Will all my gf stay the entire winter? If so, I would like to buy a new feeder that will hold up to NJ's cold weather. Something to put the thistle in so it wont get wet from the freezing rain and snow :(. I have used the socks for the thistle but I am thinking they will not do so well in the cold and wet days ahead. Any ideas as to what type of feeder I should buy? Thanks! :)
Hi GM, This area (NJ) is a year round place for Goldfinch.
If your already having good numbers of them they should stay through the winter around your property as long as your not having problems w/ House Finch bothering them the way I do,lol.
If you have a good number of them I'd suggest getting a feeder w/ lots of feeding ports and places for GF to perch.
I think I may have given you this link before but this tube feeder will accomodate many GF. The bottom screws off as well as the top for easy cleaning in case moisture does get inside either from condensation or sideways type rain. It is very long at 36",
I have heard from people in areas near mine (that do not have problems w/ House Finch) that this feeder stays full of goldfinch all winter and they really love it.
http://www.rachelsrobin.com/shop/index.php?page=shop-flypage-18322-adfd571bfe52af6ab025873e6466167f&ps_session=8fb1c2b6fbd55b6c4ad82fd7b6c40a2f
Thats 1 suggestion, lets see what everyone else has to say.
Give it time, this is the weekend so many may not be around. Pelle :-)
BTW How many Goldfinch do you think you have at the present time?
Hi pelle! I have about 20 or so on my gate feeder and in the back I have an additional 10 or so. Tons o gf's! I dont remember having this many last year. Thats why I need to figure out a new feeder (feeders?) for this winter. I dont have too many housefinches not over 6 so thats a good thing! Thanks! GM ( the lot behind me took down a lot of trees in the past few months....so sad I was upset for the birds and other creatures that lived in them :( maybe they came to my yard/trees?)
I'm in zone 6a - any chance of seeing gf's this winter for me? I was assuming not, til I read this.
debilu you should be able to see them year round.
Heres the page on them. Take a look at the map; the purple area is where they are year round.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Goldfinch.html
Thanks Pelle, I'll have to get more thistle then
Hi again maggie, You could also go with 2- 17" feeders.
Same deal bottom comes off for easy cleaning. There are 9 feeding ports on each one of these.
http://www.rachelsrobin.com/shop/index.php?page=shop-flypage-13810-adfd571bfe52af6ab025873e6466167f&ps_session=8141331d99a3c8dc127b718e06b2a7b4#longdesc
I have heard that Goldfinch are attracted to the color yellow; don't know how true it is but it makes sense.
Remember guys don't stock up on too much thistle seed as it goes bad pretty quickly. Pelle :-)
Thanks pelle! I am going to stop by my local WBU on way home today from the MD. I will just "look around" tee hee unless something really strikes my fancy! I will see if they have ones like you suggested! GM Yes, I know about the thistle going bad quickly from experience!
Look around for sure; check prices (be sure to add shipping prices if your thinking of ordering online).
I have several finch feeders. In some I put thistle seed and in some I put Ultimate Finch Food from Kaytee. It's a combination of thistle seed and real small sunflower pieces - small enough to be used in the thistle feeders. They really like that stuff. They are around all winter by us too.
Where do you buy that mix goldfinch4?
I get it at Fleet Farm. Maybe this site will help you find a store in your area:
http://www.kaytee.com/products/search/?pid=51500
pelle, didnt buy a new feeder. The one I liked did have the removeable bottom for cleaning. It had 9 ports and it cost 39.95 wow. It has a lifetime guarantee also. But I want to be sure its what I want before I spend that much money. I will keep on shopping for a little while longer!
goldfinch4, this mix must have what they call "fine sunflower seeds" inside to be able to get through nyger pots.
The closest store they recommend is in Philly; I'll have to find out on my own.
Thanks for the link.!
Pelle, I noticed that lots of pet stores in our area carry it too. Might be able to find it there.
Another thing I noticed is that our goldfinches seem to prefer feeders of a small diameter. We have lots of hawks in our area and they like to be able to peer around the feeders to check things out. I had found some great plastic ones (1-1/2" dia. x 15" long) that were made in our area but the company quit making them. I had a heck of a time tracking them down - they had changed their name, but finally was able to contact them. They still had several cases available that were just sitting in their store room, but I had to buy an entire case (36 feeders). But for case quantity I paid just a little over $3.00 each including shipping! Between the deer knocking feeders down and stomping on them, and other "mishaps", I don't mind having to replace them occasionally at that price. They are just made of plastic but with the small size I can just soak them in a 5 gal. bucket to clean them. The bottoms do not come off though. If there was enough interest, maybe I could see if they have more and do a "co-op" (not making any promises on their remaining inventory though). Anybody out there interested? The price would be a little higher because I'd have to purchase boxes to ship them in.
