sunflower seeds

[Cindy in PA]

If you have access to field peas, they are 22% protein at least. Here in farm country, I cannot get them (soy is king) so I just bought some pigeon grain yesterday at the feed store that has 3 kinds of field peas in it. I would like to get some of Purgrain's (Moyer & Sons) 21.5% and mix oats & corn with it, But I got a bag of the 16% yesterday just to see how they liked it. I would have to order the 21.5%. Right now I am going to feed pellets and grain. I also feed lentils (24%) with my sunflowers for scratch. This mix will not save me money, but I would like to get off soy also. A bag of field peas from Countryside is $39.50 delivered here and I checked on split peas at my co-op, but they were $48/50 lbs. I also feed alfalfa cubes moistened and I think they are 17%. Purgrain.com is a neat site where you can see the pigeon mixes and they also explain all the ingredients. The chickens really loved the Austrian peas. I can also get F.M. Brown's pigeon mixes at the local feed mill, so I just have to come up with a mix that I am able to afford! Brown's 20% is $28/50 and the Purgrain (Moyer's) 16% is $28/50. Don't know what the 21.5% is at the feed store. Would like to hear where others find grain ingredients.

 

[espressola]

Thank you, Cindy, I will check into peas and lentils. There is no problem feeding these uncooked as there is with beans? I'll experiment with a little bag from the grocery store to see how the girls and 2 roos like it after I figure out if it's OK to serve them uncooked. I think I've heard of others feeding peas so I would think so....
Patty N. ;-)

 

[Cindy in PA]

Everything I have read says lentils & split peas (field peas) can be fed raw to poultry. I have been feeding about 1/2 cup per day of green split peas & lentils for about 3 months with no problems. All the data I have read from different universities has said the same for maple peas, canada peas & austrian peas that are in the pigeon grain. There may be some difference of opinion here and at other sites. Just do some research and do what you feel comfortable with!
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[espressola]

Thank you Cindy! Now to find them... hmmm... we live in CA so one would think it wouldn't be that hard- but it is! Have a great day-
Patty ;-)

 

[cw]

alright after searchin for the information i finally found it, yes sunflower seed can be a viable substitute for soybean, in poultry feeds, depending on the seed protein content, moisture content at harvest(varies from sunflower types etc) this post would be extremly long if i was to post all the info i researched , but google sunflower seeds in broiler production , ans sunflower seed compared to soybean and u should see some fact sheets from differnt universitys, and will get anyone interested pointed in the right direction

 

[caralouise1974]

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Erm, what is the issue with feeding raw beans to hens? I have been feeding mine the end-trimmings from our green beans for ages now, and they love them! (I even usually sneak them a couple of whole chopped ones from our human share when my DH isn't looking.)

Is that not good?

 

[Hillbilly Rooster]

I have read most of the posting that were put on the thread. I liked it and if you can is there a problem with just planting a 1/2 acre garden of sunflowers and make sure that you cut the heads to dry.

We do small batches of sunflowers and hang the heads to dry and feed the wild birds in the winter months.

Could you do the same for chickens and let them peck the head clean?

 

[espressola]

Quote:
Erm, what is the issue with feeding raw beans to hens? I have been feeding mine the end-trimmings from our green beans for ages now, and they love them! (I even usually sneak them a couple of whole chopped ones from our human share when my DH isn't looking.)

Is that not good?

Hi, I think it's DRIED beans that is the problem... I should have been more specific, sorry. I'm sure beans from the garden are fine... I've been putting dried peas and lentils in a large tub of garden dirt with decomposed granite added to it- it serves the purpose of a dirt bath and also a grit tub to help with eating the peas/lentils etc...

Patty N. ;-)

 

[Fuzzbuttfarm]

I'm growing sunflowers and was planning to mix this into scratch with the amaranth and heirloom corn I'm growing as well.

It's nice to know I can sub this and other more proteiny things for soy. There's soy in the starter feed I got at the local-ish feedstore, but I'm pretty certain the organic starter I bought off a friend (she gets tons at a time from a farm an hour away) is free of soy.

And hey, if I can also toss in peas from the side yard, that just makes my day

 

[cw]

hillbilly rooster, i am gonna do just that this winter, put up dried sunflowers for the winter, you may have to watch your moisture content (or they will spoil)but there is a trick to that (if the seed head moisture content is less then 15% which should be dry enough the seeds will literly fall out of the head). we may even go as far as sackin some of ours to put back . i think the one thing to watch out for would be the rodents