Bird seed storage ???

Several weeks ago, I purchased a new batch of niger seed and black oil sunflower seed, both with fresh dating in the bags.....but the birds hardly eat it; they land for about 5 seconds, some try a bite--some don't, then fly off. Could the way it was stored by the big box store have affected the freshness of the seed?

What birds are coming to the feeder? The only birds I have ever had that eat niger are goldfinches. I don't think doves eat sunflower seeds (in the shells anyways).

I noticed the other day that goldfinches weren't eating the niger that had been in the feeder for about 3 weeks, so I topped it off, and they are back.

gold, house, and purple finches; and buntings

Tammy, Do you have a bird store near you?

Oil-rich seeds like these need to be stored cool (or even better, chilled), or the oil in them will go rancid. If the shop had them stored in a warm place (even worse, in direct sun), they could well have gone rancid which would make them unpalatable to birds.

However it could just be the time of year - natural food is abundant at the moment, so a lot of birds don't bother to visit feeders.

Resin

No, we do not have a bird store. Would the seed have an noticeable odor if it was just beginning to go rancid?

Only if it got damp but it just goes stale and is unappealing to the birds.

My nyger seed is not getting eaten much this time of year but the black oil sunflower seed (which is in a platform feeder ) is being eaten like crazy.

Our birds must not be very fussy. I store my black oiler sunflower seeds on my lanai ,where the temperature averages 90 degrees at this time of year, and my feeders are emptied every day.

Mine is in the shed where it gets very hot too but I just try to only buy what I need so it goes fast. It means more trips to the store but thats okay. :-)