anybody raise sprouts to feed the chickens?

[Countrycousin1]

I sprout seeds for my canaries and have discovered that the chickens LOVE them too.
They get the day old and left over sprouts and gobble them down.
It is a great way to get the chickens back to laying when the greens are gone or they are penned up in the winter time.
I think You can give them any sprouted seed and they will ove them.

 

[shellyga]

where do you find the seeds to sprout? Very interested to start some treats for my SPOILED chickens.. love them!!

Shelly

 

[starchix]

Once again I am thrilled to see so many other owners of spoiled chickens, doing their thing. I see I am good company! I started sprouting grains early on with my chicks when I saw them gobbling up sprouted seeds under leaf piles in the yard. I also noticed them eating the millet and sunflower seedlings growing up out of a place where I had been throwing birdseed for them.

I sprout all kinds of grains, and do allow the sprouts to get longer than the ones we humans eat, even to the greening-up stage if I'm really slow. I am fascinated by the idea of still being able to grow ancient grains, and just for fun have tried sprouting things like emmer and kamut. Mostly I rotate among oats, wheat (hard red and soft white), barley and rye. I plan to try lentils, quinoa, millet, rice and corn soon. I buy seeds from the bulk foods section at Whole Foods or our other wonderful locally-owned natural foods store.

The easiest way to decide if something will sprout is to ask: is it a seed I could plant in the garden? In other words, split peas obviously won't grow because they have been broken in half. Shelled sunflowers have had their protective seed coverings removed. So think like a gardener. And someone has already said, if the seed doesn't sprout, you can still give it to the chickens, as long as it is only soaked, and not starting to rot.

I have also been trying to grow greens in my small greenhouse for winter, but it is slow (the greenhouse is unheated) and the girls absolutely demolish the whole tray within 10 minutes, right down to the roots. I have tried the 'hang a cabbage in their run for entertainment and winter greens' trick, but my chickens are only so-so about cabbage. What they love above all else is fresh kale ....... which is in short supply this time of year. I have established a rotating set of greens trays and use wheat, rye (sprouts the fastest) and oats. I use plastic plant flats or round flat planters. I feel it is vital they get some greens this time of year, when there isn't much greenery out there, especially under the snow.

 

[greenshade]

I had just started thinking about sprouting for the Esthers (all my hens are named Esther) yesterday and then found this post this morning! I've got flax seed and lentils starting thanks to your posts. I've sprouted mung beans, alfalfa and sunflower seeds in the past for me. So we'll share with the chickies. I hung a cabbage up in their coop yesterday, but with the snow we got overnight, all I've had the fortitude to do this morning is throw them some scratch. I forgot to look and see if they had nibbled on it. Our roo was standing on one foot and glaring at me as if the snow was my fault. At least we got a de-icer for the waterer yesterday. Ungrateful wretch!

 

[pbjmaker]

Started some lentils the other day after reading this thread some. They smell so fresh as they grow - does anyone else think they smell good?

My 20 year old daughter is thrilled that I am growing sprouts - she wants me to grow her some.

Now I just need to find a source for mung beans, oats, and wheat.

 

[HorizonSon]

Quote:
I'm not sure about sprouted lentils; but lentils are rich in iron. She would be well off (your daughter) to have lentils during her menstrual cycle.

Happy sprouting!

 

[aussiebirds]

Our local feed store sells organic "patches" of sprouted barley for $3.50. My chickens love it. Because it doesn't last long and can get expensive I bought some beardless barley seed and grow my own. I soak the seeds overnight and spread them over a couple of inches of soil in plant flats. I find a sunny spot in my garden and lean an old window against it. I also cover the ends with bird netting to keep the tweetie birds away. In a couple of weeks barley grass! Your chicens will go nuts over this nutritious treat!

 

[litl red hen]

Wow!!! Have just read all of the posts about sprouting--and I am hooked! I ran to my pantry to see what I had available to spout. Now trying to find all of my canning jar!s! I always end up, at the end of the last winter season, will small parts of bags from beans, peas (which I learned are not sproutable), lentils, etc. I am cooking for two, so always those little bits left over. Found some lentils and rinsed them and they are soaking. I enjoy dehydrating and look forward to tryng the dehydrated lentil sprouts. I still have a raised eyebrow about eating the sprouted lentils like snacks. I am sure I will realize the attraction once I have some sprouts to snack. I have always enjoyed the alphalpha sprouts in the store but shy away because of the cost and lack of ideas for their use.

One question I have is where to get the broccoli seeds, alphapha seeds, etc? Will the Whole Food store carry these seeds? Just some direction on this. Otherwise seed companies will be receiving a large order from me, lol.

I too spoil my chickens--every chance I get!!! With winter pretty much here in CT, the cold cuts down on the bugs and small 'critters' they can russle up to scratch and eat. I have 7 new birds, born May 3, and they are new to everything!! I enjoy introducing them to new things in this world. I go to the local vegy store and russel through the day-old vegys to grab all of the lettuce leftovers. I like to give the birds ice berg, versus cabbage because they seem to enjoy the lettuce over the cabbage. I find the cabbage is sometimes useful to the birds in the hard winter days--when they are in the coop for a day or two. Gives them something to pick at. I also give suet block--both made and purchased. Any thoughts/comments on the use of suet blocks?

Great posts and as always, a great forum for everything chicken, for us chicken lovers!!

 

[adele]

I just fed out a handful of my first batch of wheat sprouts! they loved them.
They smelled quite weird though, like smelly cheese, i hope this is normal and nobody gets sick:/
My lentils dont seem to be doing anything but going smusshy so far.. i will leave them another day and see if anything happens

 

[rrrmamma]

I have sprouted mung beans for chinese food for years and started giving them to my girls. It starts a mini riot at the food bowl. If I let the sprouts go until they get their first leaves it is even better. I am going to try some other seed too.