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

[Kiki]

Spoilsport! If you do, I'm telling SANTA!

@BantyChooks is Santa.

 

[BantyChooks]

@BantyChooks is Santa.

Ho ho ho! What's this about rabbit poop in stockings? I have a rabbit. I can deliver.

 

[gtaus]

These tiny fruit flies are also attracted when I soak wheat in an open container on the kitchen bench. If they hang around, it's just extra protein for the poultry, but I think they will lose interest in any bins past their initial soaking phase.

Hmmm, this would me a deal breaker for me [a small number of flies around fodder bins].

@Major_in_MS, last night I saw maybe 6 flies around the fodder bins. Yesterday was the last day of starting new bins, so it was my last bin with standing water for a few days. Anyway, this morning I only found 2 flies, and tonight when I watered the tower I did not find any flies. So it could be that the standing water from soaking the seeds is what has been attracting flies, and now that I think of it, it was also the standing water in the soaking bins that smelled just a little bit after 12 hours. Maybe the smell and the flies are related?

I know some people use about a tablespoon of bleach in the water when they soak their seeds. The bleach is supposed to fight any mold growth. I have not had problems with mold, but maybe the bleach would deter the small number of flies I did notice. I might give that a try when I start soaking seeds again in a few days.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I only saw flies that one time yesterday, there were only about 6 flies in total at that time, and now, today, 24 hours later there were no flies. Without any standing water for soaking grains in bins, I do not detect any smell either. So it's all good today.

 

[room onthebroom]

Ho ho ho! What's this about rabbit poop in stockings? I have a rabbit. I can deliver.

 

[Major_in_MS]

today, 24 hours later there were no flies.

Thanks for the update! I may take a drive over to Coon Town Farms, my local feed mill, tomorrow and get a bag or two of whatever grains they have. I did the sprouting grains and also the fermenting feed the last time I had a flock back in 2012-2013. I'll skip the fermenting feed for now. But I like the looks of your fodder system. Of course down here in Mississippi I won't have to do it indoors anyway.

 

[MROO]

You all are nuts.
The whole lot of you.





I'm going to pee in my pants...again.

Maybe so ... but isn't that why you LOVE us?!

 

[Kiki]

Maybe so ... but isn't that why you LOVE us?!

You all are wonderful people.
I love this thread.
It's fabulous.

 

[MROO]

@Major_in_MS, last night I saw maybe 6 flies around the fodder bins. Yesterday was the last day of starting new bins, so it was my last bin with standing water for a few days. Anyway, this morning I only found 2 flies, and tonight when I watered the tower I did not find any flies. So it could be that the standing water from soaking the seeds is what has been attracting flies, and now that I think of it, it was also the standing water in the soaking bins that smelled just a little bit after 12 hours. Maybe the smell and the flies are related?

I know some people use about a tablespoon of bleach in the water when they soak their seeds. The bleach is supposed to fight any mold growth. I have not had problems with mold, but maybe the bleach would deter the small number of flies I did notice. I might give that a try when I start soaking seeds again in a few days.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I only saw flies that one time yesterday, there were only about 6 flies in total at that time, and now, today, 24 hours later there were no flies. Without any standing water for soaking grains in bins, I do not detect any smell either. So it's all good today.

Have you ever tried this with alfalfa sprouts? My sister's a dairy farmer, so I can get that stuff by the bucketful. The only issue would be to make sure I don't get the stuff that's been treated, I guess ...

 

[gtaus]

Have you ever tried this with alfalfa sprouts? My sister's a dairy farmer, so I can get that stuff by the bucketful. The only issue would be to make sure I don't get the stuff that's been treated, I guess ...

I have never tried alfalfa sprouts/fodder. You want to find out if the alfalfa can be germinated for sprouts and/or fodder. My local mill told me that they have only barley, oats, and wheat that could be used for fodder. I don't know if they have alfalfa, because they never mentioned it could be used for fodder.

I did ask my mill about corn (not on their list for fodder) because I wanted to try growing fodder from whole corn seed. My mill told me that the corn seed they have cannot be sprouted and/or grown into fodder. I don't know if that is because the corn kernel is treated or it is some kind of GMO kernel that cannot be replanted. But basically the seed was dead and only good for feed.

 

[MROO]

I have never tried alfalfa sprouts/fodder. You want to find out if the alfalfa can be germinated for sprouts and/or fodder. My local mill told me that they have only barley, oats, and wheat that could be used for fodder. I don't know if they have alfalfa, because they never mentioned it could be used for fodder.

I did ask my mill about corn (not on their list for fodder) because I wanted to try growing fodder from whole corn seed. My mill told me that the corn seed they have cannot be sprouted and/or grown into fodder. I don't know if that is because the corn kernel is treated or it is some kind of GMO kernel that cannot be replanted. But basically the seed was dead and only good for feed.

Feed corn is dried too hard to germinate. It kills the core. Seed corn (like the kind you buy in packets for the garden) is generally treated with a mildew preventative and germination aides, so it's likely not safe to eat as sprouts.
I've grown alfalfa sprouts for my family, but human-food-grade seed is very expensive. I'll have to check with Sis about her seeds. I love alfalfa sprouts, myself (they're the BEST on a sharp cheese sandwich!) but I would be willing to share with my biddies ... and I'd even grow them in the spare bathroom!