I've tried using broken kernels that are much cheaper but they are also dust for a large part. These are all solid kernels - no dust, no trash. My migrating friends appreciate having the best meal possible, and I enjoy giving it to them.

I used this for feeding my birds and squirrels. I like the kernels so there aren't any shells.

My wife and I feed the local wild birds. We celebrate the arrival of each new species. After going through a few bags of food we quickly settled on sunflower chips/kernels. We live in an HOA and did not want to attract unwanted attention from our neighbors regarding the sunflower and safflower husks/shells accumulating near our unit. Additionally we noticed that all of the birds that visit our feeders love sunflower seeds. We chose this no mess version to minimize the accumulation of waste near our unit. And focus solely on sunflower kernels, to avoid the picky eaters leaving behind any millet and other fillers. To me, the specific brand does not matter, and I will look for the most bang for my buck. I think Menards has a cheaper bag of sunflower kernels, but I wanted to avoid nonessential retail crowds during COVID-19. I would definitely consider this brand again, as long as the price is competitive. Were another brand more fiscally competitive, I would lean towards them.

My main gripe with this, and other no mess brands, is its not 100% waste free. There is fine skin on each kernel that the birds do not eat. This skin is so fine, however, that the wind blows it away, and it does not accumulate, on the ground, like the shells/husks would. However, this skin can accumulate on your feeder, especially if it gets wet in the rain, and may still require regular maintenance to maintain a clean environment for your feathered friends. It is not 100% edible, and we still clean have to clean our feeders regularly.

I've been buying this brand for at lease a year. We have two feeders and I love watching the birds each day. My only issue is that the price has gone up substantially in the last year from $49.00 when I first started purchasing to almost $80.00. That being said... I learned that there were issues with sunflower crops which drove the price up. They still offer the best price per pound than any other company I've found and because it is all seed and no shells, there is no waste and no mess in my yard!

These sunflower hearts are very good quality. Whole hearts with no chips or seconds. I'm trying to cut down on black oil seed as, although the crew loves them and they're super cheap, the shells are so messy. If it were just the birds, I could live with a little mess. But the squirrels are the mess makers. But after realizing shells make up 25% to 35% of weight per 40 lb bag, this makes more sense. Amazon's price is the best around. I hope it remains that way. FYI, I've noticed animal food pricing differs significantly between vendors. What may be a deal one week, may double the next. ALL vendors do this, not just Amazon, so a little shopping is necessary.

That being said, these hearts are a good buy, you're feeding your friends the filet mignon of sees and all critters love them. Also, my furry customers have the shiniest, thickest coats in town. I may have to get a second job.

P.S. - In case you're not aware, raccoons LOVE marshmallows. They devour them like gold. And no, they're not my pets. I keep a safe distance from them, 99% remain afraid of me. Two wait by the window looking for me. But they're still scared.