[jazzbyrd]

I have some huge sunflowers growing on my allotment. The sunflowers have now gone over. I want to bring the heads home and use them in my garden as bird feed. 
Do I have to dry the flower heads first and then place them in the garden?
Do I have to remove the seeds from the flower heads and use the seeds loose?
Do I have to dry the loose seeds before placing on a bird table?

I know its a lot of questions 

Jazz

[paintedlady]

drying would be a good idea otherwise they start to go mouldy on storage.  You can dry whole flower heads and leave them/tie them up for birds to take the seeds out for themselves, or you could remove the seed for the bird table when the seed head is dry enough (just makes it easier to take the seed off but is not essential to dry the head) and dry the seed thoroughly before storing (in a paper bag/cardboard box would be suitable)

Sunflower seeds that don't get eaten are at risk of germinating, so be aware you may have rogue sunflowers growing in your garden next spring 

[JayG]

A warning; last year a particularly athletic grey squirrel scoffed the lot whilst still on the plant; a squirrel-proof bird feeder is a necessity if you want to make sure the birds are the beneficiaries!