Chas Hurst wrote:

When finches eat nijer seed, do they (or, are they supposed to)
eat the entire seed, or do they somehow crack the seed open and
discard the outer shell?

Finches are well equiped to crack open seeds. It's not a case of
somehow.

I didn't ask IF finches can crack open seeds.

I asked if they normally eat nijer seeds whole, or do they split them
open and discard the shell.