fodder system ideas and is it worth it?

[Scott214]

I have been looking at these fodder systems for growing grass and how it is great for your flock. I want to make something and give it a try for my girls. Also, i saw where it basically multiplies your feed up to 3-4 the original amount from the growth. Is it worth my time, money, and effort trying to create a system for my chickens and what would some of the cheapest styles I could do it as? Finally, what is the best seed to grow fast and is healthy for the ladies? I have around 30 birds so would I need huge trays? Thank you

 

[lazy gardener]

While an ounce of seeds will produce a quart of sprouts or fodder, that does not mean that the food value is multiplied that much. Yes, an ounce of sprouted seeds DOES have more nutrition than that same ounce of seeds if fed dry. But, don't be sold into believing that you get 6 - 8 x more nutrition from the sprouts! What you will get is some quality greens that provide improved nutrition for your flock during the winter months. I sprout grains (but do not grow them to the fodder stage) for my flock. I have not yet started sprouting this season, anticipating that I will start in the next week or so. In the past, I've used large mouth qt. mason jars. Looking at using a larger tray system this season.

 

[Scott214]

I was very skeptical because a lot of the websites made it seem like you would get an insane amount more nutrition than the beginning and I wasn't too sure about that. I was thinking of sprouting them in the cheap aluminum cooking trays that you can dispose of after and soak them for a day in water and bleach and then lay them out to sprout. Im thinking of not doing it on a huge scale to the point that they have a mat of grass every day but maybe once or twice maybe 3 times a week if i see some good results.

 

[lazy gardener]

You shouldn't need to use bleach. You might like to just start with a couple mason jars. Last winter, I was doing a jar/day. So, every day, I'd have some soaking seeds, a started jar, and an other jar or two in varying stages of growth, with the final jar having sat on the windowsill for a day to green up before feeding it out. The birds got a jar full every day. Often the jars were so full, I had to use a fork to pry them out of the jar.

 

[jthornton]

Being the forgetful type I needed an automatic watering system. I had one I purchased that screws onto a hose spigot and has some AA batteries to power the timer. Works very well for me in my bathtub. I use smaller trays to grow the fodder as I only have 10 birds. I've seen all kinds of tilted tray contraptions on putube and none looked like the seeds would get even watering. I now go 8 days in a ~70°F bathroom in the basement. I soak 12 hours then plate them up on the third day. First two days they are in the little tubs with some holes. You could feed the fodder at any stage of growing. I use wheat feed as it is $10 for 50 pounds. My birds get all giddy when I come outside at 3pm with their treat. My plan is to add another shelf below the current grow shelf with some spray heads for the first 3-4 days, at day five move the tray up to the grow bulb shelf. The timer is set for 2 minutes of mist every 4 hours.



Interesting looking the word fodder "something fed to domestic animals" and it's origin "Old English fōdor, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch voeder and German Futter, also to food".

JT