Question About "Black Oil Sunflower Seed"

[ThunderStruck]

Good Morning everyone! I have seen them mentioned a couple of time and i have a quick question about the black oil S.F.S, are they to be given shelled or un-shelled, and what will they do for my girls? Thanks!

Forrest

 

[mudhen]

I give mine shelled and the girls just gobble them up!

 

[wendy]

hi thunderstruck,
nice question, i have been wanting to get those seeds. but i was thinking about them for attracting certain birds that will kill small snakes. so if i buy them i could use them in the chicken pen too! i know they love the wild bird seed i throw out for them to scratch at and eat!

Thanks mudhen, for the info too!

 

[momma-hen]

I give them shelled 'cause I found that it's cheaper per pound to do so. They gobble it up like candy. And, it adds vit E to their eggs....good for you too

 

[wendy]

thanks momma-hen, always learning something here

 

[BeckyLa]

I feed BOSS to my girls all the time. From what I understand, they add oil to shine up the feathers, help prevent eggbound, adds omega 3 oils to the eggs, as well as high in protein. My birds love them and they are good to add to scratch in order to cut back on the amount of corn fed during the hot months. I feed the seeds in the shells.

 

[wendy]

more good info, our hearts should be even healthier

thanks becky

 

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

At what age would you folks give them the shelled sunflower seeds? I've been dying to give some to my flock (6wks) but the seeds seem so big LOL!

-Meghan

 

[dlhunicorn]

...the shell has a lot of fibre and next to no nutritional value ... in addition it could possibly cause crop problems or punctures in airsacs... so why give it to them shelled? A bad idea in my book.
There are several threads on it over at the EZboard BYC location:
http://p072.ezboard.com/fbackyardchickensfrm13

 

[Mac in Wisco]

You all have lost me here... To shell a seed is to remove the hull. Shelled seeds have the hull removed. Un-shelled seeds have the hull still on. BOSS is bulk seed in the hull or "un-shelled", usually sold in a 50lb feed sack. The only shelled seeds I've ever seen are the small bags of sunflower seed "hearts" sold for snacks.

The hull poses no problem to them, they are eating it as nature intended. If it was a problem I'd have dead sparrows, cardinals, and chickens everywhere.