Can chickens eat safflower seeds?

[tazcat70]

Wow, this is an old thread! Glad to see people using the search feature!

 

[Frannabelle]

I keep safflower seed in my wild bird feeders because 1) squirrels will not eat it (chipmunks will though) and 2) blackbirds and jays will not eat it either (red wing blackbirds, grackles, starlings)

My chickens get handfuls of the safflower as treats and LOVE IT!

 

[Liamm_1]

Mine love safflower seeds also, and WAY more than sunflower seeds!
I'm wondering though, do many of you find the whole seeds in their poops? I'm wondering if the nutritional value is wasted, because I find them a lot. Or...maybe they digest most and just a few remain undigested?

 

[michickenwrangler]

Whoever bumped this, thanks.

I've been curious about it and keep forgetting to ask.

My birds may get some safflower seeds as a treat soon

 

[nuchickontheblock]

I have some wild bird mix that has safflower seed and mine seems to like them more than the sunflower seeds. They are bantams and wonder if they BOSS shells are too hard -- they seems to ignore them. The safflower seeds seem to be shelled so that might be the difference. I haven't bought shelled sunflower seeds due to cost -- does anyone feed that?

 

[momma-hen]

Quote:
I buy shelled sunflowers by the 0 bag. I like that there's no waste.

 

[mamahen2011]

Great! Another treat I can give my girls!

I just read on here that peanuts are good for them too (in moderation) ... so my list of treats is growing! LOL

 

[Fowl Wench]

Safflower seeds are white and a bit smaller than sunflower seeds.


i'm sure they will eat them and most likely won't hurt them. I am a firm believer that a chicken will only things that won't kill them. I have Morning glories all around my run and coop. They are poisonous, cause convulsions and such. My girls wont touch them but will jump up and pluck the gourd flowers that are growning with the morning glories.

 

[Fowl Wench]

Morning Glory seeds are actually a psychotropic that causes whomever eats them to hallucinate and "go on a trip" for a few hours.

 

[MuddyHillFarm]

We planted several rows of sunflowers next to the coop. The girls get a lot of exercise jumping up to get at the pedals and the nuts. Talk about very funny to watch! Highly suggest planting some and NOT paying for them at the store.