You really need to do the math if you think fodder is going to save you money. Remember that fodder is over 80% non nutritive water so when they claim that 1# of barley produces 6# of fodder, you aren't producing 6# of nutrient dense feed, you still only have the nutrients that you started with in the 1# of grain. (actually less because the sprouting uses up sugar). The values that the fodder companies publish are dry matter values, not as fed.They omit this tiny detail. They also express everything in percentages. If one value goes down (CHO in the sprouting process) the other values fat and protein must go up. When the protein value goes up people clamor all over that not understanding why it had to go up. You must dry and remove all the water to test the forage.
To put it in other terms, an average horse will do fine on 20# of hay a day. Hay is about 12% moisture. Could this horse live on 20# of grass pasture a day? Hardly. He's going to eat over 100# of grass a day because most of what he consumes is water.
If you want to do fodder as a treat, fine, but don't do it thinking that 1# of grain magically produces 6# of feed. You will starve your chickens. If you want something green for their winter diet, you are better off buying a $6-8 bale of 3-4th cutting alfalfa with fine stems and abundant leaves.
