Dixie Chicks

[tntchix]

Noooo, it's snowing! So far it's still melting as it hits the ground. I hope none of it sticks. There's hardly any snow left in the back yard, and the front is almost clear as well. The grass that's emerging almost looks like it's growing , which is weird because I think it would need a couple of degrees warmer to do that.

Sprouts turned out to be a bust again, I don't know what to do anymore. The tower might need some more drain holes.

And in bunny news, apparently we're picking up Hilma on Friday. I would want to wait a couple more weeks, but no use arguing with Karin.

sorry on both counts snow and sprouts are a big bummer here too.

V, Here is a post I put on the fodder thread in answer to the question below. I will post a picture of my shelf system at the bottom




Key things for me were:

• sprouting a single kind of grain/seed, not mixtures of grain/seeds
• start with sterilized equipment and keep it that way between each use
• cleaning the seeds of debris that may hold moisture around the grain/seeds - I use a colander that has small slits/holes and shake the grain/seeds to sift out small particles - large stalk pieces and husks come to the top and I hand remove them
• rinse the grain/seed really well before soaking them
• when soaking lightweight debris floats and I remove it
• don't soak them too long - I soak wheat/barley/kamut for 4-5 hours and black oil sunflower seeds for 8 - rinsing when I think about it
• don't make the layer of grain/seeds too thick in your tray/container
• completely rinse the sprouts in the trays/container twice a day
• make sure you have lots of drainage in the bottom of whatever you are using for trays/containers
• I grow only during the winter in my house that has gas forced air heat so not a humid environment but if you have too much humidity that can be a problem
• we keep our temps inside at 65F at night and 68F when someone is home during the day but the sprouts are kept in the utility room with the furnace and hot water heater so probably around 70-72F most of the time

There are many people that sprout grain/seeds and you will probably find an equal amount of ways to accomplish the task. What works in one situation may or may not work somewhere else. Keep trying....eventually you will find what works for you!


This pic is from two years ago. I do not grow the greens this big any more....I feed them at the day three or four stage. Day one after soak on lower left, moving right day two and day three. shelf above left day four, day five and day six.

Thanks for this NAF, I was told BOSS only needed a 2-3 hr soak to prevent mold, tried this got nothing. Going back to long soak. The girls love their BOSS sprouted.

 

[ApiaryandAviary]

Well there you go.
10 cup coffee maker.
I dont have a coffee cup that is really just a cup. Unless I just pour a little to cover the bottom of the coffee mug. I do have a coffee pot tht makes a nice size cup of coffee. A single server pot. And then are all my other pots. Stove tops and plug ins. Different sizes for different types of coffee. Oh sure, I have one that bragged it does 10 cups. We get maybe if we are lucky 3 cups out of it. I guess we need to switch sizes of our coffee cups to espesso size.

 

[Amberjem]

Morning all!

morning everyone

Woot! Science is catching up with us wise coffee drinkers...."new research" (didn't say who sponsored the research) finds that those who drink 3 to 5 cups of coffee a day are much less likely to develop calcium deposits in arteries that leads to heart disease. So...drink up! I am.

Noooo, it's snowing! So far it's still melting as it hits the ground. I hope none of it sticks. There's hardly any snow left in the back yard, and the front is almost clear as well. The grass that's emerging almost looks like it's growing , which is weird because I think it would need a couple of degrees warmer to do that.

Sprouts turned out to be a bust again, I don't know what to do anymore. The tower might need some more drain holes.

And in bunny news, apparently we're picking up Hilma on Friday. I would want to wait a couple more weeks, but no use arguing with Karin.

 

[Amberjem]

Well there you go.
10 cup coffee maker.
I dont have a coffee cup that is really just a cup. Unless I just pour a little to cover the bottom of the coffee mug. I do have a coffee pot tht makes a nice size cup of coffee. A single server pot. And then are all my other pots. Stove tops and plug ins. Different sizes for different types of coffee. Oh sure, I have one that bragged it does 10 cups. We get maybe if we are lucky 3 cups out of it. I guess we need to switch sizes of our coffee cups to espesso size.

sorry on both counts snow and sprouts are a big bummer here too.

Thanks for this NAF, I was told BOSS only needed a 2-3 hr soak to prevent mold, tried this got nothing. Going back to long soak. The girls love their BOSS sprouted.

