Growing fodder for chickens
- Thread starter pawtraitart
- Start date
Flavor change will depend on what you are already feeding them, the best thing about it though is that milk production goes up!
Ok, here is my fodder experience so far.
Tried some wild bird seed, but it took about 10 days to make this tray.
This was my wheat. Not very good germination. This tray was about 8 days old. Almost no root system. Chickens still loved the seeds. I think I either over soaked it or it was a poor seed quality. I noticed when I soaked it, a lot of stuff floated to the top and the water was really dirty.
This was the better barley seed after only five days. Thick root system, too! Almost nothing floated in the soak water and rinse water was much cleaner than the wheat seed I tried.
I found that I needed to rinse the seeds well. I had to scoop off anything that floats as that won't grow and only contributes to mold growth.
No mold growth at all now!
Tried some wild bird seed, but it took about 10 days to make this tray.
This was my wheat. Not very good germination. This tray was about 8 days old. Almost no root system. Chickens still loved the seeds. I think I either over soaked it or it was a poor seed quality. I noticed when I soaked it, a lot of stuff floated to the top and the water was really dirty.
This was the better barley seed after only five days. Thick root system, too! Almost nothing floated in the soak water and rinse water was much cleaner than the wheat seed I tried.
I found that I needed to rinse the seeds well. I had to scoop off anything that floats as that won't grow and only contributes to mold growth.
No mold growth at all now!
(Sorry for the long post, just hoping someone will be able to help me make sense of things.)
MOLD, errgh!
Does anyone know what sort of impact fluorescent grow lights could have on mold growth?
I made 6 trays of fodder a few weeks ago. Two were wheat berries from Whole Foods, the other four were barley seed from the feed store.
The wheat seemed to be doing very well, roots were clean and white, grass was thick and tall. I did end up feeding the first tray to my ducks on days 6 and 7. However, once I really started looking for mold, I found a few secluded cases in the biscuit... Probably about 10 wheat berries with varying degrees of mold - a few completely covered in blue fuzzy mold, a few turning black, and a few almost unnoticeable blackened roots (just speckled with black). And one or two wheat berries that had turned pink... maybe mold, maybe algae? I noticed going longer than 6 days is too long, so I ended up composting the second wheat tray because it had too much mold for my comfort.
It makes me wonder how many perfectly healthy looking fodder biscuits actually have mold growth hidden within. Is this normal? Has anybody else pulled apart a healthy-looking fodder and looked with great detail?
Now, the barley is a whole nother story. White fuzzy mold (aspergillus maybe?) took hold on day 3 and by day 4 you'd think I was trying to grow mold, not barley. To the compost pile the rest of the fodder went.
It seems obvious to me that the barley from the feed store is not high enough quality... too bad since it's only $10 for 50#! (Maybe it would work in a pump system???) As for the isolated cases of mold on the wheat, I theorize that it could be due to:
1. Not enough airflow - so now I've melted more holes into my containers and I am running a little fan (which could now create a new problem of drying out), and I'm not using as many wheat berries per container (went from 1.5 cups to 1 cup for an 11"x14" tray)
2. Not enough water - I rinse thoroughly twice a day, and the seeds never dry out... but the pro systems apparently water a lot... which seems to me would cause fermentation of the bad seeds rather than mold growth...
3. Not enough light? - I've tried to research how light effects mold growth, but don't have any idea.
I am having another go (after taking time to think/plan (and sulk) for a few weeks).
MOLD, errgh!
Does anyone know what sort of impact fluorescent grow lights could have on mold growth?
I made 6 trays of fodder a few weeks ago. Two were wheat berries from Whole Foods, the other four were barley seed from the feed store.
The wheat seemed to be doing very well, roots were clean and white, grass was thick and tall. I did end up feeding the first tray to my ducks on days 6 and 7. However, once I really started looking for mold, I found a few secluded cases in the biscuit... Probably about 10 wheat berries with varying degrees of mold - a few completely covered in blue fuzzy mold, a few turning black, and a few almost unnoticeable blackened roots (just speckled with black). And one or two wheat berries that had turned pink... maybe mold, maybe algae? I noticed going longer than 6 days is too long, so I ended up composting the second wheat tray because it had too much mold for my comfort.
