Why Sunflower Seeds

Black sunflower seed is becoming increasingly regarded as the 'ultimate universal bird food', for two main reasons:

Nutrional Content

Black oil sunflower seed is rich in protein (27%) and unsaturated oils (40%). Therefore it not only provides energy, but a waterproof feather coating; birds will use their oil glands to spread the oil over their feathers to keep them buoyant, dry and warm.

Preferred by birds

Black sunflower seeds are preferred by more species than any other seed. The soft outer shell makes it easy for birds to crack open. Seed eating birds in particular find them much easier to crack open than the black striped variety.

Refer to 'Which seeds to feed' for a comparison of the types of species and their seed preferences.

Ultimately, black oil sunflower seeds are the secret to attracting and nourishing a wide variety of bird species.

Why are we growing Black Sunflowers? I started feeding my own grown bird food back in the early seventies. In those days I was feeding oil seed rape. Only about 9 years ago did I realise that black sunflowers were the most attractive food for seed eating birds. I grew my first crop in 1998.

I have had a policy here for 25 years to use or grow instead of buy. In 1980 I installed a straw burner to heat my house and the office. I haven't used straw for many years, I burn mainly old pallets and all the farm rubbish, just think of all the oil I would have used in those 25 years! I am well aware oil will not last for ever.

Sunflowers come into that use or grow catagory, so does red and white millet, canary seed and naked oats, so you can be assured that the bird seed you purchase from Vine House Farm has travelled less miles than most bird seed as we grow as many of the crops that the climate will allow us to.

In 2004 I have grown the first crop of Niger ever to be harvested in the UK.

All the other big bird food suppliers are just what they say they are, suppliers, they don't worry about how far the bird food has come from, you can be assured though that very little of it is grown in the UK. So why not Buy your bird seed direct from the Farm.