It didn’t take much convincing to talk the owner into planting 10 acres of organic sunflowers. What started as a simple pollinator project for our organic black beans and potatoes quickly turned into one of the most enjoyable crops on the farm. With minimal inputs, easy establishment, and strong performance, sunflowers earned the nickname “easy keeper.” All summer long, the fields put on a show.
Watching the sunflower heads dance across the field following the sun was a site to behold. Beyond the beauty, they brought in pollinators, added diversity to our rotation, and contributed to overall field health—exactly what we hoped for when we seeded them.
From Field to Feed
Harvest was straightforward. We used the same corn head on the combine to bring in the glossy black seeds. Once cleaned and stored in totes, the brainstorming began. We already produce an organic scratch grain through our feed mill, and sunflower seed is one of the most nutrient-dense, cost-effective additions you can make for poultry.
After a few test batches, we landed on a blend with about 20% sunflower seed in our scratch grain. It added color, texture, and nutritional value while keeping the product balanced. Like any scratch grain, it’s designed to be a treat and enrichment tool not a replacement for a complete feed ration.
Sunflower seeds provide:
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High energy from natural fats (about 50%)
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Protein for feather growth (around 20%)
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Vitamin E and trace minerals for immune support
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Nutritional support for improved egg quality
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They are especially valuable during winter when birds burn more calories to stay warm.
Winter Enrichment Matters
They are especially valuable during winter when birds burn more calories to stay warm. After a few test batches, we landed on a blend with about 20% sunflower seed in our scratch grain. It added color, texture, and nutritional value while keeping the product balanced. Like any scratch grain, it’s designed to be a treat and enrichment tool not a replacement for a complete feed ration.
One of the biggest challenges for backyard and small farm flocks is keeping birds active during the winter months. Bored chickens can develop bad habits like feather pecking or egg eating. Scratch grain gives them something productive to do.
The Chicken Dance
We recommend laying down a small layer of grass hay and sprinkling the scratch grain on top. The seeds and grains fall into the hay, encouraging birds to scratch, dig, and forage. That natural behavior keeps them moving, mentally stimulated, and warm.
And that’s where the name comes from.
As the birds kick through the hay hunting for sunflower seeds, they hop, shuffle, and spin in circles—what our customers now call the “chicken dance.”
Simple Ingredients, Farm-Grown Value
Our Heritage Farming Organics Scratch Grain is made with four certified organic ingredients:
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Organic cracked corn
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Organic oats
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Organic wheat
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Organic sunflower seeds grown on our farm
Clear Purpose
It’s a simple product with a clear purpose: support natural behavior, add seasonal energy, and keep flocks happy and healthy. What began as a pollinator experiment turned into a closed-loop win for the farm. Improving biodiversity in the field, adding value through our feed mill, and creating a product our customers and their chickens genuinely enjoy.
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