Grains to fodder

[MissPoulette]

Does anyone know where to purchase grains to start a fodder system in the Pacific Northwest?

 

[cavemanrich]

Do you know exactly just what you want to grow??? There are many green plants that can serve as fodder. I am assuming you want this for your chickens. I would take a Bag of Wild bird seeds,,,,,,,,,, till the soil well. Plant the seeds spread/broadcast, and when they are grown, let your chickens loose there. All those seeds are from the grass family. I don't think any of them would be harmful. The harmful greens are from the Nightshade family. Those include potatoes and tomatoes. None of that in a wild bird seed mixture. The cracked corn will not sprout, but some of the whole corn can.
Under my bird feeder, seeds do get spread onto the ground. In the springtime some of those seeds do sprout and grow. My chickens do feed under the feeder when free ranging. I'm sure they eat the dropped seeds as well as the sprouted green growth.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

So are you planning a tray based fodder system?

 

[Melky]

Here is a company you can order fodder by the pound with free shipping. I would look for a seed mix for fodder or forage. I wouldn’t use birdseed as part of that will not sprout and not very good for your birds. Limit as still a treat to less than 10% of diet and recommendations say limit fodder to 2% of body weight.
https://hancockseed.com/collections/fodder-seed

 

[Acre4Me]

So “fodder” seems to often be described as sprouted grains/seeds fed to an animal (at least on many sites I’ve read). so you sprout seeds and toss out the baby plants (so, for example wheat).

However, if you intend to grow a patch that the chickens walk around inand eat, or plants you intend to feed to your chickens (like cut grasses and grains), then that is a bit different. Recently, I was looking at Sandhill Preservation Center website. They have seeds, and under “specialty” they have grains and mixes to grow for chickens and provide information on growing them for chickens, and they sell the seeds, etc. however, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen similar stuff in other seed catalogues. Seed savers.org comes to mind, as does Territorial seeds. Good luck.

 

[MissPoulette]

So are you planning a tray based fodder system?

Yes, that’s the plan.

 

[MissPoulette]

So “fodder” seems to often be described as sprouted grains/seeds fed to an animal (at least on many sites I’ve read). so you sprout seeds and toss out the baby plants (so, for example wheat).

However, if you intend to grow a patch that the chickens walk around inand eat, or plants you intend to feed to your chickens (like cut grasses and grains), then that is a bit different. Recently, I was looking at Sandhill Preservation Center website. They have seeds, and under “specialty” they have grains and mixes to grow for chickens and provide information on growing them for chickens, and they sell the seeds, etc. however, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen similar stuff in other seed catalogues. Seed savers.org comes to mind, as does Territorial seeds. Good luck.

Thanks. I plan to do the fodder system. If that fails, I will set the seeds free in yard to grow.

 

[MissPoulette]

Do you know exactly just what you want to grow??? There are many green plants that can serve as fodder. I am assuming you want this for your chickens. I would take a Bag of Wild bird seeds,,,,,,,,,, till the soil well. Plant the seeds spread/broadcast, and when they are grown, let your chickens loose there. All those seeds are from the grass family. I don't think any of them would be harmful. The harmful greens are from the Nightshade family. Those include potatoes and tomatoes. None of that in a wild bird seed mixture. The cracked corn will not sprout, but some of the whole corn can.
Under my bird feeder, seeds do get spread onto the ground. In the springtime some of those seeds do sprout and grow. My chickens do feed under the feeder when free ranging. I'm sure they eat the dropped seeds as well as the sprouted green growth.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Thanks for the info. I have some sunflower seed and will experiment with that. If it fails the seeds will be set free for the wild birds, squirrels and chipmunks.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Yes, that’s the plan.

Where abouts on the pnw are you? Grains can be sourced from most feed/farm stores or grain mills.....there are a few people that sell kits and systems on the nw livestock group I belong to if that interests you

 

[Aceoky]

TSC, Rural King, and most feed stores should all have various grains that would be great for your chickens, wheat ,rye, oats etc. BOSS are also easily found, sprouted to fodder and very high in protein and other goodies once they're sprouted.