Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[MrsNorthie]

Maybe try getting some seeds from Baker Creek and grow your own sunflowers? Then you'll know exactly what went into producing them.

We ordered a bunch of heritage Sunflower seeds to grow for the chickens. They grow quite tall and will also provide shade.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Maybe try getting some seeds from Baker Creek and grow your own sunflowers? Then you'll know exactly what went into producing them.

Great idea in theory. For some reason, I'm terrible at growing sunflowers. Out of at least 150 seeds planted in the past 3 years, I've had 2 full-sized flowers. Maybe 5 more that bloomed but were stunted for some reason. It flummoxes me.

Possible the squirrels are going behind me and digging up the seeds.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Great idea in theory. For some reason, I'm terrible at growing sunflowers. Out of at least 150 seeds planted in the past 3 years, I've had 2 full-sized flowers. Maybe 5 more that bloomed but were stunted for some reason. It flummoxes me.

Possible the squirrels are going behind me and digging up the seeds.

The seedlings do need to be protected from pesky rodents. I have the same problem here.

Next Spring, I'll try putting a barrier around them until they are tall enough to no longer be a temptation.

 

[MROO]

I wonder how this plays out in the US. It's been nearly impossible lately to find organic black-oil sunflower seeds, but the chickens love to find them in their scratch mix.

Their favorite organic scratch mix with sunflower seeds seems to have been discontinued last year, so I recently bought a bag for wild birds.

Unfortunately, there wasn't an organic option, and the seeds are so shiny So I called the number on the back of the bag to check if they process them with pesticides.

That phone number led to a phone-tree with a long wait that eventually resulted in a deflection to another company's customer-service line...then I gave up. Maybe I should revisit that quest to see if they'll give some kind of statement about how they process the seeds.

Maybe it's time to grow your own!
Gee, that's such a nice thought in the middle of all this cold!

 

[MrsNorthie]

Maybe it's time to grow your own!
Gee, that's such a nice thought in the middle of all this cold!

It can't stay cold forever! I am going to start mine in pots in another month or so, to give them a good head start.

 

[Shadrach]

Two hours yesterday. Mostly grey with a evening mist.
I did take some pictures but I can't find them. Both camera and resizing hard drive portion need cleaning out.

 

[L-plate chicken mum]

Two hours yesterday. Mostly grey with a evening mist.
I did take some pictures but I can't find them. Both camera and resizing hard drive portion need cleaning out.

Bummer, I find sorting photos from wherever the device has put them difficult & tedious but then I’m only semi computer literate

 

[Shadrach]

Bummer, I find sorting photos from wherever the device has put them difficult & tedious but then I’m only semi computer literate

I've been meaning to sort the hard drives out for ages. I had dinner guest last night and was in a bit of a rush. I know the pictures are there somewhere.

 

[Perris]

I had dinner guest last night

How nice. What did you serve up this time?

 

[Canadian Wind]

I picked up a large bag of BOSS yesterday on sale, and think I may try to sprout some for the chickens and rabbits.