Free Choice Sunflower Seeds?

[PoultryPedia]

Should sunflower seeds be fed to horses whole (ie. unshelled)?

Has anyone ever experienced problems from feeding sunflower seeds whole to chickens (other than perhaps being stampeded by overly enthusiastic hens & roos)?

 

[Akane]

There is a difference in striped sunflower seed sold for human food and BOSS. I don't know all the differences but the shells are less digestible so it's suggested to only feed them shelled to livestock. Usually though you can't find bulk amounts of striped sunflower seeds like you can BOSS.

Should sunflower seeds be fed to horses whole (ie. unshelled)?

Part of your answer is already above. The shells of BOSS are digestible and give some useful fiber to livestock. I have had fewer whole sunflowers come out than whole oats even when feeding them to my older mare. You can occasionally find large bags of shelled BOSS if you really want. I had one for my guinea pigs since they have a tendency to choke on seeds, nuts, and other things like sunflower hulls. That's the only animal I've heard caution on giving hulled BOSS.​