DIY Thread - Let's see your "Inventions".

[CourtsCacklers]

I see, how many days do you let it regrow before feeding it to them again?
What kind of growing medium (soil?) are they planted in?
How long does a 'patch' continue to regrow.....will it not regrow after a time do you think?
Sorry for all the questions

I plan on some grazing frames for the run this spring. For winter greens I just grow wheat fodder and give them the whole thing after 5-7 days.

That's quite alright.... this is a new 'project' for me so I can't promise continued success with the same soil/seeds for the entire winter-- however, they have begun to regrow for me so far (I have regrown the same tray atleast 3x with success. I grew them in soil from the bottom of my compost pile--nothing else. The initial growth was approximately 2 weeks to reach a healthy height of 4 inches or so-- the second growth probably about the same... I do usually throw a few additional seeds (but not a lot!) right on top of the soil to make it thicker each time.

I have done some reading on fodder which I believe is probably most definitely a quicker process-- the reason that I have chosen this route is to get away from having to buy continuous seeds and also to hopefully amp up the Omegas in their eggs... I know that wheat seeds, among some others are fairly cheap to acquire but I am trying not to have so much wheat in their diet because what they eat-- we eventually eat in their eggs and we eat probably about 90% wheat free in our house just to get away from the genetically modified grains. I do sprout organic alfalfa seeds for them which is not cheap! Locally $22/lb., bought online a couple dollars cheaper by the pound but then you have to pay shipping so it really isn't cheaper. The good news is-- alfalfa seed is very small so a little can go a long way....

I didn't start this process to make any money-- in fact with 6 chickens-- I am probably losing money unless you can quantify the health qualities in a monetary value. I enjoy it though and try to have a happy medium... It makes me feel better that they have healthier choices than just their commercial rations of layer pellets.

So, do you have a complete fodder system set up? I have seen some pretty awesome set-ups (in pictures

only...)

 

[CourtsCacklers]

The shop I worked at used these during the winter on the big roll up doors, they're also widely used in cold storage facilities. I considered trying this but with the temps being relatively mild here I decided not to bother. I would think it would keep the temps up in the coop a few degrees for those back in cold country.

yes-- it does seem to help here in Northwest, OH. Northern, Indiana doesn't get that cold? Maybe not so much the lake effects, huh? We get a lot of that....

 

[Leahs Mom]

I'm doing sprouts in burlap bags and feeding like Kassaundra here on byc does. I love the way it works...quick and easy to feed...but I don't sprout to the grass stage. Just sprouts.

 

[CourtsCacklers]

I am planning my first coop, I live alone also so I am concerned about the caring of these creatures I would like to have in my company. I am very fussy about who I keep company with. LOL anyway how long have you been eggging and can you suggest anything new for an new egger? like me in Egg Harbor Wi??

There is a thread about what chicken keepers wish they would have known starting out-- that has some great tips for starters such as how to keep your chickens safe from predators or how to design the coop for easy cleaning.... I read that entire thread starting out!

and, I use the vinyl just to cover the door to which they access the outside to keep the coop less "drafty" in our cold winters...I just bought the heaviest guage they had at our local craft store.

 

[aart]

Thanks for your explanation CC.

Not an automatic system, just a half dozen 6" square plastic trays with holes drilled in, rinse/water them once a day. I cover them with the lid or another tray to help hold the moisture. Soaked for a day then into a tray on kitchen table for 3 days then when leaves start I put them in an east window. Folks say they don't really need the sunlight but I figure it makes more sense.

I use 1/4 cup hard red wheat from the food co-op, white wheat from the feed mill was moldy despite bleaching. I don't do it continuously, but when the weather is the nastiest and as a supplement every couple weeks or so. Just doing it so they can have some additional greens stuff other than the few veggie scraps I generate...and to give them something to do when stuck inside in the nasty weather. I pop the whole mat out of the tray and cut it up into 15-20 pieces and spread it around in the coop. They eat the leaf and seed but not the roots.

 

[marktoo]

yes-- it does seem to help here in Northwest, OH. Northern, Indiana doesn't get that cold? Maybe not so much the lake effects, huh? We get a lot of that....

Spent 5 1/2 years in central Indiana while in the AF. I thought winters were pretty cold, not as cold as SD, AK or many other places I've been but still....I prefer the snow & ice to be up on the mountain tops were I can look at it from the valley but not be inconvenienced by it.

I'm in central California, 20F is very rare.

I'm doing sprouts in burlap bags and feeding like Kassaundra here on byc does. I love the way it works...quick and easy to feed...but I don't sprout to the grass stage. Just sprouts.

This looks interesting! May have to give it a shot at some point.

 

[CourtsCacklers]

Spent 5 1/2 years in central Indiana while in the AF. I thought winters were pretty cold, not as cold as SD, AK or many other places I've been but still....I prefer the snow & ice to be up on the mountain tops were I can look at it from the valley but not be inconvenienced by it.

I'm in central California, 20F is very rare.

haha....I must have been looking at the wrong location.... California....mmmmm....that sounds good about right now.... :O)

 

[CourtsCacklers]

I'm doing sprouts in burlap bags and feeding like Kassaundra here on byc does. I love the way it works...quick and easy to feed...but I don't sprout to the grass stage. Just sprouts.

oooooohhhhh.... I do like this!!!! Keeps them busy a little longer than me just throwing some in a tray .... need to look me up some burlap bags....THANKS!

 

[CourtsCacklers]

Thanks for your explanation CC.

Not an automatic system, just a half dozen 6" square plastic trays with holes drilled in, rinse/water them once a day. I cover them with the lid or another tray to help hold the moisture. Soaked for a day then into a tray on kitchen table for 3 days then when leaves start I put them in an east window. Folks say they don't really need the sunlight but I figure it makes more sense.

I use 1/4 cup hard red wheat from the food co-op, white wheat from the feed mill was moldy despite bleaching. I don't do it continuously, but when the weather is the nastiest and as a supplement every couple weeks or so. Just doing it so they can have some additional greens stuff other than the few veggie scraps I generate...and to give them something to do when stuck inside in the nasty weather. I pop the whole mat out of the tray and cut it up into 15-20 pieces and spread it around in the coop. They eat the leaf and seed but not the roots.

I like it....sounds simplified...from some of the "big" systems....i am not ready to jump into "BIG" just yet....

 

[CourtsCacklers]

@ Leahs Mom-- Do you think the burlap bag system would work as well with very small seeds like Alfalfa seeds?