I had very little luck getting barley to sprout worth a poo for me. In my experimenting the cost difference of cheap vs quality seeds ended up being better with quality seeds because so little of the cheap seed sprouted compared to the quality seed...in the end I got more than double sprouts...
All of the seeds do not usually sprout. The seeds that don't will get trapped in the roots of those that do and the birds enjoy them as well. I found that sprouting in a Sprouter system like the Victorio first before moving the sprouts to my growing trays (see my profile for links to my system...
I totally understand that, we live in Az and CO so from one extreme to another, lol. You will probably keep your home in Idaho warm enough to be comfortable to you (even if that is in the 60's) so they should sprout there just fine, if only just a tad slower maybe.
The white spider looking webs may not be mold at all. I thought that, then I looked closer (with a magnifying glass) and discovered those were tiny little hairs growing from the plant itself. They look limp after you rinse with water so it looks like it's washed away, but you can't rub them...
I love mine! I use it to sprout wheat that I move to my fodder growing trays to grow grass for the chickens. It works great for sprouting. I found as long as I flood n drain at least twice a day I never get mold, no matter what the temps are in my house. I keep mine right by my kitchen sink so...
Wouldn't soaking them until the seeds open to let the sprout out, cause the fungicide to enter the water, and therefore the plant itself? I just would not use them. Personally, I wouldn't even grow them in the ground then use them, basically for that same reason.
I keep a rotating batch always in action, as seen in the picture. If you go to my blog post in the link, you will see links to where to buy the supplies online. I live in a very rural area so supplies are not available locally. You could see them on the post, then look for them locally or buy...
I am not familiar with your system, but in mine I rinse the trays in my kitchen sink twice a day. I don't have a system where the water goes into the top trays and runs through the lower trays. Mine are just flat trays on a shelf in my laundry room. I have only discovered mold if I didn't...
After much experimentation I have finally developed a small scale growing system that allows me to feed 17 chickens Fresh Organic Wheat Grass for less than 25 Cents a day. I posted it on my blog if you are interested in following the method I've been using for nearly a year.
Click the title...
Fall seems to be the best time to grow fodder because of the cooler temps (but not cold temps) and that is actually when your chickens will need the fodder anyway because thats when the outdoor grasses go dormant for the winter. If you have an indoor area like a basement it will probably stay...
Oh my goodness, I would be completely freaking out if a predator ate 3 of my girls. I built a chicken fort knox so I hopefully don't have to deal with such a loss.
You don't let it dry out during the day, the key is for it to stay somewhat moist, but not so much that the seeds are floating in water. And you need to grow it indoors. There are too many things that will get into it, as you learned, if it is outdoors. A basement, extra bathroom, corner of...
To me the crumbles just looked so boring. I added wheat seeds, barley seeds, wild bird seed mix, scratch, I just toss in what ever I would feed them normally. They love the variety.
Haha, yes, but chickens love worms and anything that looks like worms, so its perfect! I have a grazing frame in the run and when one of the chickens happens to pull up a grass from the root, they all run after her trying to get the 'worm'. It is really funny.
I am glad your sprouts have...
When I first wanted to 'test' wheat I bought a 5 lbs bag at Amazon. Yes, it is more expensive (per pound) then buying a 50 pound bag at my local feed store, but I certainly didn't want a bunch of wheat if it didn't grow well for me. Since then I have purchased a few pounds at a time from my...
If you still don't see mold then the smell is just that particular seeds smell. Some are smellier than others. I primarily use wheat for this reason. If I experiment with a different seed and it stinks, then I toss it to the chickens and don't use it again. Mine are in my kitchen so I don't want...
If the smell is really bad, Lacy Blues may be right, they might be spoiling. I only make my seed a single layer. They swell and end up a little deeper, but not so deep that they wont drain well. Rinsing more and more often may be necessary.