Trouble with sunflower seeds???

[har]

My feed store ran out of scratch so I bought a couple of bird seed bags with sunflower seed. Several hens got sick and one died so far. I guess I can't really pinpoint the sunflowers but is suspicous Anybody else have the same problem?

 

[gryeyes]

Ummmm.... I give my chickens a handful of BOSS (black oil sunflower seed) every day. I can't imagine sunflower seeds being harmful. Why do you think they're the cause?

 

[mdbokc]

I'd tell the feed store so they have a heads up in case of other reports.

 

[KKatknap]

I've never had a problem with them...how long have you been feeding them, and what else is in the birdseed mix? How much do they get?

 

[jeremy]

I've never had an issue with feeding sunflowers seeds to my hens. Fresh from the plant or store bought.

It may have been something else that they reacted negatively to in the wild bird seed mix- take a look and the ingredients.

 

[har]

From the respond I got it doesn't sound like the sunflower seeds. I was just trying to figure it out. Could have been a bug going through. I will check the bags for contents. I just feed it for a week and very little of it, just a treat for them. Thanks for your help.

 

[GardeNerd]

There might have been something else wrong with the wild bird seed mix.

My only other thought would be...some of the wild bird seed bags, including some bags of just BOSS at home improvement stores, have added vitamins. Look on the ingredients to see if it had any additives. Maybe the combination of vitamins in the bird seed and the supplemental vitamins in the chicken feed were too much/ were at a toxic level?

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Wild bird seed attracts wild birds...wild birds carry and transmit diseases to our chickens....maybe that could be it? Sorry about your chook!

I hope you figure it out!

 

[Organics North]

Please keep us informed with what you find out.
Mine get a healthy dose of BOSS per day.
ON

 

[jerseygirl1]

I had a huge bag of it once. the entire bottom was full of mold, maybe check the bag