Anyone ever feed sunflower plants?

[Joe n TN]

My wife harvested our three sunflower plants so now we have three 6'+ tall stalks and empty heads. I saw on the list that above ground parts of the sunflower are safe, but anyone have experience feeding this?

Thoughts, suggestions, advice or warnings? Thank you,

Joe

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I have. They love them. Just make sure there is no mold on them.

I chopped up the stalks and used them as treats for months last winter.

 

[a7736100]

I've fed them sunflower sprouts. Some ignored them and those that ate had no problems.

 

[ohiogoatgirl]

my rabbits love BOSS. only two seemed to even notice the sprouted seeds i put in. i'm now putting the sprouts into a pan with aged manure to grow and feed to the rabbits the greens.
havent tried feeding the stalks yet but hope to next year.
good luck

 

[MaggieJ]

The stalks and leaves are fine for rabbits, but do make sure that they are not mouldy. Late in the season that can happen.

 

[hoodat]

my rabbits love BOSS. only two seemed to even notice the sprouted seeds i put in. i'm now putting the sprouts into a pan with aged manure to grow and feed to the rabbits the greens.
havent tried feeding the stalks yet but hope to next year.
good luck

It's odd but my rabbits eat the grain and leave the BOSS untouched so I quit mixing it in. I may try it again when it gets colder.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Hoodat,

I have one doe that leaves the BOSS too. She hasn't always done so- and I felt sure that once she had another litter she would eat them. I think she may have started to eat some of them- there weren't as many in the feeder this morning.

 

[hoodat]

Rabbits just seem to know what they need at any given time. They balance their own diets pretty well if we can give them enough variety to pick and choose from.