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flax seeds for birds?
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Posted by april_50 Thumb of MI (My Page) on Wed, Mar 21, 07 at 21:52
| Hello All,
I have a question about flax seed. Someone gave me flax seeds from a health food store. Since I try not to eat healthy foods, could I feed these seeds to the birds? We have cardinals, chickadee, and the usual backyard gang.
Thanks,
April |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: flax seeds for birds?
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| April, I don't know the answer to your question, but I do know that if you grind them up and add them to things you are baking and such, you will not notice the taste and they are good fiber. They are also supposed to lower cholesterol, but my limited understanding of it is that heat destroys certain elements of that. I may be wrong though. |
RE: flax seeds for birds?
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| Yes, you can feed it to your birds. It's a common ingredient in bird seed mixes for indoor birds, too. |
RE: flax seeds for birds?
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| You could also try planting some of them and have some beautiful blue flowers in late spring/early summer. Then leave the seed heads for the birds to eat. BN |
RE: flax seeds for birds?
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| Flax seed is very high in magnesium, zinc, iron, vitamin E, carotene, B-group vitamins, calcium, sulfur, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, silicon, copper, nickel, molybdenum, chromium, and cobalt. Also, Omegas 3 and 6, as well as lignans that enhance the immune system. I used to feed it to all my pregnant and nursing mother hammies so mom AND babies could reap the benefits of the tiny grain. It has cancer prevention properties and as well, research suggests that it aids in the eye developement of fetal and newborn babies. In a pinch (when I was out of bird feeder seed) I would feed my home made hammy food to the birds and they didn't seem to mind the flax at all. Any hammy owners out there? If you are, check out my home made hamster feed recipe. I buy all the ingredients at Bulk Barn and when hubby and I calculated it out, you save over 50% of the cost over the highest priced commercial brand seed mix and don't get all the crap seeds like corn and millet. Here's my link: Barb's Home made Hamster Seed Mix |
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