Sunflower seed is particularly useful when temps are cool. Shelled - Many birds can easily separate the hull and seed, but some birds have beaks that are too thin to break open the hard outer shell of the sunflower seed. The sunflower seed is the fruit of the sunflower (Helianthus annuus). Although sunflower hearts are superb as bird food, there is a word of caution. Warning: fat from cooking is bad for birds. When dehulled, the edible remainder is called the sunflower kernel or heart. Birdseed can go bad if it is improperly stored or allowed to rot in poor conditions, and the bugs, mold, and bacteria in spoiled seed can cause diseases among feeder birds.
TRUE? Sunflower seeds present a high-energy, high-protein food source which is rich in the essential oils garden birds need to keep their feathers healthy and their beaks sharp; but they are often messy, leaving husks behind when the birds are done, and can germinate if dropped into fertile earth.
Sunflower hearts are usually just taken from black sunflower, and certainly that’s the case with the hearts we sell at Vine House Farm. When the temperature drops to zero degrees Fahrenheit, the birds must then find more than 250 sunflower seeds a day to survive. Always check to be sure seed is dry and fresh without strong or sharp odors, and change seed after feeders have gotten soaked to keep seed … Do not put out salt (seeds, feed, or otherwise) of any kind. The term "sunflower seed" is actually a misnomer when applied to the seed in its pericarp (hull). An important reason for this is that the hearts from black sunflower seeds are higher in oil per gram versus striped sunflower, and therefore have a higher calorific value for birds. Too much fat is bad for a bird.
What about other types of birdseed ?
Can sunflower seeds be bad for birds? Sunflower seed is a lightweight easily digested source of energy for a bird who can hull sunflower seed. The problem with cooked fat from roasting for example, is that the meat juices have blended with the fat and when set, this consistency makes it prone to smearing, not good for birds' feathers. It is an excellent idea to use a blend of bird seeds, not just sunflower hearts. She discovered that chickadees eat the equivalent of 150 sunflower seeds a day during mild winter temperatures.
By following a few simple rules, you'll find yourself amid a healthy, happy flock in no time. Yes, birdseed can rot, and birders who understand the different ways birdseed can spoil can be better prepared to offer their backyard birds healthy, nutritious food. The information in this article refers mainly to the linoleic variety. Comment by ARLINE ZOITKE — 3 November, 2010 @ 9:51 pm […] Taken from: Are Sunflower Seeds Bad for Parrots […] Pingback by Are Sunflower Seeds Bad for Parrots | Parrot Ezine — 19 April, … Each variety has its own unique levels of monounsaturated, saturated, and polyunsaturated fats. In general, mixtures that contain red millet, oats, and other “fillers” are not attractive to most birds and can lead to a lot of waste as the birds sort through the mix. Too much fat is bad for a bird. MY BIRDS GET MIXED SEED VARIETY THAT INCLUDES SUNFLOWER SEEDS WITH FRESH FRUIT AND VEGGIES DAILY..
The thin shell makes it an easy bird seed to open, even for the smaller birds. On another hand, sunflower can sure be well used by a wild bird during the winter. Quality seeds are essential to ensure your birds are getting the full nutritional benefit. On another hand, sunflower can sure be well used by a wild bird during the winter. Fat is not bad for a bird.