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Black oil sunflower seeds are a popular choice for backyard bird feeding. The best bird feeders for black oil sunflower seeds are hopper, tube, and tray feeders. Hopper feeders protect the seeds from weather and allow you to fill large volumes. Tube feeders are simple, versatile, and limit mess. Tray feeders allow easy access for ground feeding birds. When choosing a black oil sunflower seed feeder, opt for a feeder made from chew-proof materials with drainage holes to keep seeds fresh. Consider the number and type of birds you want to attract. Also factor in ease of filling, cleaning, where to hang or place the feeder, and squirrel deterrents.
What Are Black Oil Sunflower Seeds?
Black oil sunflower seeds are a specific variety of sunflower seeds that have very thin hulls and are high in fat and protein content. The thin hulls make them easy for birds to crack open and eat. Their small size, high nutritional value, and taste make them a favorite of many common backyard birds.
Here are some key features of black oil sunflower seeds:
- Small, thin-hulled seeds about 1/4 inch long
- Matte black in color with thin grey stripes
- Very high in fat and protein content
- Meaty texture and nutty, rich flavor
- High calorie count appealing to birds
- Hulls are easy for small birds to crack open
Black oil sunflower seeds can attract a wide variety of backyard birds including chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, finches, jays, cardinals, grosbeaks, mourning doves, bluebirds, woodpeckers, and more. The high fat content provides birds energy and nutrition for winter survival or demanding life stages like migration, nesting, and raising young.
Best Bird Feeders for Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
When feeding black oil sunflower seeds, you need a bird feeder designed to hold small seeds while allowing easy access for birds. Here are some of the best bird feeder styles for black oil sunflower seeds:
Hopper Feeders
Hopper feeders are enclosed feeders that funnel seed down to feeding ports as birds eat. Hoppers are ideal for black oil sunflower seeds because:
- They protect seeds from weather
- Let you fill large volumes of seed at once
- Feed ports allow access for small and large birds
- Seed is dispensed gradually to prevent waste
- Roof keeps seeds dry in rain or snow
Hoppers come in various shapes, sizes, and materials. Look for a large enough capacity, sturdy construction, and drainage holes in the base.
Tube Feeders
Tube feeders consist of clear plastic or glass tubes with feeding ports and a seed collection base. Benefits of tube feeders include:
- Simple design and easy to use
- Let you see seed level at a glance
- Typically have perches for small birds
- Come in various capacities and port sizes
- Keep seeds contained to limit mess
Go for tube feeders with tightly sealing caps, drainage holes, and chew-proof ports. Choose tubes wide enough for black oil sunflower seeds to pass through easily.
Tray or Platform Feeders
Tray feeders have open flat trays or platforms to hold seeds, allowing easy access, especially for ground feeding birds. Tray feeder pros:
- Allow easy access for all birds
- Low profile for ground birds like doves, sparrows, juncos
- Simple, open design is easy to fill and clean
- Provides a natural feeding method for birds
Opt for tray feeders on sturdy legs with drainage holes and a wide platform design to accommodate black oil sunflower seeds.
Key Features to Look for in Black Oil Sunflower Seed Feeders
When shopping for a bird feeder for black oil sunflower seeds, keep these key considerations in mind:
Waterproofing
Look for feeders constructed from waterproof materials or with water-shedding designs. Metal feeders or plastic feeders with drainage holes allow wet seeds to dry out. Avoid wood feeders which can swell and rot.
Capacity
Choose a feeder large enough to hold the volume of seeds you want without needing refilling too frequently. Larger feeder capacity reduces maintenance.
narrowly, easy for small birds to grasp seeds
Chew-proof construction
Black oil sunflower seeds are high in fat content, which can attract squirrels or mice that may chew through plastic components. Opt for metal feeding ports and caps. Avoid thin plastic.
Accessibility
Select feeders with proper sized or multiple sized feeding ports so both small and large birds can access seeds easily. Consider specialized trays or tubes for tiny birds.
Protection from weather
Enclosed hopper feeders or those with roofs help keep seeds dry in wet weather. Tray feeders should have drainage holes to prevent water pooling.
Easy cleaning
Feeders with removable parts, tubes, and trays allow for easy cleaning to prevent moldy or spoiled seeds. Quick disassembly helps maintain sanitation.
squirrel Deterrents
Many feeders come with metal guards, weight mechanisms, or pole mounting to prevent squirrels from stealing seeds. Choose feeders designed specifically to block squirrels.
Best Bird Feeder Locations
Where you place your bird feeder can influence which birds visit it:
- Near trees or shrubs – Gives small birds cover and places to perch nearby
- Clear view – Birds can survey for potential danger as they feed
- Near water – Provides birds drinking and bathing water
- Avoid high traffic areas – Prevents disturbing feeding birds
- Protected from wind – Keeps seeds dry and contained
Hang feeders or position pole-mounted feeders 5-10 feet from windows and aim them away from windows to prevent collisions. Place multiple feeders 10-15 feet apart to reduce crowding. Adjust height lower for ground feeding birds.
How Many Birds Can a Feeder Hold?
The number of birds that can comfortably feed at a single feeder depends on:
- Feeder style – Tubes accommodate less birds than trays or hoppers
- Number of feeding ports – More ports means more birds
- Size of feeding area – Larger feeders allow more birds to eat at once
- Types of birds – Small birds take up less space than big birds
As a general guideline, the following number of birds can feed per style:
- Tube feeder: 2-4 birds
- Tray feeder: Up to 12 birds
- Small hopper: 12-15 birds
- Large hopper: Up to 50 birds
Reduce crowding by using multiple feeders for the number of birds you want to attract. Clean feeders regularly and provide ample seeds. Adding more feeders prevents bullying or aggressively dominant birds.
How Much Black Oil Sunflower Seed to Provide?
As a general rule of thumb, provide about 1-2 pounds of black oil sunflower seeds per feeder daily. The exact amount depends on:
- Number of birds visiting
- Time of year – More food needed in winter
- Size of feeder – Larger capacity requires more seed
- Frequency of filling – Smaller amounts if filling daily
- Species present – Larger birds eat more
Start with about 5 pounds of seed per feeder weekly and adjust amounts based on consumption. Provide extra seeds in winter when birds have higher energy needs and natural food is scarce. Clean empty feeders regularly to prevent mold.
Conclusion
Black oil sunflower seeds are wildly popular with backyard birds due to their high fat and protein content. Hopper, tube, and tray feeders are all great choices to dispense these small seeds while allowing bird access. Look for weatherproof construction, ample capacity, drainage, and easy cleaning when choosing a feeder. Position feeders in optimal locations for birds and provide sufficient amounts of fresh seeds based on number of birds, seasons, and feeder capacity. With the right feeder full of nutritious black oil sunflower seeds, you can enjoy watching many species of birds feast in your yard.