merlinsquest
Well-Known Member
As above really.... just interested as I am happy as Larry with them, just wondered if anyone had a problem or reaction etc???
Has anyone got anything bad to say about sunflower seeds!!!???
- Thread starter merlinsquest
- Start date
madhector
Well-Known Member
I've just bought a bag, going to start my 2 on them tonight
fizz-tally
Well-Known Member
think they are great
kcgibson
Well-Known Member
they are fattening..... thats my bad bit!!
No, really, i am interested, what do people feed them for? I haven't come accross anyone who gives them to their horse, what are the benefits?
No, really, i am interested, what do people feed them for? I haven't come accross anyone who gives them to their horse, what are the benefits?
fizz-tally
Well-Known Member
i feed them to one of mine to help with his condition,they help keep the weight on,his coat is shiny & they help with feet too
Tia
Well-Known Member
I have 25 horses on them. No reactions or any undesirable side-effects just healthy shiny horses with lovely feet
.
vicm2509
Well-Known Member
Where can you buy them from and are they expensive? Approx. how much would it cost for a months supply for a large horse?
fizz-tally
Well-Known Member
anywhere that sells large sacks of bird feed,i pay £7 for 15kg which lasts jay 3 months
he is 17hh
Tempi
Well-Known Member
didnt really do much for my two, ive stopped feeding them - they are now both on instant linseed (Bloss has more than archie for her arthritis aswell) and its doing wonders for their condtion already.
evsj
Well-Known Member
How much do you feed at a time? To say, a middleweight 16 hh horse doing riding club stuff?
Sooty
Well-Known Member
Could be coincidence, but when we started Toffee on them (just a handful in her feed) she got really grumpy. How much are you supposed to feed?
Doublethyme
Well-Known Member
I read on another forum that Linseed is better for them than sunflower seeds. Apparently Sunflower seeds are very high in Omega 6 and have no Omega 3. Omega 3 is the one that most horses benefit from, ie anti inflammatory etc and Linseed contains good levels of Omega 3, plus some Omega 6, so is better than sunflower seeds.
Tia
Well-Known Member
Sunflower seeds do have Omega 3, but in lower levels. If you are looking for higher levels of Omega 3 specifically, then Flax seeds are much higher in it.
Doublethyme
Well-Known Member
The level of Omega 3s in sunflower seeds are neglible, ie :
Sunflowers seeds (14g) : Omega 3 = 0.008g / Omega 6 = 4.57g
Linseed / Flax (14g) : Omega 3 = 8g / Omega 6 = 2g
I'm not anti sunflower seeds, just seems to me that you get the same results from Linseed (ie shiney coat / weight gain, but with the anti inflammatory advantage too.
Sunflowers seeds (14g) : Omega 3 = 0.008g / Omega 6 = 4.57g
Linseed / Flax (14g) : Omega 3 = 8g / Omega 6 = 2g
I'm not anti sunflower seeds, just seems to me that you get the same results from Linseed (ie shiney coat / weight gain, but with the anti inflammatory advantage too.
Enfys
Well-Known Member
I've stopped feeding them and am giving them to the birds instead.
Both my mares seem to actively dislike them, they will take a few by hand (but I don't like to give treats by hand) but will leave them at the bottom of the feed bowl otherwise. One of the mares did a lot of mouth rubbing and tongue waggling, sorry, that's the best way I can describe it, so I wonder if they irritated her mouth. It makes no difference if I feed them wet or dry, they still don't want to eat them. Out of interest I tried every kind of them, the black, the stripey etc, made no difference.
I've switched to flax seed which they do eat up.
Both my mares seem to actively dislike them, they will take a few by hand (but I don't like to give treats by hand) but will leave them at the bottom of the feed bowl otherwise. One of the mares did a lot of mouth rubbing and tongue waggling, sorry, that's the best way I can describe it, so I wonder if they irritated her mouth. It makes no difference if I feed them wet or dry, they still don't want to eat them. Out of interest I tried every kind of them, the black, the stripey etc, made no difference.
I've switched to flax seed which they do eat up.
Tia
Well-Known Member
That's why I feed a balanced diet so that each feedstuff has a job. I feed alfalfa which is high in Omega 3 so it works perfectly for me to compliment them with sunflower seeds.
I very much doubt anyone on here is feeding solely any feedstuff - I think you need to look at the bigger picture....too much of anything is not good.....the right balance is perfect, and this balance is what I have found works for my horses.
As with everything in life, what suits some, may not suit others.
I very much doubt anyone on here is feeding solely any feedstuff - I think you need to look at the bigger picture....too much of anything is not good.....the right balance is perfect, and this balance is what I have found works for my horses.
As with everything in life, what suits some, may not suit others.
Doublethyme
Well-Known Member
The other thing you have to be careful of, is that some of the sunflower seeds marketed for birds have some sort of coating on them (can't remember what it is).
Tia
Well-Known Member
Ah well this would open up a big debate LOL!!
Everything is coated in chemicals these days unless you go for organic, and even then you aren't always totally assured of chemical-free goods.
Flax, sunflowers, oats, barley etc. along with many other seeds and grains are sometimes coated in chemicals to facilitate storage and longevity. Again, as with everything, you have to be careful of your source.
Both feedstuffs have good properties depending on which feeds are fed to compliment them. Striking a good balance is key to good nutrition.
Everything is coated in chemicals these days unless you go for organic, and even then you aren't always totally assured of chemical-free goods.
Flax, sunflowers, oats, barley etc. along with many other seeds and grains are sometimes coated in chemicals to facilitate storage and longevity. Again, as with everything, you have to be careful of your source.
Both feedstuffs have good properties depending on which feeds are fed to compliment them. Striking a good balance is key to good nutrition.