Fodder fed only

[FrankHomestead]

With the exceptions of vitamin/mineral supplements and free range foraging.

Thoughts?

 

[lazy gardener]

Seriously deficient. You would have to know what you were doing in order to see to it that you didn't run into some major deficiencies. Just MO. I'd not attempt it. Fodder as a supplement, sure. Even better yet, serve it up at the green sprout stage.

 

[FrankHomestead]

Seriously deficient. You would have to know what you were doing in order to see to it that you didn't run into some major deficiencies. Just MO. I'd not attempt it. Fodder as a supplement, sure. Even better yet, serve it up at the green sprout stage.

So sprouts are better than fodder?

 

[lazy gardener]

IMO, yes. When a seed sprouts, it actually has more available nutrition than the seed did. After a day or two, I put the sprout jar on the window sill. Those sprouts capture energy from the sun, and turn nice and green. They are at their best at this point. Continue growing them to the fodder stage, and they will have used up all of the energy in the seed, and will then start to loose nutritional value.

 

[FrankHomestead]

IMO, yes. When a seed sprouts, it actually has more available nutrition than the seed did. After a day or two, I put the sprout jar on the window sill. Those sprouts capture energy from the sun, and turn nice and green. They are at their best at this point. Continue growing them to the fodder stage, and they will have used up all of the energy in the seed, and will then start to loose nutritional value.

Gotcha. I don't feed fodder exclusively, but wondered if it would be better. I do ferment my homemade feed, but noticed my birds are starting to eat all but the peas, which have the highest protein in my mix. I do not want to use soybean, so I'm going to try running their ration through the food processor for a few pulses and see how that works. I thought fodder had more protein than sprouts, but I guess I've been wasting my time lol! if it's better to feed a cpl days sooner, then that's a win-win in my book!