Sunflowers

[Rein Quest]

Hi,

I’m planning to grow sunflowers this year and just drop the harvested heads in occasionally like a treat.

Only trouble is I’m not sure how much to limit them too. At the moment I only have two girls but I’m hoping I might get back to 3-4 by harvest time.

Any suggestions are welcome.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

They'll definitely love the sunflowers. I grew some (BOSS) and the heads were loaded with seeds. While different varieties of sunflowers may vary in yield, with 2 hens, I think a head could be too much to feed at once because they might fill up on that instead of their feed. Removing the seeds and doling them out periodically would allow you to control the portions. Alternately, you could give them a head, monitor how much and how quickly they eat the seeds, and adjust as needed.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Treats should not be daily, and should not exceed 10% of feed by weight. With only two birds, assuming you grow mammoth variety sunflowers (most common in the Burbee etc seed packets), you want to break the dried flower into three or four pieces, give them one. Not more than every other day, but better, only twice weekly.

Good luck in your efforts - I only get a handful of seed heads each year, and the actual seed development is "poor". Mine get a whole crumbled head when i can - but I have 55 birds, which makes a difference.