Is it good to feed chickens sunflower seeds everyday?

[GC-Raptor]

View attachment 1105862 My Birds....

Wow, I always pictured Alberta as a dry Province. It's looks Beautiful, so green. GC
Oh, and some nice looking chickens.

 

[chickens really]

Wow, I always pictured Alberta as a dry Province. It's looks Beautiful, so green. GC

Yes, it's beautiful here...Its hilly here around my place...I live not far from the Hills of Hope....Google it...Its interesting...Alberta , Canada...

 

[Cindy in PA]

I know people go crazy for spoiling their chickens on this site, but scratch & table scraps were given long ago & are not just part of the BYC fad! The great 3 page article that made me want chickens in 1993 said to give them good feed, water & scratch to give them something to keep them busy or to get them back to the coop. I have cut back amounts in recent years, but my chickens get a small amount of scratch everyday, sometimes with BOSS & sometimes without. JMHO

My Birds are beautiful, healthy also without the added fat..
Treats for chickens became a fad once Backyard Chickens were introduced into city settings....I only replied...
Best wishes....

 

[Patinas]

Beyond the discussion of whether or not feeding BOSS as a treat makes chickens fat, I just can't imagine not giving my chickens treats. Just the pure joy and excitement they display when I bring out the treat tray is priceless to me.

I actually brew a cup of coffee in the afternoon before I bring out the treats just so I can sit and watch them enjoy it. I'm not sure who enjoys treat time more, them or me!

So for that fact alone, I will always give my hens treats. My hens are completely pampered and they only get fresh, healthy treats and I never feed them everyday table scraps such as stuff I've scraped off dinner plates or any old food that I wouldn't eat myself.

I completely agree that treats are a treat and need to be limited. I don't feed any treats until late in the afternoon after I let them out to forage because I do want them to eat their feed as the bulk of their diet.

The strange thing is, I've watched my hens eat a couple things off the treat tray and then walk away to hang out with me or go off to dust bathe so that tells me if they aren't hungry they aren't going to eat no matter how good the stuff on the tray is.

I've said this few times on here, that I've learned to trust that chickens know what they need and when they need it. If I notice my chickens getting fat, I would cut back the treats but so far, no fat ones in the flock and oreos are not on the menu!

 

[Folly's place]

But Oreos are the best! All that fat and sugar and chocolate! I never buy them, because I could eat the whole package. Double stuff! Yes!!! Mary

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

When my birds were just a few weeks old I bought a 50Lb bag of scratch, only $9 ! I have since realized that it is junk food and only use it to get them to come to me when I need them to go in the coop before they are otherwise ready. i am worried it is going to spoil before I use it.

Live and learn

Gary

 

[Folly's place]

No chicken will ever get a cookie here; they are all for ME!!! Mary

 

[3riverschick]

Some of the most beautiful plumage I ever had on my Light Sussex was when I threw a cup of black oil sunflower seeds (BOSS)on the poultry run ground every morning. I had about 7 Birds and that their feathers were just beautiful .not a problem. I did give them grit to to help grind up the seeds. Karen

 

[Chickassan]

I haven't been giving mine sunflower seeds but I did have some plants come up volunteer along with some milo and millet out of some wild bird feed.The little cockrel is polishing his skills by shaking the plants for the ladies and actually letting them eat instead of eating it himself so I'm not going to discourage that one little bit.

 

[Bronco rob 94]

it makes them grow