Question About "Black Oil Sunflower Seed"

[SandraChick]

MIne get BOSS

it has the shell on it (to be clear)

besides vit e, oils, and such, it also has something in it that begins with mela (but don't remember the name right now). A shortage of this ingredient causes chickens to eat feathers. If you have a feather eater....give it BOSS. Almost all my "rescues" eat feathers when they get here. No feather eating usually within 2days of introducing BOSS.

Sandra

 

[nu2chixinmo]

WOW, all this info, I love it!!!! I have a question, what about the cockatiel feed, with all the extra vitamins and minerals? (It has the sunflower and other seed in the package with the shells on) I have been giving it to my girls, just assuming that it was ok, now I am not so sure..........
Thanks in advance for your help

 

[SandraChick]

I guess my only worry is that they get too much of a certain vitamin....


My experience though, is that chickens will balance their own diet if they free range (thus having the opportunity to get what they need at all times)

Sandra

 

[GoodEgg]

I don't know if it matters but ...

Some cockatiel/parrot mix has the black oil sunflower seed (the small black ones you all are talking about, right?) and some has the large greystripe sunflower seed.

Does anyone feed other types of sunflower seed besides black oil?

The other (greystripe) seeds are much larger, and most birds that I have had will shell them before eating them. I have no idea about chickens?

trish

 

[Mac in Wisco]

The striped sunflower seeds are fine. They are considered confectionary seed by the growers and are used in human snack food and command a higher price. If you find it in bird feed they are either the smaller seeds which are screened out from the jumbo seeds used in snack foods or you are paying a premium for your bird food.

 

[GoodEgg]

Thanks Mac, I just saw this reply.

Actually ... it DOES cost a premium. I get mine shelled from the health food store I work at and we buy them in 50# bags, so I get it at a much lower cost. And usually I feed them the leftovers. It just seemed to me they don't need too much shelled sunflower seed, but they sure do love them! (I usually mix with leftover flax seeds.)

trish