Black Sunflower Seeds

[eastbaychicks]

Help, I'm freaking out because my birdies are eating the black sunflower seeds whole. Is that ok?

 

[trilyn]

Absolutely, just make sure they have some grit if they're in a run. If they're out free ranging you don't need to worry about grit as much, they'll find rocks/pebbles and that while they're pecking the ground.

 

[cjexotic]

That is great for them especially when the weather starts to get cold. It is considered a HOT food just like corn. You feed this to help them build a bit of fat to produce extra heat to
keep warm. When feeding only for that reason they recommend from Oct to Jan. then stop to prepare for laying season. I feed year round just more in the winter months.
I just toss in the coop so they scratch for it and keep the litter turned. I use the deep litter method. that way they get goodies and I get less work. lol

 

[eastbaychicks]

Thanks!!! I was a little concerned, they have free range in the yard for now... until I can make a fence... OMG they're walking in the house now. YIIKES!

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Yes. My girls would have me skinned alive if I didn't give them whole black oil sunflower seeds every day.

 

[felidaet]

If you are a gardener, grow some black oil sunflower seeds for them next year. I planted 4 rows that were 30' long this year (Plants were about 1' apart within each row). Nearly every day from mid August to mid October I would cut two flowers heads and toss them in the run for my 17 pullets. They went crazy over them. I would leave about 2' of stem attached with the leaves. After the seeds were gone they would munch on the leaves. No need to remove the seeds from the heads. I plan to grow at least this many more again next year. More if I happen to expand my flock.

. I think everyone here knows what happens when you walk into a feed store in the spring and you hear the little chirps... '

'.

 

[eastbaychicks]

What a great idea! Can I plant the seeds I've been feeding them?

 

[felidaet]

Yes you can plant the seeds you have been feeding them. It does not take very many seeds. I looked around at garden store, feed stores, etc. and could not find anywhere to buy seeds to plant. Then I remembered how many of the would sprout under our bird feeder each spring. I planted them about 3" apart and then thinned them to about 1' apart after they were a few inches tall.

 

[eastbaychicks]

We'll have to post pic's in the spring. This is very cool.