anybody raise sprouts to feed the chickens?

[KooKoe]

I sprout all the time. I use bird seed or even the chicken feed I buy. Both grow quickly and my chooks love em. I always pot the whole pot in the cage with my chicks and they pull them out and scratch in the potting soil. It's their favourite part of the day! I have about 4 rotating pots.

 

[Cluckn Crazy]

I sprout in a glass container with water, no light or soil necessary. I soak the grains/seeds for 6-8 hours or overnight, then drain and let sit for another day or two (or three). I rinse them morning and night to keep them going. The grains/seeds are ready to eat once the root is as long as its seed body. I'm not sure I'd bother if I had to use soil/pots etc. It's gotta be simple and fast or I'll quit! We were quite serious with this years ago when my husband was sick, it's a excellant way to eat for everyone.

 

[spish]

ive never heard of sprouting? what is it? i read the thread title and presumed the poster meant brussels sprouts lol!

 

[joebryant]

This is a great post. Think I'll start sprouting seeds for them. Sprouts are so healthy because they're living food that contains enzymes released during sprouting; otherwise, those enzymes are never available.

 

[spish]

Quote:
so how do you do it..just grab some of the grain and wet it?? (as if i were growing cress?)

 

[geeber]

Sprouting is fun & I have done it for my chooks & birds. They LOVE them!! I cant keep up. But it is a great treat.

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
so how do you do it..just grab some of the grain and wet it?? (as if i were growing cress?)

First, soak the grains for at least eight hours to activate the enzymes; drain the water off, rinse, and drain again. Then if you're using a jar with a screen on top, set it at a 45 degree angle so the water will drain off into a bowl, i.e., don't let the grains sit in water. Rinse and put it back in the 45 degree position a couple times a day. Usually takes just one or two days. My daughter, of the Living Foods Institute, says they're ready when the sprout is half the length of the grain.

If you're using a sprouting bag, hang it up to drain into a bowl.

ETA My wife insists on my adding that she makes sprouts for us. She usually uses mung beans with sea salt and cayenne pepper. They make a great snack or can be put on a salad. Our daughter makes salads totally out of sprouts, maybe with Jamaican curry and/or any other spice/seasoning.

ETA #2 You can buy sprouting jars with screen lids and sprouting bags at health food stores.

 

[joebryant]

Would it be safe to sprout pinto beans for chickens?

 

[jomercer]

I let mother nature do the sprouting for me. I give my 4 girls a handful of oatseed in their run as a treat in the morning. When I let them out to run about the yard, I throw more oat seed over a pile of oak leaves they love to scratch in. Every two or three weeks, I take the pile of now-shredded leaves and their dirty litter out to spread on the blueberry/raspberry patch.

The leftover oatseed sprouts out there, and I pull it as 1-2 inch seedlings for the girls. Oats are pretty cold tolerant, so I'll have fresh greens until it gets *really* cold--usually not until January in this part of the state. If I remember and have the time/inclination, I might sprout some oatseed in a jar indoors this winter

They really love them!

 

[Cluckn Crazy]

Here's some I have going. Dried whole green peas (I over filled the container as I didn't realize how much they would swell). Because the seed has become active, the good stuff is made available to the sprout, the nutrients, fats and proteins become more available for digestion. For example, a 3 day wheat sprout compared to a wheat seed has 300% more vitamin E. When the tail of the sprout is as long as the grain itself, it is at peak nutrition.