That might be a good idea but I already have 4 thistle feeders so I'm filled up.
Do you have a have a photo of them?
I'll get a picture in the next couple of days and post it.
I usually have 6 thistle feeders out and a few "socks". This year I don't have the socks because the squirrels have been stealing them. And we have lots of goldfinches on the ground feeding this year too. Not uncommon to have 50 or more here at a time.
I plant sunflowers at the back of the yard and have many goldfinches in August and September. But then they don't seem to care about my thistle feeders much through the winter. A couple here and there, but mostly house finches and sparrows. This year I bought an upside down feeder, thanks to Pelletory. No takers yet! Boo Hoo! Maybe they'd prefer the sunflower meats? I have a Farm and Fleet, so I'll have to check it out. Thanks Goldfinch4
How about that Kaytee mix in the hyperlink posted above?
I was thinking of trying that myself.
Yah, we have a Farm and Fleet here, I'll take a look and see what they have.
Wish me luck!
Good Luck! :-)
Wal-mart sells a finch lovers blend that is like that. Made by DD commodities Ltd. there website is www.3dpetproducts.com
Is this it Frank?
http://www.3dpetproducts.com/3D/detail.asp?Product_ID=208&name=Finch%20Lovers%20Blend
I'll have to look again at Kaytee too.
If you look at the Ingredients on the Kaytee theres only 3.
On the 3d one theres tons of things that I have no idea what they are so I think I'd feel
better using the Kaytee brand.
http://www.kaytee.com/products/search/?pid=51500
Whoops; theres only 2 ingredients on the Kaytee brand. :-)
This message was edited Oct 17, 2007 4:21 PM
Pel, sorry it took so long to post this picture....been really busy. Here is my $3 tube feeder.
Thats nice goldfinch and you sure can't beat that price!
Here is the feeder I bought this morning. It has eight perches and a lifetime guarantee. The bottom clicks off for easy cleaning, too. I am asking for the fancy one from rachelsrobin for Christmas. Then I should be pretty well set. GM
Good for you GM! I saw these last week at the bird shop; their very nice!
we get yellow finches and in the winter mostly the beautiful purple finches- fun to watch. we use the socks all winter, some are better and more durable than others. we only use niger seed. spendy but worth it. we get 20-40 each year..they vary throughout the seasons. have not seen a purple yet this fall. soon maybe? anyone else get purple finches... I am ZONE 3..we get very cold!
Hi dreaming, I know there is 1 person that gets Purple Finches ;they pop into this forum every so often. Thats nice you get so many; I have heard their numbers are way down in the East.
Thistle (nyger seed) is expensive but I don't mind as long as I see so many birds enjoying it.
Are you seeing any Pine Siskens?
This message was edited Nov 10, 2007 9:58 PM
Not yet- the weather was so warm, now we're cold inthe 1-17 degree range... i keep looking but not much out there.. i am trying to get cardinals..never at this home but iknow they are up here. hopefully i will see some grosebeaks son- they are fun to watch!
i wish i could grow niger seed.. I wonder if anyone does. It is very expensive! I grow my own sunflowers and that helps.. I need more room though as they hinder so many ohter plants..and they are a bear to get out in the fall.
I've used the Upside down Goldfinch feeders for years. House Finches aren't able to use it (hang down and retrieve the seeds).
Here's what it looks like, but I've seen it alot cheaper at Lowe's.
http://www.duncraft.com/Upside-Down-Nyjer-Feeder-134-P439C186.aspx
Didn't know GF were attracted to the color yellow, but I'll keep that in mind, good to know.
Marilyn
Pelle,
I really like this GF feeder! It's not too long for the birds (in case a cat from the neighborhood comes into the yard).
http://www.rachelsrobin.com/shop/index.php?page=shop-flypage-13810-adfd571bfe52af6ab025873e6466167f&ps_session=8141331d99a3c8dc127b718e06b2a7b4#longdesc
Marilyn
Yes I have that one in green, Its so easy to clean!
Dear Grandmaggie
http://www.fatrobin.com/seed%20trays%20weather%20domes.html
Welp ..I can see that if next question I have I will come here; so many responses. Wet seed is ok, but only until it sprouts or molds; so your idea to protect the feeder is good: maybe under an eave. Otherwise there are manufactures DOMES to place above a hanging feeders. I included the first website that popped up on google: "bird feeder dome plastic." Washing the socks, on occaision, is a good idea for disease can be spread bird-to-bird in this artificial bird density ..sorta like snotty noses in kindergarden ...everybody gets it. Cheers from CA wine country. WE have mostly Lesser's but get American's too; more in the winter. P
