What Are Sunflower Hearts, and Why Are They So Expensive?
Sunflower hearts are simply sunflower seeds with their shells removed. By mechanically removing the typical black husk from the seeds, birds use less energy when feeding. Birds would also usually discard the husk from the sunflower seed leaving waste behind and a messy garden, but, being husk free, sunflower hearts means there is no waste to clean up. However, due to this tedious process, sunflower hearts are more expensive than the standard seed version.
The idea of sunflower hearts was introduced in the early 1990s and revolutionised bird feeding for British birds. They truly are readily accessible delicacy for British garden birds!
Why are they so good for birds?
Sunflower hearts are great for birds as they are high in protein and rich in oils, both very important in keeping birds’ feathers, skin and beaks in healthy condition. They also have a high calorie count to weight ration meaning the birds only need small amounts of this feed and provide a necessary energy boost for birds, especially in the more cold and difficult times in the year.
Sunflower hearts attract a wide variety of birds which makes them a brilliant choice for outdoor bird feeders such as our Jacobi Jane Seed Feeder. Just like us humans, birds also benefit from a varied diet so it can also help to offer a variety of different bird food in your feeders such a seed mixes and peanuts.
Which birds eat sunflower hearts?
Due to their smaller size and lack of tough shell, sunflower hearts are usually a favourite with fledglings and smaller birds, allowing them to get the nutrition they need without the extra effort. They are also favoured with a wide variety of garden birds such as blackbirds, blue tits, nuthatches and robins.
Why are they so expensive?
Sunflower hearts can seem a bit expensive when compared to other bird feed options. Their higher price point can be put down to the processing costs involved in creating these nutritious seed hearts. The removal of the shell requires specialised machinery and after the de-shelling process the hearts must be thoroughly cleaned and sorted to ensure only high quality hearts make it onto the shelves. Additionally, due to their small size, they are fragile and susceptible to breaking easily in transit, meaning they require more delicate handling and packaging. This all contributed to the higher cost of the sunflower hearts, especially when compared to normal sunflower seeds or seed mixes, however they are an undoubtedly worthwhile investment for our feather friends in our gardens.
How are they a good investment for the birds?
- Less frequent purchasing: Because sunflower hearts last longer and remain fresher, you won’t need to buy as frequently, which makes the higher upfront cost more manageable.
- Convenient storage: They don’t take up as much space or require special storage conditions as seeds in their shells do.
- Year-round use: Sunflower hearts are versatile and remain beneficial to birds throughout the year. This makes them a dependable go-to option, no matter the season. Sunflower hearts are especially useful during the colder months, as they help birds build up the necessary fat reserves to survive freezing temperatures. In spring and summer, they’re still a fantastic food choice for fledglings and active adult birds, providing a reliable source of nutrition.
Where can I buy them?
We sell sunflower hearts on our website – Scrummy Sunflower Hearts for Birds – Tom Chambers.
Additionally, you can purchase sunflower heart chips, which are smaller, often broken, sunflower hearts. They are the perfect size for smaller birds and fledglings!
These seeds can be distributed via ground feeding or using a bird feeder. Our collection of bird feeder trees come in three different sizes and are the perfect way to provide sunflower hearts to your garden birds this year.
