Black oil sunflower seeds...

[xxcharlottexx]

after reading some of the succes stories of using the sunflower seeds to put weight on people horses im thinking of trying them for my neddy, but just wanted to ask a few questions first...

How long was it before you noticed a difference in weight gain?

Because of the high oil content did it make your horse fizz up?

Would they be ok to feed if i was already feeding alpha a oil?

where did you buy them from?

thanks

 

[ThomasTank]

PM Tia, she knows all about them.
she is the sunflower queen

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Sure someone else will be able to answer this better than me but....

You can buy them from most feed stores (it's bird seed).

Haven't really noticed much in the way of weight gain, but her coat is much better.

Didn't make mine fizzy at all.

 

[Theresa_F]

Tia started me on these and I have been using them for about a year.

Within a month I noticed they had softer coats and more of a shine to them.

My boys have not fizzed up - but they are not the fizzy type. They have not put on weight - but they only have low cal high fibre feeds so a small mug of seeds twice a day is not making a huge difference weight wize.

I use them for coat and feed condition - they have lovely feet - partly due to their breed but I have noticed the feet are less prone to cracking etc (they are barefoot) since feeding them.

I feed instant linseed and they also have simple systems alfa products along with them.

I pay £7.50 for 15k from my local feed merchant - they are in the bird food section.

 

[charlie900]

I started feeding them about 3 weeks ago, my boy is tb and prone to being fizzy and they made no difference to him. I have already noticed his coat is better shiny with no scurf.Did give him real bad wind for a few days though, and I already feed alpha oil

 

[fizz-tally]

with jay it was 3 weeks, been on them about 8-9 weeks now & he is looking great

 

[MagicMelon]

So do you feed a mug-full daily in general? It is natural for horses to eat these?! And are there any other vits in sunflower seeds (other than just oil)?

 

[fizz-tally]

i feed a mug per feed,if you look back there are tons & tons of posts on them

 

[TGM]

[ QUOTE ]
And are there any other vits in sunflower seeds (other than just oil)?

[/ QUOTE ]

Here's a bit of blurb about the nutrients in sunflower seeds:

"High-protein food, with more protein than the grains. Rich in minerals; iron and zinc are plentiful. The high amount of oil in sunflower seeds as polyunsaturated fats, essential linoleic acid, and vitamin E. They are about 25 percent protein, have a good fibre content, and are rich in the B vitamins also, particularly in thiamine, pyridoxine, niacin, and pantothenic acid. With their high potassium and low sodium and with zinc, iron, and calcium all at good levels, sunflower seeds are a very mineral-rich food. The vitamin D that gets stored in these sun-filled seeds helps the utilisation of calcium. Copper, manganese, and phosphorus levels are also relatively high; they are lower in magnesium than in calcium, which is different from other seeds. "

 

[Eceni]

Do you shell these nuts? Or are they fed with the husks on? I have vague memories of impaction colics caused by seed hulls but can't remember where I read of it. Any other health professionals on the list?

E

 

[sanda]

Do the seeds not go right through like Whole oats .I want to try them but had visions of seeing them the next day with the hens having a feast

 

[Weezy]

P had them for the first time last night - had a good look at her droppings today and no evidence of them, so pretty fantastically digested (unless they are sitting in her ready to make a blockage

)

 

[Thistle]

I keep finding lillte piles of shredded husks where the mice must gets the bits that get thrown out of the feed bowl.

 

[lynn12nabarro]

So just to be clear - you feed these husk and all

 

[Honeypots]

This post may help answer a few questions..theres loads more if you do a search...
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1724962/page/0/fpart/1/vc/1

 

[Tia]

Yes you feed black sunflower seeds whole. Shell and seed intact is fed.

I've never had any sunflowers growing I have to say.

And I've never found any "bits" of seeds in their dung either.

 

[spaniel]

Another BOSS convert here Tia....tried Jack with a handfull this afternoon and had to count my fingers afterwards!

He loves them and this solves the problem of his only wanting to eat dry bucket food....I was seriously wondering how I could get him to eat 'oil' and still keep his Pure Grass chaff dry....BINGO!!!!

 

[merlinsquest]

I started feeding them about a month ago and have had countless comments about how 'well' merlin is looking.....

His coat is really glossy even though he is moulting and he is a very good weight and his topline is much improved compared to this time last year (prob not the seeds but there you go)!!

Nothing changed with his temperament either...

 

[Tia]

They do seem to be amazing little seeds. I am sure many of you found it a bit weird when I first mentioned it - I found it weird when I first heard of it over here.

I have never found any other feedstuff to be quite so amazing. I was really at my wits end out here in this harsh alien environment. The horses had shine on the coats so that wasn't such an issue, but the harsh conditions that their feet had to tolerate was taking a real toll.

These sunflowers were a little miracle for me and if others have benefiting from me passing on what others told me, then I am pleased to have been a little bit of help.

 

[Honeypots]

...Fifi goes off to buy sunflower seeds.....

 

[charlottenicol]

Have been feeding all winter since I read about them on here, my friends think its funny, wish they could be like you lot, I will have to forward this posting onto them. Hudson just loves them, friends just think all we are doing is propergating Argyll