Why mostly oil seeds

[Jim]

Hi Everyone,
Why would red siskins mostly prefer to eat Niger and sunflower hearts.
I buy a siskin mixture that has various seeds in it but note the two seeds mentioned above are the first to go.
I have offered red millet and French spray millet but they seem to ignore it.
I have also offered various greens including pok Chou and cucumber but they don't touch it.
Should I keep offering greens and millet in the hope that they will eventually eat it and not change the siskin mixture until all seeds are eaten, or would this be harmful to the birds.
Many Thanks, Jim.

[Tiaris]

Just go with it Jim.
Some other herb seeds are also taken by them. Mine like sesame seed & lettuce seed, but most of their seed diet is Niger & sunflower kernels.
They also like sprouted niger, sprouted sunflower, any greens (seedheads & broadleaf) - milk thistle heads are a particular favourite.

[Jim]

Thanks Tiaris, for the advice

[elferoz777]

Have heard capeseed bread from bakers delight is well liked by them also

[Jim]

Thanks Also, Elferoz.

[E Orix]

I think you will fine the reason is Sun Flower (any form) is a mild narcotic to birds.
The more they eat the more they want. This was proven with White Cockatoos, when they
were taken off Sun Flower apparently they would screech non stop until the need had abated.

[Jim]

That's interesting, Thanks also for the reply.

[Spitfire]

Dandelion seed heads is the no 1 preferred green food of the Red Siskin, Unfortunately in dry weather very hard to find. I have started growing my own.

[finchbreeder]

Is that why breakfast cereal/muslie with sunflower seeds goes down so well? But I have noticed that Cockies of any sort will go for the sunflower seed ahead of anything else you give them. And some people with pet Cockies fall for the topping up the food trick, so Cockie eats next to nothing else.
LML

[oakes043]

I notice the same thing with my canaries and goldfinches. Niger and rape is the first to go. I don't think birds are much different to humans - fat tastes good! I don't worry too much if they are in an aviary where they can burn it off, but I monitor more closely in cages.