OK, another question....Bird feeders..

[donrae]

If you use hardware cloth, you're correct, the wild birds can't access the inside.

but, not all of us use hardware cloth. My predator prevention is more based on fences and dogs. I have multiple pens/coops, and using hardware cloth would be cost prohibitive. Each person has to do their own predator risk assessment when building their coop and run, this is what works for me. Besides my own stinkin' barn cats, I've not had a loss to predators in....I think it's been 7 years or so.



My breeding pens are cattle panels, with chicken wire at the lower parts to prevent birds from flowing back and forth, but not at the upper levels, so little wild birds can freely enter if they choose.

And yes, the door is a perfect entry for wild birds. Or, if you free range, they come into contact that way.

 

[Nielisse]

Black Oil Sunflower Seed (BOSS) 

oh yeah...I saw someone selling them. Do u feed them to chickens with the shells on?

 

[blackdog043]

Yes, you can leave the shells on. Just make sure it is Black oil sunflower seed. Here is a link for tractor supply, you can usually get it at Walmart also. http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...l-sunflower-wild-bird-food-40-lb?cm_vc=-10005

 

[Patinas]

Yes, you can leave the shells on. Just make sure it is Black oil sunflower seed. Here is a link for tractor supply, you can usually get it at Walmart also. http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...l-sunflower-wild-bird-food-40-lb?cm_vc=-10005

Sorry to hi-jack this thread with this question but since the topic of BOSS was brought up.....do the chickens eat the entire sunflower seed with the shell on or do they crack it open like wild birds do and eat the seed inside?? I have lots of BOSS since I feed wild birds and didn't realize I can also offer it to the chickens which are currently just chicks. I'm just curious how they eat it before I offer it to them. Thanks!

 

[Pats Poultry]

They do eat the shell and all. I give mine Boss at times and some of the half broken empty shells get gobbled up just like the real things. I cant believe some of the things that they will eat. Just make sure they have free access to grit.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yup chickens will eat them shells and all, the grit in their crops will help break it down. Mine get whatever falls out of the bird feeder when I go to fill it (I just bring it in the run, fill it, take it back out and hang it).

 

[Nielisse]

Thank you all very much! Gonna get some right away for my babies

 

[Patinas]

Thanks for the BOSS info! I'll try offering some to my flock today.