It makes me wonder how many perfectly healthy looking fodder biscuits actually have mold growth hidden within. Is this normal? Has anybody else pulled apart a healthy-looking fodder and looked with great detail?
Now, the barley is a whole nother story. White fuzzy mold (aspergillus maybe?) took hold on day 3 and by day 4 you'd think I was trying to grow mold, not barley. To the compost pile the rest of the fodder went.
It seems obvious to me that the barley from the feed store is not high enough quality... too bad since it's only $10 for 50#! (Maybe it would work in a pump system???) As for the isolated cases of mold on the wheat, I theorize that it could be due to:
1. Not enough airflow - so now I've melted more holes into my containers and I am running a little fan (which could now create a new problem of drying out), and I'm not using as many wheat berries per container (went from 1.5 cups to 1 cup for an 11"x14" tray)
2. Not enough water - I rinse thoroughly twice a day, and the seeds never dry out... but the pro systems apparently water a lot... which seems to me would cause fermentation of the bad seeds rather than mold growth...
3. Not enough light? - I've tried to research how light effects mold growth, but don't have any idea.
I am having another go (after taking time to think/plan (and sulk) for a few weeks).
Last edited:
- Aug 14, 2012
- 76
- 27
- 95
Try rinsing your seeds in a high chlorine water or better hydrogen peroxide soak for a few minutes.
Sam with daily rinses, rinse and soak a bit with H2O2 and then rinse with pure water.
Make sure there is good air flow, and 2 rinses a day should not be a problem with dry out, don't have them in direct sunlight in summer.
Be sure the room they are in is 65 degrees to 75 degrees for optimal sprouting colder they may not sprout.
But rinse very thoroughly to get all the old water out and BE SURE IT IS DRAINED REAL WELL
If you leave water in the bottom even a little it will mold. So be sure to pour it all out after it sits a while and drips down to the bottom.
Holes in the bottom may not be enough, you may have to tip the tray and drain it.
Be sure it is not growing in a moldy basement or bathroom. Wash walls with 50% chlorine and water or use an ozone air purifier to kill molds.
I never get mold. Also if not all of it sprouts you have bad or irradiated grain, switch to non-GMO and soak it longer each time until it sprouts.
Mine sprouts well by the 2nd day, then slow for 2 days, then in 2 days it is 3" high a solid. Unless I let it dry out for two days or spill it.
Should be well rooted.
Sam with daily rinses, rinse and soak a bit with H2O2 and then rinse with pure water.
Make sure there is good air flow, and 2 rinses a day should not be a problem with dry out, don't have them in direct sunlight in summer.
Be sure the room they are in is 65 degrees to 75 degrees for optimal sprouting colder they may not sprout.
But rinse very thoroughly to get all the old water out and BE SURE IT IS DRAINED REAL WELL
If you leave water in the bottom even a little it will mold. So be sure to pour it all out after it sits a while and drips down to the bottom.
Holes in the bottom may not be enough, you may have to tip the tray and drain it.
Be sure it is not growing in a moldy basement or bathroom. Wash walls with 50% chlorine and water or use an ozone air purifier to kill molds.
I never get mold. Also if not all of it sprouts you have bad or irradiated grain, switch to non-GMO and soak it longer each time until it sprouts.
Mine sprouts well by the 2nd day, then slow for 2 days, then in 2 days it is 3" high a solid. Unless I let it dry out for two days or spill it.
Should be well rooted.
Last edited:
Thank you so much for all the details Don.
I presoak seeds for 8-12 hours in a mild bleach solution (1/2 tsp. bleach to 6 cups water). I will incorporate the H2O2 into my rinsing. Good to know 2 rinses per day is sufficient and others are getting by with this.
Room stays between 60 and 75, so I think it's good there. Believe it or not, the cooler 60 doesn't seem to slow the wheat growth for me.
Rinses are thorough, and I do keep the containers on a slope (I was hoping to semi-automate, and just water the top trays a few times a day and let the water drip down through each tray, but I've been rinsing in the sink due to mold paranoia). I might need to increase the slope. It's a fine balance, though, because I don't want the seeds to all slide down to one end.
