wild bird food, harmful??

[klf73]

I have a lot of wil bird food dh got in the spring to feed the birds. We got mostly squrrels making a mess so we stopped filling the feeders. I wanted to just dump the rest in the woods, but wasn't sure if my 14 wo found it would it be harmful. There are sunflower seeds and a small bird mix. Anyone have any info?
Krista

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

My birds peck at it when it falls under the feeder.

 

[klf73]

I'm just worried that if they find a PILE, will it be harmful

thanks for the response

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

If it was under a feeder like mine do they would be susceptible to germs and mites. I am trying to keep mine away from the feeders. I think bird seed is like scratch? Others might know better.

 

[redhen]

will they choke on the whole sunflower seeds(with the shell)..i was thinking of giving my chickens some also..Wendy

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

I read on here that people give them the whole sunflower seed (with shell on). Mine gobble it all down. Heck, They take big chunks of bagels and swallow it whole.

 

[redhen]

lol..okay..just wanted to make sure....i had a dumb chicken choke once on a carrot top..

..thanks for the help, Wendy

 

[utahmethodist]

I use wild bird seed with whole sunflowers instead of scratch as a sure-fire way to lure them back into the coop after free-ranging. No problems to report.

 

[ava]

my silky hen just loves popcorn freshly cracked in a coffee grinder every morning. its cheap too and a time tested happy chicken food

how do you get rid of mites? I got my hen from a shelter about a month ago where there were a lot of others and I see small long thin reddish somethings crawling through her down. She preens herself a lot and takes dirt baths probabaly to get rid of them but I'd like to help her along- particularly as she likes to be petted and I don't relish getting them on me. What are they? I also thought I saw a microscopic tick- is that possible- and could it be dangerous to me? She came from an area rife with Lyme disease. Thank You!

 

[crazyhen]

There was a stray hen for awhile that ate at my feeder. The seed came out just like it went in so i don't think they will get much from it. Jean