 

[Amberjem]

V, Here is a post I put on the fodder thread in answer to the question below. I will post a picture of my shelf system at the bottom




Key things for me were:

• sprouting a single kind of grain/seed, not mixtures of grain/seeds
• start with sterilized equipment and keep it that way between each use
• cleaning the seeds of debris that may hold moisture around the grain/seeds - I use a colander that has small slits/holes and shake the grain/seeds to sift out small particles - large stalk pieces and husks come to the top and I hand remove them
• rinse the grain/seed really well before soaking them
• when soaking lightweight debris floats and I remove it
• don't soak them too long - I soak wheat/barley/kamut for 4-5 hours and black oil sunflower seeds for 8 - rinsing when I think about it
• don't make the layer of grain/seeds too thick in your tray/container
• completely rinse the sprouts in the trays/container twice a day
• make sure you have lots of drainage in the bottom of whatever you are using for trays/containers
• I grow only during the winter in my house that has gas forced air heat so not a humid environment but if you have too much humidity that can be a problem
• we keep our temps inside at 65F at night and 68F when someone is home during the day but the sprouts are kept in the utility room with the furnace and hot water heater so probably around 70-72F most of the time

There are many people that sprout grain/seeds and you will probably find an equal amount of ways to accomplish the task. What works in one situation may or may not work somewhere else. Keep trying....eventually you will find what works for you!


This pic is from two years ago. I do not grow the greens this big any more....I feed them at the day three or four stage. Day one after soak on lower left, moving right day two and day three. shelf above left day four, day five and day six.

I love this little guy! Our new coffee pot says 10 cups, but really

it's like micro cups or something! I made 2 pots this morning because I'm off work today. @Amberjem , response to your post yesterday, yes, I start bank job on Monday. Super excited. I went yesterday and dropped off I9 forms and all needed documentation to work in the US. LOL! Friday is my last day at Lowe's. Done by design to have the weekend off

. Yesterday I got my schedule for the next 4 weeks from new job, including going to another branch for 2 days, paid mileage and drive time, and FREE LUNCH! Yeah! My schedule has me scheduled off every Saturday (at least the 4 weeks) and of course I am off Sundays! I am totally looking forward to catching up on some much needed fishing this summer. I think that's one of the reasons DH married me.

I can bait my own hook & pull the fish off! I do love fishing. Last year we only went once because of work schedules. So, we have no fish in the freezer.

Let the roosters that are on death row out this morning and they would not move from their chicken tractor. They kept jumping onto the tire and back to the tractor area. Acting like they are allergic to snow. @vehve , I'll trade you yards! Ours is layers and layers of snow, ice, snow, ice, crunch, crunch, yuck!

 

[Amberjem]

so what kind of things do ppl like to grow in there garden for their chickens? do you grow anything specifically or is it just a by product of growing stuff for yourself in the garden? also what kinds of plants do you like to grow that produce plenty of fodder for the chickens?

 

[hennible]

Russian kale

 

[perchie.girl]

Gardening is out of the question for me. But If I could get someone to dig for me I would plant some kale in a protected wire structure so they can only reach the outside bits....

If I get the Hydroponics in I will do fodder with an ebb and flow system.... For the horse and goats and chickesns.

My poor horse hasnt had green grass to graze on in about four years now.

If I get the hygroponics going I want to do Peas for me... English peas I love em but cant find them in the store... Blackeyed peas too... and probably okra

Then I would also grow some Cattails Dual prupose keeping the water clean and good for eating... Roots and Flower heads too.

http://www.cattails.info/Cattail_Recipe.html

But there are other water plants that are eidble duck weed for one....

http://natures-water.com/education_information/edible_plants/

Just discovered all this reading about Cattails.

And since I will be only using water that grows fish for this pollutants should be a minimum.

deb

 

[tntchix]

so what kind of things do ppl like to grow in there garden for their chickens? do you grow anything specifically or is it just a by product of growing stuff for yourself in the garden? also what kinds of plants do you like to grow that produce plenty of fodder for the chickens?

I'm trying to sprout BOSS it's a love/hate process for me. I'll figure it out if only my black thumb would cooperate. LOL
I am going to grow my first garden this year, lots of greens for the chickens is the plan.

 

[Beer can]

Going to grow tons of kale this summer for ourselves and the chickens. Going to freeze it for the chickens for winter. Waiting until fall to set up a sprouting/fodder system, trying fermented feed right now. Today was the first time I feed them some, wasn't a big hit. But they don't seem to be eating much this winter anyway. I spent a lot more on feed when I was free ranging them last summer. Could be cause they were still growing or the fact they were a lot more active. They've been confined to their large coop all freezing snow blowing nasty winter. My one attempt to make them get some fresh air and enjoy some nice sunshine on our one nice day this winter didn't go over good with them.