What is in Bird Seed?
Depending on the kind of bird you are trying to feed or attract, bird seed may contain one or more of a variety of seeds and other ingredients. Black-oil sunflower seed, thistle seed, safflower seed, millet, corn, and Milo are a few common ingredients found in bird seed. Bird seed may also contain dried fruits, nuts and suet. For birds kept in cages, specific mixes are offered to improve color and supply the grit necessary for digestion. Bird watchers buy individual seeds, such as thistle seed, to draw a particular kind of finch.
STOP BIRDSEED FROM SPROUTING IN YOUR YARD: CHOOSING THE RIGHT SEED
Bird feeders are easy to enjoy, attracting a wide variety of birds and providing entertainment for casual watchers and ornithologists alike. But if the birds in your yard arent particularly keen on the food you provide, whatever they dont like can end up in your grass and eventually sprouting. To avoid growing bird seed, you need to observe the birds who frequent your yard and determine their favorite type of seed.
Most birdseed comes in a mixture of seeds. It is safe to assume that the birds don’t like a particular seed if a portion of the mixture ends up on the ground more than the others. Determine the type of seed it is, then look for a bag at the store that doesn’t contain that seedpreferably one that contains a substitute. You may also think about attempting a single seed instead of a mixed bag. Try substituting safflower seeds for the sunflower ones if the sunflower seeds are falling out of the feeder. Since squirrels are less interested in safflower seeds, this modification may also help with the squirrel problem.
What Grows From Bird Seed?
The kinds of plants that sprout from bird seed depend on what kind of bird seed people put in their feeders. For instance, if you feed finches thistle seed, thistle plants will grow beneath your bird feeder. Farmers do not want these weeds to grow in their fields. On the other hand, grass-like growth will result from feeding mixed bird seed that contains both millet and milo. Grown into a shiny, pale green plant that resembles grass, millet is used to make bird seed and cereals. Additionally, Milo develops into a plant that resembles grass but is actually a variety of sorghum that is cultivated for its grain. Its rapid growth and ability to withstand droughts account for its prolific growth beneath bird feeders.
Home Hacks & Answers
FAQ
Can you use bird seed for grass?
Will bird seed grow weeds?
What will grow if you plant bird seed?
Is it OK to put bird seed on the ground?