Aussie Finch Forum

I tossed some mixed birdseed into the garden over winter and a lot of it is seeding now


Can anyone identify this seed that is currently producing pollen.
Is it good for the birds and when is the best time to harvest it.


This one is a contender for the world's smallest white millet spray.
Clearly it doesn't grow too well here in Perth.

Cheers
Brett

Ryegrass

Hi Brett,yes it is Ryegrass,another toxic one to feed green and other than parrots,small finches are not fussed about it. Craig

I've always offered Ryegrass heads to my birds in mixed grass seed offerings as its one of very few seedheads available late winter/early spring. Found Parrotfinches, Gouldians, Munias, Singers & Siskins all love it & smaller waxbills struggle to tackle it as Craig said. Only problem I've ever encountered with it is a juvenile Red Siskin once had its crop pierced by the sharp end of a whole unhulled seed once. Don't know how the adult regurgitated it. As with Phalaris the whole plant can have toxicity problems with sheep & cattle if grown on unbalanced soils in monoculture pastures but unaware of any toxicity issues with birds eating green seeds from it.

I have fed ryegrass consistently over the years. Canaries particularly love it but gouldians and munia species also eat it.

Also, there are some good photos etc of seeding grasses on this forum somewhere.....(I don't know how to add the link in here!)

Looks like it is Ryegrass then, will try the Gouldians with it and see if they like it.

I am pretty certain it came with the seed mix, but I wasn't aware that Ryegrass was part of it.
Perhaps a contaminant with the other seeds.
Pity, seems to be one of the grasses that grows really well here.

Cheers
Brett

Hi Brett ,
The Rye cultivar you have is the same as one of the types I use in summer .
Some times rye makes its way into finch mix I have found but you can also buy it in a specialty mix from pet stores .
I have also used it in a dry green grass seed mix that I got from a fellow AFF member and it was generally the first seed taken .
My Diamonds love the stuff , also my Crimson and WH Nuns tear into it .. I agree that only the larger finches will take it so the Goulds should be fine .
I wait for the seed heads to produce stamens and after a few days feeding it out with success .
Strange that the millet was stunted so badly , I grow it in pots and when fertilised regularly with Charlie Carp produces an abundance of seed , I have it in anpot now and its over a foot high .
It depends on when you sow it also , chuck some in now in a well fertilised patch of soil in the sun and it should do well .
Cheers ,
Brad

Rye Grass is a member of the Sword Grass Family, it can in flicked a small but pain full cut if pulled out of the Ground too casual.

Thanks for the info Brad

Strange that the millet was stunted so badly , I grow it in pots and when fertilised regularly with Charlie Carp produces an abundance of seed , I have it in anpot now and its over a foot high .

I was surprised as the rye grass in the photo above and some Canary grass was all planted in the same garden in Autumn and has done well.
The white millet is only 3-4 inches in height, so it is severely stunted.
The bed is partly shaded, so it may not have enjoyed that either.
I will plant some more now and see if it grows any better

Cheers
Brett

Brett, It probably won't do that well if planted now. It tends to grow over late autumn/winter & seed in spring.