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There
are many wild seeds that British
finches readily eat; also certain
ones are good for bringing birds
into breeding season, and for
rearing chicks.
The more variety that is available
so much the better, unfortunately
we cant copy exactly what the
birds will eat in nature but
we can (if fortunate enough)
supply as much as is possible
to our birds, if supplied in
regular amounts these seeding
weeds will be very beneficial
to our finches, supplying them
with both vitamins, minerals
etc... |
Click
to enlarge image |
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CHICKWEED:
(Stellaria media)
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Most
people recognise this weed,
it is the scurge of many a gardener,
I know it in 2 types, the first
is a broad leafed, long stemmed
type, the second and in my opinion
the best is a narrow leafed
type, the difference is the
narrow leafed plant has lots
more seed heads on, so more
seed for the birds, although
the birds will eat both.
I am of the opinion if we were
able to feed chickweed alone
for rearing chicks, they would
be stronger and healthier, and
grow at a faster rate. |
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SHEPHERDS
PURSE:
(Capsella
bursa-pastoris)
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Popular
with most finches, some individuals
however don’t seem to
care for this weed, I have noticed
this with my own birds; however
Bullfinches seem to love it
and can’t get enough.
Only the seeds are eaten, and
some say it has medicinal benefits
too if this is so I don’t
know. |
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PERCICARIA:
(Polygonum
persicaria)
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Redshank
as it is known locally, is eaten
by all the finches, although
again, certain individuals don’t
eat it.
I have seen all the finch species
feed on it.
It is a "must have"
when the birds are in the moult
if possible, especially if they
are being colour fed as being
rich in oil these seeds tend
to "sofen" the harsh
appearance on colour fed birds.
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PLANTAIN:
(Plantago
major)
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| There
are several different types
of plantain the one my birds
like the best is the Greater
Plantain, or commonly known
as "rat tails", this
is another aid to moulting birds
as, like redshank it contains
oil, if possible the best time
to harvest rat-tails is when
they are mid ripe, this is when
they look purple, they will
be eaten when fully ripe, but
it is better to pick them at
the purple stage. |
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DANDELION:
(Taraxacum
officinale) 
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This
is a common weed that I imagine
everyone will know.
All of the plant will be eaten,
leaves roots and the familiar
white top seed heads before
they burst open, all the finches
like dandelion, it is a wonderful
conditioner and is full of iron.
It is so popular some people
buy dandelion extract from the
health food shops and add it
to the water as the breeding
season approaches, convinced
this may bring their birds into
condition faster. |
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SOW
THISTLE:
(Sonchus
asper) 
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This
is popular with most of the
larger finch’s; the smaller
ones will also eat it if the
heads are split, as do canaries.
Other wild foods we can give
our British are; grass seeds,
if bunches of seeds are picked
and hung in the flight redpolls
and siskins will keep busy for
a long time on this.
Knotgrass is another weed that
they will eat, but it does not
carry allot of seed, knapweed
is favoured by goldfinches,
but if removed from the seed
head other species of finches
will eat the seeds.
Fat hen, is a favourite of Bullfinches,
best picked in the green stage
as when it gets to ripe the
seeds fall to the ground when
picking it.
Meadow sweet, is a popular plant,
Goldfinches and Bullfinches
being very fond of it, again
the others do like it.
Bullfinches like forget-me-not
seed, I haven’t seen any
of my other birds eating it,
why I don’t know, Dock
seed is a favourite with all
the birds, it can be fed in
either the green, or brown stage
(ripe), some birds will also
eat the seed from nettles, also
Groundsel, but I don’t
like it to much, as I have found
it to "scour" their
droppings.
Welt, is a plant that grows
very tall, and is said to be
a good natural colouring agent
for yellow ground birds such
as siskins or greenfinches.
Other wild foods available for
our finches are; rowan berries
and brambles for bullfinches,
thistles for goldfinches, and
the "nuts" of alder
trees for redpolls and siskins,
and not forgetting pine cones
to keep the Crossbills busy. |
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