Sterilising bird seed

[rary]

I bought a bag of no mess bird feeding today, but wondering if I microwaved the seed before putting it into the feeder would it sterilise the seed and if so would it take any of the nutrition that the birds need out of it?

[Can the Man]

I am just wondering why you want to sterilise it ?

[veggiechicken]

Rary has some strange ideas, Can. It must be his age!

If you microwave the seeds, aren't you cooking it? Would the birds be attracted to something resembling porridge?

[Can the Man]

Rary has some strange ideas, Can. It must be his age!

If you microwave the seeds, aren't you cooking it? Would the birds be attracted to something resembling porridge?

[Aberdeenplotter]

I am just wondering why you want to sterilise it ?

me too. Birds eat unsterilised seeds in the wild.

[Jungle Jane]

I googled it because I had no idea & it says in a couple of places when sterilising bird seeds there’s no nutrient loss,it stops seeds germinating on the ground but no mess seeds shouldn’t germinate.

[rary]

I googled it because I had no idea & it says in a couple of places when sterilising bird seeds there’s no nutrient loss,it stops seeds germinating on the ground but no mess seeds shouldn’t germinate.

I am grateful that you are switched on tonight JJ evidently you being a lot younger than some other Grape s understood what I was referring to, and like you in the past I thought that no mess meant no growth but when using this type of seed last year any seed that was on the ground germinated and I had quite a problem weeding out all the grasses that grow from them the no mess means no husks, like sunflower seeds as an example you need to buy sunflower hearts to avoid the mess from the husks, so I was thinking (and yes VC I still can) that if I put the seed into the microwave for 10 seconds or so, just long enough to sterilise them without turning them to porridge it would stop any spilled seed germinating, but wasn't sure if there would be any nutritional loss if there was I would just leave as is

[rary]

Just noticed that Can is a bit lost and confused with your post VC, you need to remember not everyone understands what you mean, but fortunately for you I am used to identifying what older folk are on about

[veggiechicken]

I am used to identifying what older folk are on about

Talking to yourself again, rary?

If you wanted No-Grow bird seed, why did you buy No-mess bird seed? Too expensive maybe?

[lolie]

that if I put the seed into the microwave for 10 seconds or so, just long enough to sterilise them without turning them to porridge it would stop any spilled seed germinating, but wasn't sure if there would be any nutritional loss if there was I would just leave as is

Would 10 seconds in a domestic microwave be long enough to render the seeds sterile?

[rary]

Talking to yourself again, rary?

If you wanted No-Grow bird seed, why did you buy No-mess bird seed? Too expensive maybe?

Well, with the first part I would be having decent conversation
As for the second part the cost didn't come into it, fortunately there was no No Grow available

[rary]

Of course VC you know that should have read UNfortunately but sadly now I can't ask you to correct any predictive text

[veggiechicken]

You don't need me to edit your posts, rary. At your age you should be able to do it yourself.

[DannyK]

If you're getting a lot of "grass" it's because the seed is being bulked up with cheap cereal seed, which only pigeons eat.

I use sunflower hearts which seem to attract all the local breeds.

Had a cannabis plant from bird seed once. Very pretty leaves. Eventually composted

[rary]

If you're getting a lot of "grass" it's because the seed is being bulked up with cheap cereal seed, which only pigeons eat.

Thanks for the info. but there is no way I am going to dump a bag of seed that cost me £18.