I went to a local seed/farm stuff supplier today to get some seed and when I asked about getting a bag of black sunflower seed they said no problem but wanted to know what I was feeding it too, when I said budgies they advised against it saying that the black sunflower seeds are too oily for budgies and that it can make their feathers fall out, they said the grey would be better.

 

On this forum it seems that whenever sunflower seed is mentioned it's recommened to use black sunflower seed.

 

Just wondering why people here preffer the black over the grey and what the difference, pros and cons for the two of them were? Thanks

Edited May 13, 200916 yr by Linda_S

As far as I am concern the pet shop is right , it is too oily but small amounts should be alright BUT I ONLY USE GREY sunflower I do not use black, Black you give to horses.

My preference is for grey for the same reasons...black is oilier. But somretimes we get the black depending on whats available.

I use black sunflower seed and add 1 cup to my softfood daily. Didn't know about it being too oily but haven't had any ill-effects. Mind you 1 cup isn't very much.

i use the grey sunflower seeds for my breeders when feeding chicks... it's not good for budgies to have them all the time as they will get fatty deposits and lumps on their body when they get older.

I don't feed my budgies any sunflower seeds because of what Liz stated above... If I needed them to put on weight quickly I might feed it to them but I generally wouldn't feed them either...

That's odd there are so many posts on this forum that say black sunflower seed. I wonder if the black sunflower seed may be the cause of some

peoples moulting/feather problems of their young because they're feeding black sunflower seeds to their breeders.

 

The stock feeds place said the same thing about the black being for horses, the extra oil keeps there coats shiney. It's also in the scratch mix

I buy from there for my chickens.

 

I did a google search to see what the net turned up and from what I've read black is grown for oil and the grey or striped is grown as a food seed for people as well as birds. I think I'll stick to Grey/stripped, in moderation of course.

I feed both grey and black. They are good to use occasionally if you want to put weight on the birds or for a treat.

I only use Grey Stripe, never have used Black for reasons you stated originally

Well i do not give my budgie's any sort of sunflower seed, too fatty and budgie's are prone to fat tumor's just like Galah's, unless my budgie is skinny and needs to put on some beef, then i would use little amounts, but as for general, just ordinary budgie seed, oats, canary seed, and safflower seed my budgie will stick to

I think you'll find that oats are more likely to make a budgie fat than sunflower.

To a 20kg bag of finch seed we add 1kg of hulled oats and 1kg of sunflower, whatever variety is there at that times LOL

I have no prefrences and are yet to come across birds of mine who're overweight or have fatty deposits

I think you'll find that oats are more likely to make a budgie fat than sunflower.

I agree with this

I think you'll find that oats are more likely to make a budgie fat than sunflower.

I agree with this

Interesting. My budgies get hulled oats in their soft food - but I don't have fat budgies .... I've finished off the black sunflower seed and have bought grey now instead.

Edited May 23, 200915 yr by renee