anybody raise sprouts to feed the chickens?

[Pezgallo3]

Thanks OkanaganPeppers. I'm off to the health food store.

 

[newwestchick]

Sprouts days 1-4, I'm always sprouting something! Organic lentils are affordable, as well as wheat grass. They looooove it e:cd

 

[littleboots]

I absolutely love sprouting! In the warmer months my flock thrives on my compost system and food scraps, but in the winter I need a little more. I sprout ALL my grains/legumes that my birds eat during the winter. They absolutely love it. Plus! I believe sprouting can increase the digestability of proteins up to 30%! Here's a pic of some of my sprouting grains. I use a 4 bucket system to stay in constant supply! I wrote an article about how I do it.

http://www.abundantpermaculture.com...30/c1aod/8F62A116-FD92-4922-946C-4987FEF79920




For more of my stuff, check out my Kickstarter for a film about raising chickens naturally from hatching to the plate!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/433709003/permaculture-chickens

 

[Pezgallo3]

I have a question in regards to beans or legumes. Aren't most beans poisonous if not cooked? Does this only pertain to human consumption? Are there any seeds/beans etc that I should avoid sprouting?

 

[lazy gardener]

I have read the same thing. Particularly pertaining to kidney beans. There fore, just to be on the safe side, i'll not sprout any beans of that family. (kidney, pinto, etc.) I believe mung beans are ok. Lentils are fine. Any beans that you might find as fresh sprouts in a good salad bar are ok.

 

[Tutu of 5]

Yes, my girls love sprouted mung beans. Their morning diet includes sprouted mung beans and wheat berries and I sprout and then chop garbanzo beans for them too. Good luck!

 

[Pezgallo3]

Ok. Built my fodder. Still needs a little tweaking as my only issue is the drain side does not drain quit as fast as the watering side. I planned ahead and placed a ball valve at the pressure input end but because the pump is providing eater from the bottom up I need the valve mostly open in order to get water to the top. Quick fix is to put a ball valve on each level at each waterer. This way I can reduce the output pressure accordingly at all three levels so the drain side will keep up. I am using recycled water from a 13gallon drum.

 

[rides2far]

Wow, your fodder tray is impressive! I'm going to show this to my husband! Awesome job

 

[rides2far]

One quick question. My babies haven't arrived yet. If I want to give babies sprouts, how old should they be, & should I chop them into smaller pieces? BTW, I have chick grit. Lol. Chop the sprouts NOT the babies!

 

[Pezgallo3]

One quick question. My babies haven't arrived yet. If I want to give babies sprouts, how old should they be, & should I chop them into smaller pieces? BTW, I have chick grit. Lol. Chop the sprouts NOT the babies!

I'm actually in the same boat. I don't have my chicks yet either. I actually presented the same question previously on this thread. According to others you can feed them fodder treats right away.