anybody raise sprouts to feed the chickens?

[Chickens R Us]

I'll have to get some burlap and try that. They sell some at my local feed mill.

 

[WHmarans]

This is a question I've been doing a lot of research on as well. I have not found an answer I trust yet.... but I have found chicken feed recipes (chick starter, layer mash, meat bird feed) from a few sources, most of them use some where in the ballpark of 30 lbs grains such as equal parts wheat corn oats barley or other blends of those (in this case sprouted grains.. but this is the the pre sprouting weight), then about 10 lbs fish meal or meat feed of some kind, 3 lbs dried milk or dairy of some kind (not sure what the equivalent dairy products or whole milk volume would be), 2lb oyster shell 0.5 lb salt. maybe 5 lb alfalfa meal.

The reason I think this makes sense is because it supplements a grain diet with food richer in methionine, from what I understand this is the amino acid lacking in a lot of vegetable foods (except soy) that chickens need.

Another thing I want to find out is how many meal worms do I need to feed to make up the "meat" requirement. I read they are very high in methionine. Overfeeding protein can actually be hard on the kidneys of chickens.. so I read. So I would like to try to get it right during times when the best alternative (good forage) isn't available.

I don't know how well this feed plan works, but I'm hoping to collect some chick growth data from my next hatch and then raise another group of chicks on a home made feed and see how they compare and how they each eventually lay.. we'll see if I get to actually doing all that.

 

[LindaB220]

This is a question I've been doing a lot of research on as well. I have not found an answer I trust yet.... but I have found chicken feed recipes (chick starter, layer mash, meat bird feed) from a few sources, most of them use some where in the ballpark of 30 lbs grains such as equal parts wheat corn oats barley or other blends of those (in this case sprouted grains.. but this is the the pre sprouting weight), then about 10 lbs fish meal or meat feed of some kind, 3 lbs dried milk or dairy of some kind (not sure what the equivalent dairy products or whole milk volume would be), 2lb oyster shell 0.5 lb salt. maybe 5 lb alfalfa meal.

The reason I think this makes sense is because it supplements a grain diet with food richer in methionine, from what I understand this is the amino acid lacking in a lot of vegetable foods (except soy) that chickens need.

Another thing I want to find out is how many meal worms do I need to feed to make up the "meat" requirement. I read they are very high in methionine. Overfeeding protein can actually be hard on the kidneys of chickens.. so I read. So I would like to try to get it right during times when the best alternative (good forage) isn't available.

I don't know how well this feed plan works, but I'm hoping to collect some chick growth data from my next hatch and then raise another group of chicks on a home made feed and see how they compare and how they each eventually lay.. we'll see if I get to actually doing all that.

x2

 

[Lacy Blues]

This is a question I've been doing a lot of research on as well. I have not found an answer I trust yet.... but I have found chicken feed recipes (chick starter, layer mash, meat bird feed) from a few sources, most of them use some where in the ballpark of 30 lbs grains such as equal parts wheat corn oats barley or other blends of those (in this case sprouted grains.. but this is the the pre sprouting weight), then about 10 lbs fish meal or meat feed of some kind, 3 lbs dried milk or dairy of some kind (not sure what the equivalent dairy products or whole milk volume would be), 2lb oyster shell 0.5 lb salt. maybe 5 lb alfalfa meal.

The reason I think this makes sense is because it supplements a grain diet with food richer in methionine, from what I understand this is the amino acid lacking in a lot of vegetable foods (except soy) that chickens need.

Another thing I want to find out is how many meal worms do I need to feed to make up the "meat" requirement. I read they are very high in methionine. Overfeeding protein can actually be hard on the kidneys of chickens.. so I read. So I would like to try to get it right during times when the best alternative (good forage) isn't available.

I don't know how well this feed plan works, but I'm hoping to collect some chick growth data from my next hatch and then raise another group of chicks on a home made feed and see how they compare and how they each eventually lay.. we'll see if I get to actually doing all that.

I don't know if you raise any specific breed or not but after you've raised them this way and they lay well and all that. If you would consider hatchability and strength of the chicks, I would be really really interested in hearing about that. If you don't hatch, maybe you'd be willing to send some of your birds' eggs to those who do hatch, just as a study. I know shipping is hard on eggs so the best test would be someone fairly local.

 

[WHmarans]

I do hatch eggs so I'll try to keep you posted. This does seem like a lot to take on to me so I'll be doing it one piece at a time.. I won't get to the viability of eggs until all else looks good with chick growth. The chick starter recipe was a little different BTW. Each recipe is a little different. I raise wheaten marans and cream legbars.

 

[Reedgirl20]

I am trying out the burlap sack method this week. I've been sprouting fodder very successfully in the automated system from half pint homestead but wanted to sprout on a little bigger scale for the chickens and quail I have. I plan on doing sprouts for them and continue the fodder system for the rabbits. So far just have wheat in for fodder but have wheat/BOSS/oats in the sacks for sprouts.

 

[vmdanielsen]

Day 3 on my sprouting............

My oats molded.

I have better luck not rinsing oats 2x a day. I soak for 24 hours, turn large mason jar over with plastic screen for 24 hours draining( I give soak water to my plants), then wait 2 more days and feed 4 day old sprouts. My house is 60*F-68*F. If I rinse, things sour, mold or just get slimy. Keep trying!

 

[5boys]

Hello: Where you buy your grains for sprout? Thank you

 

[PetRock]

Hello: Where you buy your grains for sprout? Thank you

I buy 50 lb bags of King Feed whole oats, wheat, and barley from Scotts Valley Feed. I also sprout a premium wild bird seed that is comprised of BOSS (black oil sunflower seed), white millet, canary grass seed, and safflower seed. I buy it in a 40 lb bag at Costco.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I buy 50 lb bags of King Feed whole oats, wheat, and barley from Scotts Valley Feed. I also sprout a premium wild bird seed that is comprised of BOSS (black oil sunflower seed), white millet, canary grass seed, and safflower seed. I buy it in a 40 lb bag at Costco.

Do all of the seeds in this mix sprout at approximately the same time? Are you able to grow them to fodder stage?