Sunflowers

[Michele G]

What are the best sunflower varieties to plant for harvesting seeds for my chickens?

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Plant the seeds you buy to feed them (black oil).

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Plant the seeds you buy to feed them (black oil).

X2...I had an accidental Black Oil Sunflower Seed (BOSS) garden this past summer when the chickens missed some of the seeds I periodically tossed out for them as treats (and I just buy BOSS from the local feed mill). The sunflowers grew well, but really started too late in the season and also suffered a heavy aphid infestation, so the ducks and chickens just ended up eating the seeds from the heads and the leaves. They thoroughly enjoyed them, and it was very low-maintenance. I'll definitely sow more earlier this year - they are quite cheerful - and earlier in the season.