sunflower seed question

[L*A*G*]

I'm planting a patch of sunflowers this year and would like to know what kind should i plant for the seeds to give to my chickens?
Larra

 

[Lesa]

I love sunflowers and planted a bunch of different kinds- in addition to all that the birds planted for me. I assumed the chickens would love them. As fall came, I gave the girls a few heads. They enjoyed them, but didn't go crazy for them. I ended up hanging them in my basement to dry and figured I'd give them to the wild birds. Last week I saw them hanging down there and decided to bring one up for the chickens. Oh my gosh- they went crazy!! They absolutely loved it, when I went out a little later the entire flower was gone-no evidence left! I think they were spoiled when there was no snow on the ground and they had their pick of goodies! In the middle of winter it turned out to be a wonderful treat! I don't think it much matter which you plant as long as they have seeds!

 

[1mommahen]

Our girls love, love, love them!

Kinda like me with a bag of M&M's!

 

[L*A*G*]

lol I love them too! in fact I'm *Sunflower*Girl* on TEG.
know what kind of seed is in wild bird food?

 

[ScoobyRoo]

That would be another good thing to plant. I'm trying to plan ahead and plant things that I can feed them thru out the winter months. I'm going to do pumpkins and freeze them and anything else my freezer has room for. I think I would go for the black oil sunflower. That is what I give them now.

 

[Laskaland]

Quote:
GREAT idea. I just added it to my planting list
christina

 

[nightshade]

I like sunspots, they are the commercial style plants. They only get 3-4 feet tall and still have the large mammoth heads, Some of mine had 15inch heads this year. I got a 5 gal bucket of seen from 12 plants. I was really impressed. So I am planting a large patch this year if I can get the seed a little cheaper then what they want in the consumer catalog. I planned on just saving a coffee can or two of seeds to plant next years crop with but the girls found the drying heads before I got them all cleaned.

 

[computer_chicken]

My Chickens go nuts for sunflower seeds, its one of the best treats. I bought a 50lb bag at Tractor Supply for $19.00 and share it with the chickens and wild birds. I hand feed the seeds to the chickens alot of the time, they seem to prefer eating out of my hand for some reason.

 

[L*A*G*]

that sound like a good idea! I might do that! whatcha got on the list? (oops, am I cheeting?)

Henry'schickens :

That would be another good thing to plant. I'm trying to plan ahead and plant things that I can feed them thru out the winter months. I'm going to do pumpkins and freeze them and anything else my freezer has room for. I think I would go for the black oil sunflower. That is what I give them now.​

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Just by a couple of bags of mixed "wild bird food" and plant it. Everything that comes up, chickens will eat.
You can plant an area and just let them in it, and they will enjoy it both while it's growing and after it seeds.
I plant it around some of the fields on the farm for the wild birds and deer also
Black oil sunflowers are the most nutritious, and about the cheapest. Most any kind of millet does well too

Avoid the feeds that contain cracked corn or rice if youre going to plant it

In the Fall you can plant Cereal Rye and Ryegrass that will grow all Winter in most places