Separating good bird seeds from the husks.

[Allan Gibbs]

This has been my biggest bird problem. How do you effectively separate good bird seeds from the husks without throwing the whole thing away?

I've tried blowing the husks away which gets all over the place including on my face an in my mouth. Even tried vaccuming it up too. Any suggestions?

 

[Spiritbird]

What is the reason you want to do this? I just put seed out as a treat and throw away any seed that is left over. Parrots take enough of our time and I would not want to separate the husk from the seeds. But if this is something you want to do I wish you lots a luck. I imagine you are being thrifty. I saw an invention on the internet that was billed as a seed separater but it was expensive.

 

[parrotqueen]

I just blow at it, and hold my face at a distance. I hold the bowl over the bottom of the cage to catch mess.

I can't think of a better method really, my mom said that for her finch that she used to own, she just took a plastic spoon and used that to scoop the bad stuff out.

I do this process too because, I like to check if I'm feeding them enough or if it's just full of husks and they need a refill.

There was another reason, but I forgot already. Lol

 

[Allan Gibbs]

What is the reason you want to do this? I just put seed out as a treat and throw away any seed that is left over. Parrots take enough of our time and I would not want to separate the husk from the seeds. But if this is something you want to do I wish you lots a luck. I imagine you are being thrifty. I saw an invention on the internet that was billed as a seed separater but it was expensive.

I forgot to mention this is for my parakeets. I don't want to throw the whole thing away because I give them ALOT of seeds because I'm gone for at least 8 hours. I suppose I could give smaller portions.

 

[Spiritbird]

Oh I understand now what you want to do. Perhaps you could measure the seed you feed and kinda look at what is left that was not eaten so you can deduct that amt. from the next day. If all the seed appears to be husk then you have not fed enough. Hows that??

 

[chrisbrain1907]

Greetings everyone from the Philippines! Just new here in this forum, I'd like to share my experience just awhile ago I surprisingly discovered the husks of any seeds easily sticks to plastic bags in the concept of static electricity and then it would be easy to scrape it from there! ��
My regards to all! �� God bless! ����

 

[CSmick]

As a parakeet owner, this is what I do:

*Pour partially used seed into a 4 cup plastic mixing bowl (with rounded bottom), that is big enough to swirl the seed around and the seed can be easily and vigorously swirled around without it jumping the sides of the bowl.
* Go outside with my hand held vacuum and the seed in the mixing bowl. Turn the vacuum on but don't use the suction-capability, instead use the air blowing capability and point the blowing air towards the seeds that you are swirling around in the bowl. Blow the seeds from a distance (12 "?) so as to not blow them out of the bowl.

Works pretty good. Sure I might get a bit of chaff on my arms, but no big deal. Gets most of the chaff!!!

Good luck!!

 

[SailBoat]

Following the example set by their wild family members, we share the joy of the bounty by providing those 'planned-overs' with the wild birds that visit our backyard! They do a great job of separation!

 

[fiddlejen]

As a parakeet owner, this is what I do:

*Pour partially used seed into a 4 cup plastic mixing bowl (with rounded bottom), that is big enough to swirl the seed around and the seed can be easily and vigorously swirled around without it jumping the sides of the bowl.
* Go outside with my hand held vacuum and the seed in the mixing bowl. Turn the vacuum on but don't use the suction-capability, instead use the air blowing capability and point the blowing air towards the seeds that you are swirling around in the bowl. Blow the seeds from a distance (12 "?) so as to not blow them out of the bowl.

Works pretty good. Sure I might get a bit of chaff on my arms, but no big deal. Gets most of the chaff!!!

Good luck!!

For my budgie-seed I often do something similar - but kinda opposite. I take their actual seed dish, and shake it Gently so seeds to bottom and chaff goes to top. Use my Dustbuster. I actually leave it on Vacuum and hold it several inches above the seed-dish. (Seed dish IN my hand.) Gradually lower it and move it around while Gently shaking the seed dish gently, and it will vacuum up most of the chaff, leaving mostly good seedmix remaining in dish. (Only works for budgie-seed; safflower-seed shells are too heavy.)

(I do NOT do any blowing of seeds outside near the house anymore, after two winters of dealing with mice. IF i were gonna go outside with it, I would go to the Far edge of the backyard, where I currently have a birdfeeder.)