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Mieke Steyn

Are white sunflower seeds healthier for parrots?

The Myth:

“White sunflower seeds are less fattening than black ones.” *


The Fact:

“The only way to reduce the fat content of a sunflower seed is to sprout them.”



There is a misconception that white sunflower seeds are a lot healthier to give to your birds than the black ones. Most information available on this topic seem to be focused on sunflower seeds for wild birds though and that is probably where a lot of this misinformation stem from.


Wild birds expend a lot more energy than our captive birds. They spend a lot of time flying around in search of, and foraging for different food sources during the day. Therefore, when a wild bird eats plenty of sunflower seeds, it will affect them much less than our captive birds who tend to spend less time using up all their energy and/or working for their food.


What is the difference between the Black Oil and Striped Sunflower seeds?


The Black Oil seeds tend to have thinner shells that are easier to break open by many birds. The Striped Sunflower seeds are slightly larger and have a thicker shell – making it harder for some birds to crack open. Any Sunflower kernels are high in fat and calories.


Sprouting Sunflower Seeds:




Sprouts are a live food. This means that it is not a part of a plant, but rather that it is the plant itself. Sprouts are full of antioxidants and nutrients that can supply your parrot with the type of nourishment that cannot be found in plain seeds.


When you sprout a sunflower seed, you are essentially utilising a process that uses the oil in the seed to start the process of sprouting. For that reason, sprouted seeds are less fatty, and in turn, a lot healthier. That, in combination with all the extra nutrition, and being more visually appealing and stimulating make this an amazing addition to any food bowl!


*Refers to both seeds’ shell colour.

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