Question: sunflower seeds - the good and bad?

[terrimac]

Hi Guys-
Here's an interesting question - I have always been told that sunflower seeds are ok, but just don't go overboard, as some birds may end up just eating these seeds in preference to anything else. When I got my girl, the breeder recommended mixing sunflower in with a standard pigeon mix, as thats what he bred his birds on. However, the bird specialist store where I bought her cage from told me that grey sunflower was ok, but black sunflower is very bad, and can cause tumors in birds (esp parrots). I had not heard this, and I'm curious, as many parrot mixes have both black and grey sunflower seeds - what do others know about this?

Terri

[kim]

Sunflower seeds are a rich in vitamins, minerals, protein, polyunsaturated fat and fiber. They're also an excellent source of the essential fatty acid linoleic acid, which is converted to other biologically active fatty acids that are required for optimum health. These seeds also provide an excellent amino acid profile. Sunflower seeds contain appreciable amounts of vitamin E, B complex, and are packed with minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc and calcium. They also supply quick energy by releasing glycogen (a form of sugar) from the liver; and at the same time, they act as a calmative because they contain a high level of the amino acid tryptophan which has a calming effect on the brain. So YES they're good for birds but they do need to be treated as a treat for birds in captivity as they're VERY high in fat & given too many, can cause health issues latter in life.

I also heard the grey sunflower seed was healthier than the black but I don't remember why.