Choosing a favorite fodder

[matt14132]

Good morning,

This popped into my head last night.

I have a grow tent at home and was thinking of starting some fodder for the chickens and ducks.

It feels like forever since ive seen real grass.....

My question was, what is your favorite thing to use?
Sunflower seeds?
Barley?
Wheat?
Peas?
Lentils?
Oats?
Millett?
Rye?
Peas?

I understand that some seeds grow slower than others too but what has worked well for you? Do your feathered friends prefer one type over another?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

IMHO Barley is the best because it grows fast and is easiest.
All the others will work but oats and millet haven't done so well here.
Sunflower seeds sprout pretty fast.
Wheat and peas are OK too.
I haven't done rye or lentils but I think they would be good.
I've also done buckwheat and flax.

 

[matt14132]

Where would you recommend getting the barley seeds from?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Wherever you can find them as long as they are feed grade and not for seed.
Seed barley (or anything meant for seed) has fungicides and sometimes insecticides on it.
I used to get mine through our feed co-op.
Check feed stores, grain mills, etc..
My feed store had some I bought and they said it was feed grade but when I got it home the bag listed some fungicides and insecticides as possibly being on the seed.
The feed store said they ordered it for someone making beer but didn't buy it.
NO WONDER! But they were going to sell it to me for feeding. I took it back.

 

[Morrigan]

I sprout a mix of barley, wheat and sunflower seeds, as I can buy those in bulk from my local feed store, and hopefully a mix gives them a bit more balanced nutrition. There is always a mad scramble to pick out the sunflower sprouts.

I would like to try lentils or field peas, but they are not as readily available.