OllieNLucys Mum Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 During the recent freezing weather I have set up bird tables at the stables. Unfortunately the feral cat was hanging around them too much so i now put out trays of seeds behind the electric chicken fence. The chickens love the wild bird food and are eating all this and leaving their own food. Will this do them any harm? They eat it all but particularly seem to love the sunflower seeds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 I'm no expert at all and I'm sure someone who is will be along shortly with advice, but I give my chooks sunflower hearts regularly, they love them! I think it's a good "warming" food, but there's not much protein etc in it, so they should have it just as a treat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Gas Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 Afaik, there is a fair bit of protein in sunflower seeds. The wild bird seed will do them no harm, but as a treat is better. The wild birds need this more really.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OllieNLucys Mum Posted December 10, 2010 Author Share Posted December 10, 2010 The wild birds need this more really.... Don't they just poor things, how they survive i don't know. I told Ollie this very thing yesterday but he just looked at me and carried on munching until the whole bowl was gone. Hopefully the novelty will wear off they have perfectly good layers and corn of their own. I have taken to shutting them in their cube run to give the wild birds a chance particularly at first light and at dusk when they head to the feeding stations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 Could you maybe put the bird tables behind the electric fence? (well away from the edges) When its sub zero temps then the wild bird food will do the chooks some good but in the more milder weather we've had these last few days they will put on too much weight if they continue eating it. I doubt the novelty will wear off though so its best to get it out of their reach if possible - besides feeding that stuff to chooks will bankrupt you! They will love it as an afternoon treat though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