Sprouting was definitely a problem with the feed store barley; probably heated or irradiated in some way like you said. But the wheat berries are organic, therefore non-GMO, and are for human consumption so they should be pretty good. I think the germination rate is pretty high. It's mostly cracked or broken seeds that don't sprout.
After reading through your info, I'm thinking air circulation is still a problem. Could my containers be too deep? They are similar to this:
I have put many holes in them to help with airflow and drainage, but it's hard to say... I'm sure the high sides are trapping humidity. What do you think? Originally, I thought they'd be good to catch water that falls from the tray above, but maybe it's causing another problem. Thanks again for all the help!
I presoak seeds for 8-12 hours in a mild bleach solution (1/2 tsp. bleach to 6 cups water). I will incorporate the H2O2 into my rinsing. Good to know 2 rinses per day is sufficient and others are getting by with this.
Room stays between 60 and 75, so I think it's good there. Believe it or not, the cooler 60 doesn't seem to slow the wheat growth for me.
Rinses are thorough, and I do keep the containers on a slope (I was hoping to semi-automate, and just water the top trays a few times a day and let the water drip down through each tray, but I've been rinsing in the sink due to mold paranoia). I might need to increase the slope. It's a fine balance, though, because I don't want the seeds to all slide down to one end.
Sprouting was definitely a problem with the feed store barley; probably heated or irradiated in some way like you said. But the wheat berries are organic, therefore non-GMO, and are for human consumption so they should be pretty good. I think the germination rate is pretty high. It's mostly cracked or broken seeds that don't sprout.
After reading through your info, I'm thinking air circulation is still a problem. Could my containers be too deep? They are similar to this:
I have put many holes in them to help with airflow and drainage, but it's hard to say... I'm sure the high sides are trapping humidity. What do you think? Originally, I thought they'd be good to catch water that falls from the tray above, but maybe it's causing another problem. Thanks again for all the help!
Last edited:
- Aug 14, 2012
- 76
- 27
- 95
I use tubs like that but I soak for 24 hours and then I soak for 1 min or more once a day in the cool weather and pour out and drain them well then go back and pour out and drain them a 2nd time after they sit a while. Then once the greens are out I don't soak them anymore I just rinse them but drain real well 2 x so the water on the leaves runs down to the bottom.
I don't have holes in my tubs, so I have to pour out and drain by hand but it works well and doesn't take much time for me
I don't have holes in my tubs, so I have to pour out and drain by hand but it works well and doesn't take much time for me
Hmmm interesting. I rinse for at least a minute, but maybe the trick is in the soaking like you do.
Do you keep a fan and/or light on the tubs?
Do you keep a fan and/or light on the tubs?
- Nov 23, 2013
- 134
- 15
- 136
We have always had better success with wheat vs barley. It's hard to find viable barley that will sprout. Soaking the seeds in a water solution with chlorine or H2O2 will fix that mold problem, also if after pouring the grain into the tray, spray straight H2O2 on the seeds. We have our indoor setup in front of a north facing window, so they get enough light. If your grain hasn't sprouted by the 2nd day, after putting it in a tray, it probably is not going to, so either feed it to the animals, compost it or ferment it and then feed it to the animals. Our trays are 10"x12" (bottom measurement of tray). We use 12oz of grain (dry weight) before soaking, which is actually 3 cups, by measuing cup. Usually, we end up with a finished product of 4lb of fodder with the barley and 5 lb with the wheat. Your trays are larger than ours and so I would say instead of only 1 or 1/2 cups try for 3 cups or more. You want the bottom of your tray well covered with soaked grain, at the start, even to 1/4 inch or more, in depth. As for our 10"x12" trays; I poked holes in the bottoms with an ice pick and there is usually between 70 and over 90 holes per tray. The trays also need to be scrubbed beforehand each use with soap and water. Every so often it's wise to lay them outside, bottoms up, in the sun to sterilize. Cleanliness is all important.
Great ideas. I wonder if this is good for people too?
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