Feeding Milk Thistle

[teg33]

Hi all! I've heard a lot about milk thistle, and how great it is…
I looked it up on the internet, and it came up with these spiky plants with purple flowers. Well, I have them in my backyard, but I wasn't sure if they are really them or not. And how to feed it too the birds.

Can someone help me?

Thank you!!

P.S how much should I feed to them?

[VR1Ton]

Look up Sonchus oleraceus, this is the milkor sow thistle that is feed to birds, I use the flowers, & top couple of leaves. Everything eat them, can even be used in salads, think I'd give it a mis but, they are an excellent green food, & can be sourced nearly year round. As to how much, how long is a piece of string, everything in moderation, but trial & error will usually tell you how much your birds will eat.

[teg33]

Look up Sonchus oleraceus, this is the milkor sow thistle that is feed to birds, I use the flowers, & top couple of leaves. Everything eat them, can even be used in salads, think I'd give it a mis but, they are an excellent green food, & can be sourced nearly year round. As to how much, how long is a piece of string, everything in moderation, but trial & error will usually tell you how much your birds will eat.

So you cut off the prickles? Thanks for the help!

[jusdeb]

Id love to feed it to my birds only thing is where it grows is beside the highway and I dont know if it has been sprayed .... its usually being attacked by Galahs .

Does anyone know if the seed can be taken from the plants and how to get it going in pots ?

[Nathan Morleyy]

Teg,
I have a milk thistle and chick weed garden at home just for my finches and I feed the chick weed and milk thistle every day and occasionally spinach and Lebanese cucumber.


Thanks Nathan

[teg33]

Teg,
I have a milk thistle and chick weed garden at home just for my finches and I feed the chick weed and milk thistle every day and occasionally spinach and Lebanese cucumber.


Thanks Nathan

Ooo, thanks Nathan. How do you plant it?


(sorry guys, i just realised I put this in the wrong forum )

[Nathan Morleyy]

Teg,
I don't plant it I just made a garden and the Milk thistle and Chick weed grew naturally .

Thanks Nathan

[Tintola]

So you cut off the prickles? Thanks for the help! [/quote]

It should not have prickles, it would be softish if is the milk-thistle that you want for the birds. It has yellow flowers and soft, fluffy white seed heads and milky sap.

[vettepilot_6]

So you cut off the prickles? Thanks for the help!

It should not have prickles, it would be softish if is the milk-thistle that you want for the birds. It has yellow flowers and soft, fluffy white seed heads and milky sap.[/quote]
no there is a rough one as well...I have used both...dont worry about the spikes...

[amalan11]

op you may have scotch thistle or pattersons curse both toxic check google for images.
milk thistle comes up easly from seed