Do finches eat the entire nijer seed or just the shell?

[Bird Guy]

When finches eat nijer seed, do they (or, are they supposed to) eat the entire seed, or do they somehow crack the seed open and discard the outer shell?

[Chas Hurst]

Finches are well equiped to crack open seeds. It's not a case of somehow.

[Bird Guy]

I didn't ask IF finches can crack open seeds.

I asked if they normally eat nijer seeds whole, or do they split them open and discard the shell.

[Chas Hurst]

Then you're oblivious to implication.

[Bird Guy]

You're going to great lengths to give the impression that you're answering the question while not overextending yourself by giving a possibily incorrect (but specific) answer.

[Bird Guy]

That's basically the reason why I was asking.

I'm wondering if the finches are just incredibly messy eaters, or are these really the shells from the nijer seeds...

[Tony Mortadella]

Bird Guy wrote in :

I see Juncos and Doves feeding from the ground under the feeder so the finches apparently are dropping some. I suppose it's inevitable with such tiny seeds. I've also seen sock-type feeders where the mesh is a little too open and the seed falls out as the sock is jostled.

[cleondann]

I use some of the best pest bird control techniques to keep away bugs and birds harming my lawns.

[Bird Guy]

So you want a medal or somethin?

What's that got to do with the feeding habbits of finches?

[Hootowl98]

As small as it is, a niger seed does have a shell. If you think birds aren't eating the seed because you see some on the ground, examine it more closely: you may be seeing mostly the thin niger hulls.

[Judith Latham]

Facinating