Black Oil Sunflower Seeds

[jamie7100]

Hello -

I have been offering some BOSS to my flock as a treat and I am wondering how much is a good amount to give them. I have 22 adult birds (not giving any to the babies yet) that are on a 20% mixed flock ration to up their winter protein levels. How much BOSS per day is good for them? Since spring is late to arrive here (got up to 33 today!) they spend a few hours outside each day but probably aren't finding many bugs.

Thanks in advance!

 

[loveourbirds]

we add black oil sunflower seeds to our feed but at a variable rate. the sunflower seeds at fat to your feed and will sometimes make your birds to fat, but it also makes their feathers shiny. also make sure they don't have any Canadian peas in them.

my basic mix is this (someone may have something better but this works for me)
25 lbs layer crumble (pellets work too, but some of my bantams wont eat pellets) I start with 18-19%
25 lbs cracked cleaned corn, non gmo
4-6 lbs calf manna
2-6 lbs of sunflower seeds (3 is about right)
a little bit of granite grit, and some oyster shell.

if the chickens start getting to fat, I drop the sunflower amount and add some rolled oats.
this really doesn't save any money over layer crumble, but overall your birds will look better, shiner, and mine seem to grow better.