Can't find affordable sprouting seeds

[NNYchick]

I was going to do this but told the grains can be cracked and wouldn’t sprout and increase risk of mold.

 

[NNYchick]

I found this sprouting tray at a thrift store. The directions say to soak seeds then divide among the trays. I want to do it so each tray is done on a different day and I can rotate would this work?

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

We sprout our 5 grain scratch we feed in winter. Much cheaper.

I just bought some 5 grain scratch yesterday from Southern States. I'm not sure if it will work because it has corn in it. But, it is all whole grains.

 

[Helloworld]

It will work. I sprout what they already eat.

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

It will work. I sprout what they already eat.

What do they eat now?

 

[Helloworld]

5 grain scratch and deer plot feed.

I mix half and half.. cracked corn may or may not grow but chickens will dig it up and eat it.

 

[Chickassan]

Birdseed is perfectly fine, sprout away.

I have been doing that, but I keep reading different things about bird seed is okay for chickens and bird seed isn't okay for chickens. I can't seem to find out the "real truth" on that. What I have been growing for them from bird seed they really like. It disappears like magic!

 

[Kusery]

I found a seed company and talked to the owner. They move and bag seed from farmers and a lot ends up on the floor. They sweep it into bins and end up composting much of it. It's usually mixed seed: millet, oats, and wheat mostly. We came to an agreement. I shovel the seed into bags and they have a guy there to sew them shut. I pay for the bags. It's practically free. There's a little pigeon poop in it but I soak and rinse thoroughly the first two days. I just use old milk pails and have them numbered to keep them in order. When I started I only had to soak them five days. With the colder weather here in Northern Minnesota, the basement is a little chillier and I have increased it to 9. I have 15 chooks and I get a yogurt container of seed soaking everyday. It's like crack for the chickens, they gobble it right up. I usually throw the sprouts into their feeding trough before I open the pop door, but occasionally I want to sneak back to bed and they don't get their sprouts for a couple hours after being let out. They act like they have been starved! They have cracked corn and commercial feed always available. Coincidently, since I started doing it, it has reduced the amount of commercial feed by half. They have free choice Oyster shells available, too, so I don't worry about calcium.