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

[gtaus]

I didn't see enough benefits from feeding fermented grain to make it worth the extra trouble and efforts. Not to mention the unhappy wife.

OK, two failures with fermented grains. That is interesting. I am trying to find things that actually work, are better for the chickens, and don't add much time or effort to my project. Sounds like fermenting has not worked for either you or @duluthralphie.

I can tell you that my fodder tower takes me less than 5 minutes of work, total, per day. I just fill the top bin and everything flows to the bins below. That's basically all the effort it requires on my part. In return for that minimal effort, I turn 1# of barley seed into about 5# of fresh green fodder feed in 6-8 days.

 

[Mvan42]

This might have been asked or you might have already posted it. But Has your wife found out what your doing yet.

 

[gtaus]

Remember marriage is war not a battle, we must lose some to win

Nicely said. Sometimes a tactical retreat is the best option for the longer term war effort. Remember the Battle of Dunkirk WWII. Better to live and fight another day.

 

[gtaus]

This is only one of the articles that I read before even thinking about feeding my ladies fermented feed. After reading this site, I made up my mind to ferment feed.
https://www.researchgate.net/public...ion_and_activity_of_the_intestinal_microflora

Just my 2 cents worth.

Thanks for the link. I'll be sure to read that article.

 

[gtaus]

This might have been asked or you might have already posted it. But Has your wife found out what your doing yet.

No, my wife has not yet found me out. I have had great success in hiding this project under her nose, literally, because there has been almost no smell at all from growing the fodder in the house. I thought for sure that would get me caught. The only smell I ever noticed was from the soaking bins where the water sits in the grain for my 12 hour soak. But the smell was very, very slight and when I drew the shower curtain it blocked any smell at all. In fact, I never even had to close that bathroom door to keep any odor inside.

I will be updating my main fodder tower article on the smell issue because in the garage I had standing water collected in the bottom collection bin so it would run all over the garage floor. After 12 hours sitting in 80F+ heat in the garage, it did smell a bit, but not too bad for a garage. Inside the house, I let all the water immediately drain through the bathtub drain, so there is no standing water - other than when I first start a 12 soak for the a new bin.

 

[N F C]

No, my wife has not yet found me out. I have had great success in hiding this project under her nose, literally, because there has been almost no smell at all from growing the fodder in the house. I thought for sure that would get me caught. The only smell I ever noticed was from the soaking bins where the water sits in the grain for my 12 hour soak. But the smell was very, very slight and when I drew the shower curtain it blocked any smell at all. In fact, I never even had to close that bathroom door to keep any odor inside.

I will be updating my main fodder tower article on the smell issue because in the garage I had standing water collected in the bottom collection bin so it would run all over the garage floor. After 12 hours sitting in 80F+ heat in the garage, it did smell a bit, but not too bad for a garage. Inside the house, I let all the water immediately drain through the bathtub drain, so there is no standing water - other than when I first start a 12 soak for the a new bin.

Hey if DW doesn't find out, maybe this could become an annual winter project! (But that might be wishing for a bit too much.)

 

[Nor-Cal Chickens]

Love this! I'd say a combination of 1 and 4 if and when it gets to that point. You may also say it's also for the benefit of everyone.....you're doing the world a service.

 

[Kiki]

No, my wife has not yet found me out. I have had great success in hiding this project under her nose, literally, because there has been almost no smell at all from growing the fodder in the house. I thought for sure that would get me caught. The only smell I ever noticed was from the soaking bins where the water sits in the grain for my 12 hour soak. But the smell was very, very slight and when I drew the shower curtain it blocked any smell at all. In fact, I never even had to close that bathroom door to keep any odor inside.

I will be updating my main fodder tower article on the smell issue because in the garage I had standing water collected in the bottom collection bin so it would run all over the garage floor. After 12 hours sitting in 80F+ heat in the garage, it did smell a bit, but not too bad for a garage. Inside the house, I let all the water immediately drain through the bathtub drain, so there is no standing water - other than when I first start a 12 soak for the a new bin.

I hope she doesn't start getting bathroom fodder ads while playing online with her friends.

 

[gtaus]

Hey if DW doesn't find out, maybe this could become an annual winter project! (But that might be wishing for a bit too much.)

IF I get through this winter, I will definitely be back again next year growing fodder in the bathroom. And if I get caught next year, I can honestly say that I've been doing this for years.....

 

[gtaus]

....you're doing the world a service.

I try to do my humble part. Thanks.