Do chickens eat the whole sunflower seed and shell?

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Hello everyone! I gave my girls black oil sunflower seeds for the first time from my hand and half of the chickens were uninterested! I wanna jack up their protein intake during cold new england winter. And, it appears they were trying to crack them open banging them on the ground in the beak! Lol. I then decided to use my coffee grinder and grind the sunflower seeds up and put in their evening meals. Is this strange or unnecessary? Probably…..but i had to ask! The sunflower seeds get lost in the leaves and stuff in the run when i throw them in because they are black and blend in. What do you think? How do you offer your chickens sunflower seeds?

 

[Jenessa_096]

Chickens might not be interested in them the first time you offer them some. Some of them will try to crack them open others will leave them whole. Unless they’re pretty big, they should be able to eat them whole. I don’t offer them a whole lot, a couple handfuls a week since they are pretty high in protein. Hope this helped! They should eventually all try it, some might like them others not!

 

[aart]

Mine gobble them down.
They are very high in fat, so aren't given very often.

 

[Jenessa_096]

Mine gobble them down.
They are very high in fat, so aren't given very often.

Agree!

 

[luckycluk]

Can they break down the outside shell? I have a bag of black oil sunflower seeds but I was hesitant because of the shell. I but the shelled insulted ones in food lion but I got a really good deal on this unshelled bag.

 

[Kiki]

Can they break down the outside shell? I have a bag of black oil sunflower seeds but I was hesitant because of the shell. I but the shelled insulted ones in food lion but I got a really good deal on this unshelled bag.

Yes they can but beware...that are a treat high in fat.
Do not offer them regularly and If you do offer them make sure you are not offering more than a spoonful worth per bird.

 

[luckycluk]

Yes they can but beware...that are a treat high in fat.
Do not offer them regularly and If you do offer them make sure you are not offering more than a spoonful worth per bird.

Thank you for your reply. I’m glad I asked because I most likely would of have them to much.

 

[Happy hen lover]

To up your protein I offer a little floating fish food . They come as pellets and gave a 38% protein. My dog's even go for them .

 

[miraleit]

mine love them and give them futing winter for miulting. my question, they usually eat thrm whole not a problem as they digest fine in crop. but who is leaving the husks? Is it the squirrels or birds I havent seen. Ive never seen a chicken spit out the shell

 

[CCsGarden]

mine love them and give them futing winter for miulting. my question, they usually eat thrm whole not a problem as they digest fine in crop. but who is leaving the husks? Is it the squirrels or birds I havent seen. Ive never seen a chicken spit out the shell

I would think the squirrels or the birds.