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Home  >  Pets and Animals  >  Resolved Question
PeedeeDog
Resolved Question
Does it make a difference to birds, if their bird seed is stale?
I recently bought a bag of bird seed and on the front of the bag, it said "Freshness Assured". Do wild birds care if their seed is fresh?? or stale?? what??
Posted 2 months ago
levin60kitty
Best Answer
It depends on the bird. Those raised in good upscale nests have developed a taste for the good, fresh, seeds. The ones raised across the tracks (usually on a telephone pole or such) are used to eating stale seeds and contaminated grasshoppers. They are happy to get whatever they can. You can tell the upscale birds by their preened feathers and clean beaks. those from across the track usually have bug juice running down their beaks and they are prone to flautlence from the stale seed they eat. I hope this answers your question.
Posted 2 months ago
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Skyelillie
Posted Nov 4th, 2008 at 1:15PM
Actually it does make a difference. To both birds and squirells. If its been sitting for a very long time, it could have some none visable mold or mildew on it, that may make them not want it. They are both pretty smart creatures and are not going to eat anything that may be unhealthy for them. So if this is the case, I suggest you buy some new seed and from now on keep it in an airtight sealed container. That should help keep it fresh.
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lilt
Posted Nov 4th, 2008 at 7:40AM
Peedee, I found half a bag in the garage from last year. It's been in the feeder for a week and they haven't touched it. I've got some of those upscale birds I guess.
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hairylady
Posted Nov 4th, 2008 at 8:15AM
I think beggars can't be choosers. If the birds don't eat it the squirrels will. They'll eat anything.
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rusted
Posted Nov 4th, 2008 at 8:11AM
Hmmm, put it out and see if they eat it. I suppose if they are hungry enough they'll eat it.
I have a Goldfinch feeder that occasionally will sit for weeks with food in it. It always gets eaten eventually. Never have I had to throw any seed away because the birds didn't eat it.

Just between you and me, I think the "Freshness Assured" phrase was to get you to buy it and feel good about it.
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godspeedyoukaren
Posted Nov 4th, 2008 at 10:44AM
do seeds go stale?
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peterson1964
Posted Nov 4th, 2008 at 1:23PM
I will have to yield the floor to SkyeLillie and Levin60Kitty on this one. SkyeLille because I think it sounds like she knows what she is talking about and Levin because he is just plain ******* funny... lol

But the funniest part is the "Freshness Assured" thingy... I mean what does that really mean anyway? Who is going to quantify what "Freshness" really means? And what type of "Assurance" are they offering? I did not hear the word "Gauranteed" here... I mean, do they take an I.O.U. as payment for this stuff? They are as good as cash... you've got my word on it!
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wheredidigo
Posted Nov 4th, 2008 at 11:26PM
Stale seeds lack nutrition and like someone else had said they may contain mold, mildew or some other harmful bacteria. Some birds will refuse to eat it (and pick through it all till they find something good) and other will eat it but may get sick.

To check if your seeds are fresh enough to still provide nutrition, take 50 seeds and wrap them in a damp paper towel-like growing beans in school- at least half of them should sprout. If not you shouldn't use it for feed especially for pet birds. Wild birds can take more of a beating.

Speaking of seeds..They are basically the candy of the pet bird world. Pets bird's diets should be mostly pellets and fresh stuff with just a little seed for treats.
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Welwitschia
Posted Nov 5th, 2008 at 3:38AM
Yes, a little birdy told me. =)
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sliverstars
Posted Nov 5th, 2008 at 12:42PM
i think it depends on which kind of bird but i havent noticed a sale by date on packages of bird seed.
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