can chickens over eat sunflower seeds?

[Tlawler]

The "girls" this summer have had lots to eat, as we have several garden plots. In late spring they got a lot of lettuce; early summer a lot of zucchini; and mid/late summer a lot of tomatoes. Also quite a few grapes from some wild grape vines on the farm. And, of course, other "table scraps," though we do not give the chickens any meat or eggs.
They get layer crumble early in the morning, and "other stuff" around midday, when I check the egg production.

Barred rock hens are such a great breed. Very friendly, and so far extremely high egg production. Only my wife and myself live on our farm now (all the kids have moved on), and with egg production exceeding 4 dozen a week, all of our good neighbors are getting free eggs this summer and fall.

 

[ValleyviewRoost]

That's really good to know.....I'm going to move my bird feeder and give my hens sunflower seeds ....my only question is....hulled or not.....can they be given in the shell.....I've also been feeding my hens crickets but should that just be a once in a blue moon treat ....

 

[tudiechick]

My chicks are 5 weeks old, is it okay to give them a few sunflower seeds? I have blue orps and golden buffs.

 

[Sandlyn]

My hens love sunflower seeds! I buy unshelled,raw, unsalted ones.I throw a handful in their pen and let them scratch around for them. It 's a great treat and they 're healthy!

 

[tcstoehr]

I'm kinda interested in the OP's original question. Is over-eating BOSS a potential problem? I hear various sources saying that BOSS is a treat and too many treats are a bad thing. Therefore if a chicken has access to an excessive supply of BOSS from a messy bird feeder, then that could be a problem???

 

[Folly's place]

My wild bird feeders are well away from the areas the chickens visit, both to manage the seed eating and disease potential from the feeder area. Sunflower seeds, corn, and scraps, are treats, not complete feed for laying hens. Too many goodies will unbalance their diet and can cause real problems. Mary

 

[rosemarygardens]

can chicken eat oat seeds?

 

[RDJJ]

allowing my orphingtons to free range a bit in the back yard. I guess the correct thing to do is to give them some grit since they are eating bugs & Worms & sunflower seeds. My question is, can I give them too much grit or do they know when to stop?

rick
Frankfort, Mi

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! Put out grit free choice, they will eat what they need. Mary

 

[tcstoehr]

Yes, they know when to stop. And they will likely find their own little pebbles here and there but putting out some grit is cheap insurance.