blackoil sunflower seeds

[davidsgirl]

Just read about giving blackoil sunflower seeds to chickens while they are molting to add protein to their diet. Is it ok to give them mixed into their scratch on a regular basis or is that too much protein when they are not molting? I give very little scratch in proportion to their balanced pellet diet.

 

[BantamLover21]

It is fine to give chickens sunflower seeds on a regular basis, mixed in with scratch or otherwise. Make sure the total amount of "other food" doesn't exceed 10% of their diet, though, or problems may result. Lots of scratch or sunflower seeds has the tendency to make chickens overweight.

 

[Wyandottes7]

Sunflower seeds are fine to give chickens, even when not molting. But, like all treats, they should be given in moderation. Limit the amount of scratch and sunflower seeds that you give your birds.

 

[hillcrest10Hens]

Can I feed sunflower seeds that are not black? I grew some sunflowers around the chicken yard and would like to feed the seeds to my hens. Can they digest the hulls? Some have fallen into the chicken yard and the girls seem to love them.

 

[Wyandottes7]

Can I feed sunflower seeds that are not black? I grew some sunflowers around the chicken yard and would like to feed the seeds to my hens. Can they digest the hulls? Some have fallen into the chicken yard and the girls seem to love them.

Yes, you can feed sunflower seeds other than black. Black oil are usually the easiest for chickens to eat (as other varieties tend to be large and thick hulled), but others are fine for chickens to eat.

 

[BantamLover21]

Can I feed sunflower seeds that are not black? I grew some sunflowers around the chicken yard and would like to feed the seeds to my hens. Can they digest the hulls? Some have fallen into the chicken yard and the girls seem to love them.

Yes, you can feed chickens virtually any type of sunflower. They don't really "digest" the hulls. Chickens basically have two stomach-like organs. The first stomach is called the Proventriculus, and it secretes certain acids/enzymes that begin the breakdown of food. After the Proventriculus, food moves into another part of the digestive tract known as the Gizzard, or Ventriculus. The Gizzard has strong, muscular walls and contains grit (small stones) that a bird eats. The grit and muscular walls work together to grind up hard or fibrous substances, including sunflower seed hulls.

 

[hillcrest10Hens]

Yes, you can feed chickens virtually any type of sunflower. They don't really "digest" the hulls. Chickens basically have two stomach-like organs. The first stomach is called the Proventriculus, and it secretes certain acids/enzymes that begin the breakdown of food. After the Proventriculus, food moves into another part of the digestive tract known as the Gizzard, or Ventriculus. The Gizzard has strong, muscular walls and contains grit (small stones) that a bird eats. The grit and muscular walls work together to grind up hard or fibrous substances, including sunflower seed hulls.

Thanks for the reply. I will enjoy feeding the sunflower seeds I grew and get them some blackoil seeds, also. The anatomy lesson was helpful. Knew about the gizzard but never heard of the proventriculus.

Yes, you can feed chickens virtually any type of sunflower. They don't really "digest" the hulls. Chickens basically have two stomach-like organs. The first stomach is called the Proventriculus, and it secretes certain acids/enzymes that begin the breakdown of food. After the Proventriculus, food moves into another part of the digestive tract known as the Gizzard, or Ventriculus. The Gizzard has strong, muscular walls and contains grit (small stones) that a bird eats. The grit and muscular walls work together to grind up hard or fibrous substances, including sunflower seed hulls.