Hulled Black Oil Sunflower

[Sahria]

I buy black oil sunflower for about $25 in big 50lb bags. I end up picking about half of that up in shells. Has anyone used hulled black oil sunflower instead? It's more expensive so I'm wondering if it's really worth it. The House Finches and House Sparrows go through about 5lbs of the shelled seed every day or so.

[Sahria]

I think I'll just buy a bag and see how it goes. I'm guessing they'll go through it just as fast, since they're voracious!

[Misty01]

I bought the already hulled seed, and it's great like you said because it doesn't leave a mess. Though they went through it double the amount of time. The next one I am going to try is the cardinal mix. It has the black oiled sunflower seeds mixed with saflour ... I hear that the sparrows and the squirles don't like the saflour...so it's worth a shot...I'll let you know how it goes. Crystal

[MEGHAN]

Hey Crystal,

My experience with saflour?
Well I spent a small fortune on a big bag of it.
Guaranteed the cardinals love it right?
Guaranteed no one else does right?
Well, My cardinals won't even touch the stuff and the sparrows and the doves eat it like it's candy.  :roll:
Same with niger seed. My finches won't touch it. But everyone else thinks it's great.
So  now everyone just gets mixed wild bird seed.
Except the chickadees and nuthatches, they have to have the black oiled. because there just too cute. :wink:
But to hell with the rest of the greedy buggers! They don't appreciate the time and money I spend on the good stuff.
Boring old mixed seed it is. no one gets anything special.    :lol:  :lol:  
My rant is done thank you.
So now I have a 20 pound bag of the stuff that is worth it's wait in gold...hold off on the purchase and I'll give you my bag when I see you on the 5th.
Meg

[WBU]

I know a lot of people who use just safflower in their backyards and think safflower was the best bird seed choice they ever made and I also know of enough people who have your experience Meghan.
It seems like Crystal was given some mis-information regarding safflower - sparrows (house and native) will eat safflower once they get used to it. It is true squirrels don't like safflower but the other advantage is starlings and grackles don't eat safflower - they can't crack the shell.
Here is my safflower primer based on ten plus years of experience:
1. Safflower takes time to introduce because it is not a "native" seed to the east, our eastern birds do not naturally consider safflower as a food source. I don't know who figured it out but many years ago (probably 25+) someone discovered safflower could solve some bird feeding issues.
2. Safflower is a very nutritious and beneficial seed to feed your birds.
3. Who eats it - most all the local bird species - including cardinals (big favourite), house finch, mourning doves, chickadees, nuthatch (red and white breasted), blue jays, goldfinch and other "preferred birds"
4. Who does not eat it - squirrels (unless they are extremely hungry - think mid-winter of a very cold winter), starlings and grackles
5. How to offer safflower successfully - slowly - mix black oil sunflower and safflower 75/25 for one month; mix black oil sunflower and safflower 50/50 (the two cardinal favourites - hence the term cardinal mix) for month two; mix black oil sunflower and safflower 25/75 for month three; pure safflower in month four. You cannot feed other seed/seed mixes during this process because the birds will ignore the safflower for the food they know naturally.
If you can be patient with this four month process safflower can be a great success.
The only reason I know why people will attempt using pure safflower is to stop squirrels, starlings and grackles from feeding at thier feeders. Otherwise, if you want some addtional cardinal activity (typically) just add a little or buy a blend that includes some safflower.

[angieinto]

Though I'm not the main "feeder" over here I know we've had great success with safflower. We have quite a few feeders in the backyard and one is just for safflower, and the only birds I ever see on it are the cardinals and house finches.  We too have a special little feeder with black oil sunflower seed just for the chickadees, because as you've said, their just too cute!  

[Rob'in'To]

I did a blog almost 2 years ago about what I have learned in the world of backyard bird feeding.  It's kinda long but if you want to skim it (or not).

http://robandtheanimals.blogspot.com/20 ... kyard.html

I should re-do it because I have now found that Red Wings will eat Safflower and they even enjoy feeding on the nyjer (not just for Finches anymore).