anybody raise sprouts to feed the chickens?

[CopperCT]

I do clover and beans...mostly lentils. The chickens love them! I just need to figure out another sprouter. I run out of them too quickly.

 

[motoclown]

Two questions............

We have well water, good well water, but it comes out really really cold in the winter
so, should I use warmer water to rinse ?

I started some flax seeds tonight for us and the girls,
do I have to shell the sprouts for our salads?
*(I kind of figured that I didn't need to shell them for the chickens.)

 

[BarredBuff]

I know Im late for the party BUT I sporut Wheat, Oats, and Alfalfa and I do it in dirt trays so I can cut it back and then let it grow back out. Today the chickens and the rabbits are gonna get some oat sprouts.......

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I've never sprouted flax. I do sprout alfalfa. As an example, using a jar and screens to sprout, I would use the tiniest screen during the sprouting process. When it was time to dehull, after the sprouts were larger, I would switch to a slightly larger screen to rinse. That way, the hulls could wash out. I don't worry about getting all of them, just most of them. It really becomes a commentary on your personality at that point, when you choose to stop dehulling.

I also swish a bunch of alfalfa sprouts in a bowl of water to loosen the hulls, then drain in a colander. I use a tray sprouter and a lot of the hulls get left behind on the bottom, anyway. Then I just try to remove a fair amount of the rest.

I don't know if you should use cold well water to rinse, but I do.

 

[Rockerchic]

Quote:
Okay, they've been in the bags and jar for about 16 hours, and I don't need to be knocked in the head to know that this ain'ta gonna work. I made too much. They almost doubled in size overnight, and they ain'ta gonna get any smaller. I need trays like the directions said to use... See 3riverschick's direction on reply #111. "When everything else fail, including you, read the directions."
I'm going to dump everything from the bags and jars into the bottom of the five-gallon bucket, rinse and drain occasionally, and when they have just sprouted maybe half an inch I'll pour some kefir (chickens love kefir) over them to get the chickens started eating oats.

Meanwhile, I'll build some kind of TRAY setup for sprouting about a half pound of oats at a time. That 50# bag's agonna last a LONG time. I only have seven bbs Orpinton hens, two roosters, six chicks, and six silkies. I'll probably have to thow some of this first batch away because it might spoil before they've eaten it.

There's another thread here, titled "wheat sprout feeder" which offers a great way to grow the sprouts in plastic baskets, with no need for buckets, soil, etc. I got six of these baskets today, at the 99cent only store. Each is about 8 X 10 inches, should sprout about 1/3 cup of wheat, and in the other threat she shows the baskets being used as feeders in the chicken run, held vertically to the wall in a holder. The baskets are reusable, and can be washed in the dishwasher.I don't know how to post a link, but you should be able to find this if you look for it.

 

[Delmar]

Quote:
I tried sprouting flax seed and the jar method is not the way to go. The seeds soak up too much water in a hurry and become a big glob of paste. Perhaps putting them in a plastic tray and spraying them with a fine mist from a spray bottle would work better?

 

[Delmar]

Quote:
I think you are right. I keep a couple milk jugs full of water and let them assume room temperature, and use that.

 

[vmdanielsen]

Quote:
I tried sprouting flax seed and the jar method is not the way to go. The seeds soak up too much water in a hurry and become a big glob of paste. Perhaps putting them in a plastic tray and spraying them with a fine mist from a spray bottle would work better?

Flax does form a gelatinous mass when trying to soak. I am interested in your outcome with just spraying.
Also have you tried sprouting your oats with my no rinse method? My horse oats are sprouting with it. that means after the plotspike is done I won't have to buy it!!!! YAY!!
Ginny

 

[gummiepig]

Quote:
BOSS?

boss is black oil sunflower seeds
you can find it at most walmarts and tractor supplys
good luck

 

[Taylor]

Yes! I have also fed mine sprouts, they love em'!!! Until I got lazy and quit growing them, i still think my hens are still mad at me!