Aussie Finch Forum

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?

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.

VR1Ton wrote: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!

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 ?

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

Nathan Morleyy wrote: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 )

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

Thanks Nathan

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.

Tintola wrote: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...

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