I buy it without shells, but it's a lot cheaper with the shells
Wild birds break open the shells to get to the nut meat, so I guess that's why I get the sunflower hearts. But I'm sure a chicken gizzard would have no problems breaking down the shells...
My girls have been eating them in the shells since they were babies...gave them sand as grit back then...now they have regular grit to help grind them up. They are addicted to them!
mine are without shells and they are cheaper with the shell. I think nutritionally it is no different, but they would find them w/ shells in the wild wouldn't they?