laura10801's Full Review: Valley Splendor Wild Bird Sunflower Hearts & Chips...
I love feeding the birds in my yard sunflower hearts. I don't particularly care which brand I use, so long as the birds like it and it isn't obscenely expensive (see my review, Kaytee Sunflower Hearts & Chips: no waste, but high price)
Valley Splendor Sunflower Hearts and Chips contains only shelled sunflower seeds. This matters a lot to me because my feeder is on my lawn and I don't want to have millions of shells on the ground. In terms of cost vs. value, shelled seeds are more expensive, but I am getting more edible product in each package so the expense is probably about the same. I also want to attract as many different kinds of birds as I can to my feeder, shelled seeds make it much easier for small birds, that have difficulty removing the shells, to enjoy a sunflower feast. I want the little guys to enjoy along with the big ole grackles and bluejays.
Another big advantage of serving a sunflower seeds alone is that they loved by almost every species of seed-eating bird in my region, they are the avian equivalent of chocolate to humans. I think that analogy is particularly good when I consider the fact that sunflower seeds are high are high in fat and calories. This is good for the birds, and that is the end of the analogy. Birds need fat and protein in order to stay healthy. It takes a lot of calories to fly, molt, peck enemies, mate, and raise their young!
So with that said, there is not much difference from one brand to the next... Or so I thought! Valley Splendor is less expensive than Kaytee, yet I liked the looks and the packaging better. Valley Splendor Wild Bird Sunflower Hearts & Chips is made by Red River Commodities. According to redriv.com "Red River Commodities is one of the world's largest suppliers of sunflower for human consumption. We're experts on sunflower, because we buy it directly from the farmers of the Red River Valley and other prime growing locations around the country. Then we process it right here in our own facilities, so we control the cleanliness and quality of the finished product. That means your birds are getting the highest quality sunflower available when you buy Valley Splendor brand sunflower!" I do think the seeds look fresher and cleaner than other brands' seeds.
I am not in love with the Valley Splendor packaging. It is in a large paper bag with a handle, which would be ok, but in order to open the bag you have to pull on the stitching that keeps the top closed. In doing this, the handle becomes detached. That's a disappointment.
So Valley Splendor Sunflower Hearts and Chips in the 20 pound bag is the best value I have found in terms of cost and quality. I'm happy, the birds are singing, and all is right with the world.
Fantastic prices with ease & c...(Stock status: N/A)
"RED RIVER" SUNFLOWER HEARTS 20 lbs. Sunflower hearts are the shelled meat of a sunflower seed Theres no mess and because they are shelled all bird...More at Amazon Marketplace
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