Don't tell the wife, I'm growing fodder in the 2nd bathroom!

[Fishkeeper]

Well, why does she mind in the first place? Maybe you can change whatever he minds, and then both of you will be happy. Wives are generally human like everybody else, and can therefore often be reasoned with, instead of hiding things and coming up with excuses to try to get around them.

 

[gtaus]

I love all the excuses. My excuse would be that I must have done that while sleepwalking, because I sure don't remember.

Very nice suggestion which I'll add as....

9) What!? I just had a dream about something like that! I wonder if I did it in my sleep because I sure don't remember putting a fodder tower in your bathtub, honey.

But I have a couple of questions, @gtaus: Did you mention that there is a noticeable smell from the water soaked barley? Also, do the sprouts need light to grow green? I'm picturing pale spindly sprouts that smell like a brewery. So I am interested in your indoor experiment.

Thank you for reading the fodder tower article to the end. There was a smell of wet barley from growing barley in the bins that will probably, eventually, rat me out here in the house. I think a lot of smell was coming from the bottom bin which I used as a collection bin so the water would not go all over the garage floor. After sitting in the collection bin for 12 hours until the next soaking, it did smell. In the bathtub, I will let that water immediately drain through the tower bins and down into the bathtub drain. I am hoping that will control the smell. I also put an air freshener in the bathroom - thinking ahead....

Sprouted grains do not need sunlight for a number of days. When I grew the barley fodder in the garage this summer, they got no direct sunlight. The barley sprouts/grass stayed green until day 9 when it started turning pale greenish/yellowish. By then the barley grass was about 10 inches tall. So my plan is to use the barley fodder on day 6-8, depending on how well it grows in the bathroom. But the barley grass until day 9 was thick, lush green, and full. Not spindly at all.

If I have some time to actually grow fodder in the bathroom, I might update the fodder tower article IF I notice any results different from growing the barley fodder in the garage. I know that inside the house the temp will be a constant 70F, but in the winter, the humidity in the house goes down a lot. So it will interesting to see how the barley sprouts and grows under those conditions. Thanks for asking.​

 

[FluffTheDuck]

This is hilarious! I would go with #4 or #9

 

[FluffTheDuck]

This is hilarious! You could be clueless as to what she's talking about and ask if she put it there because you surely didn't but it sure was a good idea , thank her and walk away.

Yep!!! X268

 

[fldiver97]

#4...... it’s a study you may be able to publish and achieve fame in the chicken community! Coops may be named in your honor It’s all for science !!!!

 

[gtaus]

Well, why does she mind in the first place? Maybe you can change whatever (s)he minds, and then both of you will be happy. Wives are generally human like everybody else, and can therefore often be reasoned with, instead of hiding things and coming up with excuses to try to get around them.

Thank you. I love your youthful optimism and it warms my heart. Maybe the younger generation has different expectations. I have been married for 31 years this October, and have learned a number of things. First of all, never try to get my wife to change her mind. Never try to "mansplain" anything with reason to her, because feelings are more important than facts. And, it's better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.

Why does she mind? Well, the garage is mine as is my home office. She pretty much lets me do what I want with those spaces. But everything else in the house is her territory including the bedrooms, living room, dining room, family room, utility room, kitchen, and both bathrooms.

I'm not saying it's the right thing, but it works for our relationship.

 

[gtaus]

#4...... it’s a study you may be able to publish and achieve fame in the chicken community! Coops may be named in your honor It’s all for science !!!!

Well, maybe at least an indoor fodder tower system could be named after me. Hopefully, not posthumously - if I get caught too soon.

 

[gtaus]

I haven't dabbled in sprouts yet...but if you're leaning towards blaming the tower on BYC...what about starting a "secret sprout along" or "fodder friends" thread?

Blame the wild popularity of your original fodder tower. Tell her the BYC masses were clamoring for more sprouts! The chickens of the world need your passion and guidance to ensure winter sprouts succeed for others! Plus...it's saving money

Sprouts are seeds just a few days old with small root tails. Fodder is sprouts grown for about 6-8 days and is more grass like and grown to about 8 inches tall. But, just the other day, I did mention to my wife that the fodder tower article had over 1000 views so maybe I could tell her I am just working on a follow up report.

I would encourage everybody to try sprouting grain, or growing fodder, for their chickens. The chickens like it and you save lots of money on feed costs. That's a win-win in my book.

 

[gtaus]

This is hilarious! I would go with #4 or #9

Well, I might have to have more than one excuse at the ready. Never know which one might work. If any...

 

[room onthebroom]

I recommend starting with a hearing problem, then move to culpable deniability, then finish off by changing the subject. It won’t work forever, but might buy you a little time until you can think of something better.

My DH always reverts to “I told you about it that day, at that place when we were doing that thing... You remember.” He knows I never forget anything, but he keeps trying.