Nyjer vs Dove and Quail: Choosing Zamzows Wild Bird Seed
By Zamzows Lawn, Garden, & Pet – Zamzows store | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: 購入ガイド
Compare Zamzows Nyjer Thistle Seed and Premium Dove and Quail to match the birds you want, your feeder type, and how much seed you'll use.
Quick answer
Choose Zamzows Nyjer Thistle Seed 14 LB if you want to target finches and small clinging birds with a fine seed; choose Zamzows Premium Dove and Quail 40 LB if your goal is ground-feeding doves and quail and you want a larger bag. Many yards benefit from offering both in separate feeders.
Match the seed to the birds you actually see
Nyjer thistle is a tiny, fine seed that suits finches and other small birds adapted to picking small seeds, while the Dove and Quail blend is formulated for mourning doves, California quail, and other game birds. If your yard already hosts mostly doves and quail, a bag of Nyjer may sit unused; if you rarely see ground-feeding birds, the larger Dove and Quail bag may be more than you need.
The catalog does not list the exact ingredient makeup of either blend, so treat the bird names in the product titles as your primary guide rather than assuming a specific seed ratio.
Feeder style decides as much as bird species
Nyjer is typically offered in a dedicated thistle feeder with small ports, which keeps the fine seed from spilling and lets finches cling. Dove and quail feed primarily on the ground, so a platform feeder, ground tray, or a clean spot on the lawn usually works better than a hanging tube feeder.
If you only own one feeder type, start with the seed that matches it. Buying a new feeder is a separate cost, so factor that in before choosing the seed.
Bag size and storage trade-offs
The Nyjer bag is 14 LB and the Dove and Quail bag is 40 LB. A larger bag lowers the cost per pound but requires dry, pest-free storage and a yard with enough bird traffic to use it before it spoils. A smaller bag suits a single thistle feeder or a trial period.
Seed freshness matters more than bag size for attracting birds, so buy the size you can reasonably use within a season.
Decision rules for choosing between the two
- If finches are your target: Choose Zamzows Nyjer Thistle Seed 14 LB and hang it in a dedicated thistle feeder with small ports. Check that your feeder has fine ports before buying Nyjer.
- If doves and quail are your target: Choose Zamzows Premium Dove and Quail 40 LB and offer it on a platform feeder or a clean ground spot. Ground-feeding birds need an open, low feeding station.
- If you want both: Set up two separate feeders, one with Nyjer and one with Dove and Quail, rather than mixing the two seeds in one hopper. Separate feeders let each bird group feed without competition.
- If storage is limited: Start with the 14 LB Nyjer bag, or split the 40 LB Dove and Quail bag into a sealed, dry container as soon as you open it. Buy only what you can keep dry and use within a season.
Product facts at a glance
- Zamzows Premium Dove and Quail 40 LB: Premium Dove and Quail 40 LB is formulated to attract mourning doves, California quail, and other Idaho game birds. This makes it the more direct choice if your goal is ground-feeding game birds rather than finches.
Zamzows Premium Dove and Quail 40 LB - Zamzows Nyjer Thistle Seed 14 LB: Nyjer Thistle Seed 14 LB is a best-selling blend formulated for birds in the Treasure Valley. It is a regionally focused option for finches and small seed-eaters, but the smaller bag suits lighter feeding.
Zamzows Nyjer Thistle Seed 14 LB
Who each bag fits
Best for
- Backyard birders who want to attract finches and small clinging birds
- Shoppers who prefer a smaller 14 LB bag for a single feeder
- Anyone targeting mourning doves, California quail, and other game birds with a larger 40 LB bag
Not for
- Yards with no finches or small seed-eaters, where Nyjer may go untouched
- Birders who only have hanging tube feeders and no ground or platform space for doves and quail
- Anyone who cannot store a 40 LB bag dry and pest-free
