I tried planting out Sunflowers (large variety) this year and had immediate
success.
Now apart from the natural beauty of them I was hoping that a number of the
birds I get in the garden would really relish them having been told by other
growers how the sky has darkened as flocks descended on theirs.

But I can't get the birds interested in them, I have even cut the head off
one and fastened it up on my bird table and apart from the rare bird that
has taken seeds, the others much prefer other items of food.
One strange thing that has happened though, is that although the seeds are
still there, something seems to be attacking the head of the plant and
devouring it instead of the seeds!

The seed eating birds I get - Greenfinches ; Robins ; Blue and Great tits ;
Goldfinches ; Bull finches.

As anyone any wisdom to shed on the situation?

JCYates writes
I tried planting out Sunflowers (large variety) this year and had immediate
success.
Now apart from the natural beauty of them I was hoping that a number of the
birds I get in the garden would really relish them having been told by other
growers how the sky has darkened as flocks descended on theirs.

But I can't get the birds interested in them, I have even cut the head off
one and fastened it up on my bird table and apart from the rare bird that
has taken seeds, the others much prefer other items of food.
One strange thing that has happened though, is that although the seeds are
still there, something seems to be attacking the head of the plant and
devouring it instead of the seeds!

The seed eating birds I get - Greenfinches ; Robins ; Blue and Great tits ;
Goldfinches ; Bull finches.

Goldfinches tend to prefer smaller seeds. Robins are ground feeders by
preference.

Blue and Great tits eat seeds from feeders but they are basically insect
eaters, and with a lot of insects around at present they will prefer
those.
--
Kay

"K" wrote in message
...
JCYates writes
I tried planting out Sunflowers (large variety) this year and had
immediate
success.
Now apart from the natural beauty of them I was hoping that a number of
the
birds I get in the garden would really relish them having been told by
other
growers how the sky has darkened as flocks descended on theirs.

But I can't get the birds interested in them, I have even cut the head off
one and fastened it up on my bird table and apart from the rare bird that
has taken seeds, the others much prefer other items of food.
One strange thing that has happened though, is that although the seeds are
still there, something seems to be attacking the head of the plant and
devouring it instead of the seeds!

The seed eating birds I get - Greenfinches ; Robins ; Blue and Great tits
;
Goldfinches ; Bull finches.

Goldfinches tend to prefer smaller seeds. Robins are ground feeders by
preference.

Blue and Great tits eat seeds from feeders but they are basically insect
eaters, and with a lot of insects around at present they will prefer
those.
--
Kay

I think you need parrots :-(

Our chickens love them but won't try too hard to remove the husks. If I do
it for them they'll eat them greedily.

And no, there's not a man among 'em!

Mary