Chickens won't eat whole sunflower seeds

[wwise56]

I just bought a 30lb bag of Sunflower Seeds and mine won't touch them. I'll try breaking a few to see if they decide they like them. But, I'm suspect that I'll be looking for a place to unload a whole lot of seed.

 

[centrarchid]

Try to scatter the seed about. They will try new things and the seeds should not offend.

 

[Spiritsmeadow]

my chickens started eating whole black oil sunflower seeds when I accidentally spilled a bag of regular old bird seed. You could try mixing the sunflower with millet, flax and finch seed, or in their scratch grains, they should learn very quickly how delicious they are...you will be a Prince among Men in their eyes!

 

[centrarchid]

I think they are more open to new things when they are isolated from feed piles. Watch out they engage in exploratory pecks even when not actively feeding.

 

[AquaDuck]

How about soaking them for a day? Maybe even let them sprout?
The seeds will be more digestible that way as well.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Each chicken likes different seeds/grains. I am currently giving my girls a mixed bird seed, with BOSS. . The next bag will be scratch grains. . I like to give them variety. I don't give them kitchen or table scraps, no meal worms or crickets. All though I believe they have eaten crickets, because every year I would have a deluge of crickets, keeping me awake. Since I've been letting them free range, it's been quiet.. GC

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Many types of oil seeds are bird resistant. This is done to help keep the little Tweety Birds from gobbling up Farmer McDonald's crops while they are still in the field awaiting harvest. I've had some personal experience with bird resistant grain sorghum, believe me.

BTW, bird resistant oil seeds are NOT GMOs, they are naturally selected for this trait. When a bird eats bird resistant feed grains it DOESN'T die, it just develops heartburn, indigestion, and gas. So no matter how nice your chickens ask you, don't pull their fingers, you'll be sorry!!!

I experienced the same lack of interest in my chickens when I got a free load of Indian corn. It took a week or longer for my birds to fully realize that corn did not necessarily have to be yellow to work.

 

[Thomas W]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback, i will be trying all your ideas shortly.