Growing Fodder! (chat/discussion)

[cluckmecoop7]

I'm sprouting alfalfa and wheat berries inside for the chickens this winter! You can follow along as I go through the ups and downs of growing fodder for the chickens inside. I have some alfalfa seeds soaking right now in a jar and they will be moved to a tray tonight around 8:00 PM. (They need to soak for 24 hours before they go into the tray to start sprouting.) I have some wheat berries going that are doing fairly well. (Not the best. ) Yesterday I received 3 GREAT seed starting trays which I'm very happy about! I got them off Amazon. Three for about $11.00. You can also get 5 for like $30.00 with a stand. I just started doing this for my chickens about 1 week ago and they have received one batch of alfalfa sprouts already. Hope you follow along!
Here are pictures I took a few minutes ago:

(The green trays are the one's from Amazon.) Tips are welcome, but don't be bossy or say things like "Your doing that the WRONG way!". Please follow all BYC rules as well.
Thanks!
- Clucky

 

[Boonie Stomper]

Super plan! Will definitely follow this thread.
I got about 30 trays at a store that just went out of business, just because they HAD to be usefull and the price was right, and about 2000 new meat soaker pads, all for $10. Now I know just what to use some for! Thanks for the inspiration.

 

[Boonie Stomper]

In past i came close to doing a similar thing in late spring directly into large clay pots full of dirt befoure going on an extended vacation so the chooks still had fresh greens. I used a mixture of seed to sprout at different rates and all were gobbled up asap. (They were cooped up 2 weeks)

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Glad your following. Can't wait to here your stories and see your pictures!

 

[Melodychick]

Looks great! After you soak 24 hours and put them in a tray, what do you do? Water, temperature, light? I’ve been thinking of trying this, but never have researched it.

 

[chickenlittle21]

Hope your alfalfa grows well. I have a big pot filled with dirt in my coop and one time I bought alfalfa sprouts at the store and put them in the pot as a treat for my chickens. the chickens did not notice the sprouts so the sprouts rooted themselves in the pot. In the end the chickens are them but it took them a little while.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Looks great! After you soak 24 hours and put them in a tray, what do you do? Water, temperature, light? I’ve been thinking of trying this, but never have researched it.

Thanks! Well, I'm not using dirt for these to grow. Mine are not getting all the light I would like them to, but since it's winter and I don't have a real plant grower light i'll have to make do. The temp? I'm not really keep an eye on that.... my room temperature is about 60 Degrees F - hope that helps!

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Hope your alfalfa grows well. I have a big pot filled with dirt in my coop and one time I bought alfalfa sprouts at the store and put them in the pot as a treat for my chickens. the chickens did not notice the sprouts so the sprouts rooted themselves in the pot. In the end the chickens are them but it took them a little while.

Lol, thats funny! Did the seeds actually sprout before the chickens got them or did they just take root?

 

[cluckmecoop7]

I will try to post updated pictures later everyone. ☘

 

[cluckmecoop7]

So these alfalfa sprouts are going to be harvested today. They are ready for the chickens.

These are the trays I'm using.