Does anybody know what all is in a bag of mixed bird seed? (besides sunflower seeds) I've been thinking about scratching up a place and sow a bunch of mixed bird seeds and let my chickens range on it. I thought it would give them a better variety of food to forage on but not sure if there is anything toxic for the chicken. I would assume that if the common birds could eat it than chickens could also.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), September 10, 2001

Answers

the bag should have the seed contents,, but , I know the chickens hang around the birdfeeders,, and eat every little thing that sprouts up from the seed,, so it shouldnt be a problem

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), September 10, 2001.

I used wild birdseed in place of scratch feed for my hens and of the several different brands I've tried they've all contained sunflower seeds, millet, and sorghum (also called milo) with the occasional inclusion of whole corn. They eat the birdseed much better than the scratch feed which they wasted a lot of but it is more expensive than scratch. I've also broadcast sown the birdseed and let it grow to two or three feet high before turning the birds into it and they were delighted with it.

={(Oak)-

-- Live Oak (oneliveoak@yahoo.com), September 10, 2001.

liv oak, that was what I wanted to hear. Everytime I see a clear bag of that stuff I start thinking how good it would probably be for pasture forage.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), September 10, 2001.