Are sunflower seeds ok?

[GRB73]

My hens found a few heads of sunflower seeds I was drying to feed the wild birds. They were having a great time jumping up to peck the seeds out of the flower heads. Are these ok for them to eat or should I dry the heads somewhere else, out of my chickies reach?

 

[andreanar]

I throw a ready to pick sunflower in to the chickens a few times during this time of year. They love picking thru it and eating all that they can.

 

[Lauren Kim]

Sunflower seeds are great for chickens. They are good for laying, especially, and chickens absolutely love them.

 

[R2elk]

My hens found a few heads of sunflower seeds I was drying to feed the wild birds. They were having a great time jumping up to peck the seeds out of the flower heads. Are these ok for them to eat or should I dry the heads somewhere else, out of my chickies reach?

Many feed BOSS (Black Oil Sunflower Seeds) to their poultry as treats. They are a low protein, high fat food that is a good source for methionine which helps out with new feathers during the molt.

Sunflowers should be considered a treat and all treats combined should be kept to no more than 10% of the total diet. As long as they aren't getting too many, sunflowers are good for poultry. If they get more than the recommended amounts for a short period of time it should not hurt.

 

[lcwmt]

My hens found a few heads of sunflower seeds I was drying to feed the wild birds. They were having a great time jumping up to peck the seeds out of the flower heads. Are these ok for them to eat or should I dry the heads somewhere else, out of my chickies reach?

I am not an expert on anything much but have an observation. My chickens have been free ranging during the day for a few months now. They love grasshoppers, wild grass seed heads, scratching in the neglected flower beds and cleaning up under the bird feeders - 4 years of spilled seed: millet and other small grains plus black oil sunflower seeds. They are doing quite well, are glossy, active, happy and the eggs are fab.
I think that given enough space and choices, the chickens will not eat what is not good for them.
What do more experienced chickeners think???

 

[andreanar]

I am not an expert on anything much but have an observation. My chickens have been free ranging during the day for a few months now. They love grasshoppers, wild grass seed heads, scratching in the neglected flower beds and cleaning up under the bird feeders - 4 years of spilled seed: millet and other small grains plus black oil sunflower seeds. They are doing quite well, are glossy, active, happy and the eggs are fab.
I think that given enough space and choices, the chickens will not eat what is not good for them.
What do more experienced chickeners think???

I agree that my flocks have never seemed to gravitate towards food items that were toxic to them, but I have seen them eat Styrofoam or something dumb like that.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

Good lawd I hope so!! Kiddo keeps BOSS's in his pocket, the chickies follow him around clucking at him for a few flicked their way.

 

[lcwmt]

I agree that my flocks have never seemed to gravitate towards food items that were toxic to them, but I have seen them eat Styrofoam or something dumb like that.

as for the styrofoam, yup, but are they eating it or pecking at it as they do all sorts of interesting surfaces? It seems to me the latter: shiny foil surfaces, styrofoam, odd bits here and there, pecking at but not really "eating".

 

[andreanar]

as for the styrofoam, yup, but are they eating it or pecking at it as they do all sorts of interesting surfaces? It seems to me the latter: shiny foil surfaces, styrofoam, odd bits here and there, pecking at but not really "eating".

Ive seen them EAT it, devour a 2 foot by 2 foot square of it. It didn't cause them any issues thank gosh.

 

[GRB73]

Good to know! My girls seem to know what's good for them to eat, except when they devour the door jamb around the garage door. I thought it was mice. No just bored chickens up to no good!

I'll remember to save sunflower heads for them. It's something to entertain them in the winter.