Grains to fodder

[MissPoulette]

So are you planning a tray based fodder system?

Yes that is correct.

 

[MissPoulette]

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

Thanks.

 

[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.

It is the former we had in mind. Thanks

 

[MissPoulette]

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

We are near Issaquah Wa. Thx

 

[MissPoulette]

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.

Thank you kindly. If it’s not too stupid to ask, what’s BOSS?

 

[Acre4Me]

Thank you kindly. If it’s not too stupid to ask, what’s BOSS?

Black oil sunflower seeds

 

[Aceoky]

Sorry I didn't see that question in time but the above is correct and you're very welcome.

 

[3riverschick]

Hi MissPoulette,
Tractor Supply carries "Plotspike Forage Oats". Historically, oats are considered one of the very best seeds to sprout for poultry. Forage oats" are used to plant plots for animal consumption. that's what you want. "Feed oats" are oats fed to the animals in the barns.
Plotspike Forage Oats ( website) are a new specially linebred strain developed at Louisiana State University and released to the public in 2002. Excellent sprouting ability. I used them and had great results sprouting them in my kitchen. I think I remember correctly that a 50 lb. bag of seeds makes just over 300 lbs. of sprouted oats.
You want to feed them as "green feed", not "grain feed". Grain feed is sprouts 1-3 days old. they are fed as part of the daily ration. Green Feed is sprouts 4-7 days old. On the fourth day, a nutritional change take place in the sprout what makes it green feed with abilities to help bring hens into lay and the males to create more robust sperm. A supplement of Green Feed sprouted oats is fed at the rate of 1 cubic inch per bird in addition to their daily ration.
Feeding sprouts older than 7 days has no additional nutritional advantage but runs the risk of the sprouts spoiling. Fresh sprouts should always smell fresh and feel crisp. Spoiled sprouts will smell foul and feel slimy, throw them away.
Merry Christmas,
Karen

 

[MissPoulette]

Hi MissPoulette,
Tractor Supply carries "Plotspike Forage Oats". Historically, oats are considered one of the very best seeds to sprout for poultry. Forage oats" are used to plant plots for animal consumption. that's what you want. "Feed oats" are oats fed to the animals in the barns.
Plotspike Forage Oats ( website) are a new specially linebred strain developed at Louisiana State University and released to the public in 2002. Excellent sprouting ability. I used them and had great results sprouting them in my kitchen. I think I remember correctly that a 50 lb. bag of seeds makes just over 300 lbs. of sprouted oats.
You want to feed them as "green feed", not "grain feed". Grain feed is sprouts 1-3 days old. they are fed as part of the daily ration. Green Feed is sprouts 4-7 days old. On the fourth day, a nutritional change take place in the sprout what makes it green feed with abilities to help bring hens into lay and the males to create more robust sperm. A supplement of Green Feed sprouted oats is fed at the rate of 1 cubic inch per bird in addition to their daily ration.
Feeding sprouts older than 7 days has no additional nutritional advantage but runs the risk of the sprouts spoiling. Fresh sprouts should always smell fresh and feel crisp. Spoiled sprouts will smell foul and feel slimy, throw them away.
Merry Christmas,
Karen

Thanks a million Karen, this is just the kind of answer I’m looking for. A decent spot to put my foot in the fodder water and get a feel for the flow while developing my own ideas further. plotspike oats it is!

 

[MissPoulette]

Black oil sunflower seeds

Oh gotcha thanks very much! I will keep an eye open for that as well as the oats Karen suggested. Regards