard. I feed it in the summer because it does attract more finches then just my black sunflowers do. In the winter it can attract huge flocks of redpolls and pine siskins too. Some people are trying to produce it in the U.S but that costs more then it does to just import it.

[wazz]

Some stores will sell bird seed, that has been treated in some way, so it won't grow.

I like the volunter sunflowers

Wazz