Growing fodder for chickens

[SowdersHomestead]

$15 for 50# of wheat at feed store here in NE Ohio. It was $14. Six weeks ago.

WOW! Not to be rude, but does that wheat come with gold dust? I'm in NW Ohio and pay $5.45 a bushel (60lbs) at Bascom Elevator.

 

[Stash13]

Man that took forever just read the whole thread in about 5 days after work and when I could. this looks and sounds awesome for my flock I can't wait to start. Anyone know of any feed store in north Jersey

 

[FrogEggs]

WOW! Not to be rude, but does that wheat come with gold dust? I'm in NW Ohio and pay $5.45 a bushel (60lbs) at Bascom Elevator.

Best I can find is $19 for 50#. We don't all live where wheat is cheap.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I haven't posted on this thread in awhile, but thought I'd share some pictures of the fodder the poultry and waterfowl have been enjoying. : )

 

[wormrun]

Hello All! I've been trying to read thru all of the terrific info here. I'm really, really interested in the automatic fodder system. (diy) I've been looking at a few of the setups, (up to pg 40) and I see how they are setup with the pvc and the trays, and this may be obvious to most , but I can't seem to see where the water starts at the top to drip thru to other trays. Is there a clear tube that goes into each tray or thru the pvc pipe? And if I'm understanding correctly, the seed trays have holes in them, and then set in to trays without holes. I don't see how the water drips down if this is the case, so I may not have it right. Would someone please explain it to me? I really would appreciate it! I'm a visual type person, so it is hard to understand just by reading. There may be someone who has posted the actual setup, step by step, but I haven't read that far. I think I understand the seed process pretty well. Just the watering system is confusing. Thanks!

Well I just posted a little something on how mine works. If you put holes only on one side of the tray and tilt the tray, it then drains into the next, etc. Here's the post

I tried to show you how in photos but if I missed something, please let me know and I'll send you a link that may have explained it better! OR take another photo.

I know it takes such a long time to run through these posts! On the PVC system there are holes on the bottom of the trays and it runs from one to the next. It drains into a reservoir and recycles back to the top tray with a pump. The reservoir needs to be emptied every few days. I prefer clean water without recycling. I do not like the color of the water after I rinse it, and I worry about mold contaminating the entire batch!!! I water the top tray only and the rest just get watered, but I tilt mine and the holes are only one end see the leach trays. If I think the other trays are a tad dry, I give them a little extra. I empty my bucket onto my plants outside. If you want to automate partially, then get a reservoir and a pump. If you want complete fresh water, hook up to a faucet, set a timer, water until timer stops. Water runs into a hose that drains into the wash machine drain. Voila! Well almost. Humidity and heat need to be addressed, optimal temperature is 65-75! Today it was over 90 at my house outside!

Oh, one more thing, start small. I'm still starting. I started with the trays and have one with holes and one without. I water them in my sink, drain and place back into the tray without holes onto a counter in the laundry room, see photo with greens. Now, I'm working on my automatic system. Still worried about contaminating with moldy water, so I may try the reservoir for now and recycle a few days

. I'll keep you posted and get more pix as soon as my trays come in. We shall build together! I'm on week 6 of fodder my friend! Go greens!

 

[wormrun]

WOW! Not to be rude, but does that wheat come with gold dust? I'm in NW Ohio and pay $5.45 a bushel (60lbs) at Bascom Elevator.

WHAT???? I may have to drive to Ohio! I'm in California and I've not tried the grain elevator people yet, stay tuned. Now if anyone wants to give me a hint in the Auburn area of California, I'd LOVE to hear! I'm ordering from Azure Standard and the best price so far has been $18.95 for 45# of organic animal feed barley, and $19.95 for soft white (people feed) wheat berries, organic also for 50#. I'm sticking with the organics for now because my herd is small. Very impressive prices in Ohio!

 

[SowdersHomestead]

WHAT???? I may have to drive to Ohio! I'm in California and I've not tried the grain elevator people yet, stay tuned. Now if anyone wants to give me a hint in the Auburn area of California, I'd LOVE to hear! I'm ordering from Azure Standard and the best price so far has been $18.95 for 45# of organic animal feed barley, and $19.95 for soft white (people feed) wheat berries, organic also for 50#. I'm sticking with the organics for now because my herd is small. Very impressive prices in Ohio!

BEWARE: The grains I get from my elevator have to be washed and washed and washed and washed and ........ Lots of dust and chaff. But at that price I'll stand there with a hose rinsing them several times. I still have good results.

Maybe i should buy a grain truck and start to deliver to everyone!!!!!!

 

[OHhappychicks]

Thank you wormrun! Your setup looks to work very well. I'm thinking I may start this way. Like you say, start small. I want to experiment this summer so I can be ready for winter. My chicks are free rangers, so probably don't need to supplement much at this time. I was just thinking about the automatic system. I like the idea of a timer on a faucet or maybe even a water hose. Have it drain into a container that had a valve or connection somehow that you could turn to drain it out, to say, your garden or flower bed. I'm just thinking here. Or use the pump-recycle system and have it set up the same way to drain the tub everyday to every other day. You say you only rinse yours 2x a day and by using only 2-3 trays, the recycling system might work and not cause any mold. I've read where some folks rinse 4-5 x a day. I know humidity plays a big part in the mold issues. It was around 80 here to day and not much humidity, but wait until summer comes and we will be dripping!!! I'm just not sure where to put my system. In the summer, I don't have a place that stays cool enough, except the basement. We only have an exit door with a half window down there, so that is the only light. I know they like dark though. I will have to check humidity levels down there. It is pretty dry most of the time, but not sure about the summer. I know it is really cool down there when it is in the 90's. We only have a 1 room air conditioner that we will run when it gets real hot. Raised 3 kids here without ac, never wanted or needed it. We have an attic fan that we use at nite that works very well, but now that we are getting older

we are starting to appreciate the ac!! I think I will check around our area tomorrow and see what kind of seed is available. I may just go ahead and get a couple of trays started and see what happens!! I'm really excited about it!

I also just started a mealworm farm to have for the winter! I have 1000 worms in my utility room!! HaHa!! I didn't tell my middle DD though. She would flip!!! Hates bugs! Will keep you updated, and I will keep up with yours and lets see what we can do together!!!

 

[OHhappychicks]

This is to wormrun, or anyone who wants to chime in!

Do you mix all these seeds together and if so, how much of each do you use? I like the idea of mixed seed!

 

[OHhappychicks]

This is to wormrun, or anyone who wants to chime in!

Do you mix all these seeds together and if so, how much of each do you use? I like the idea of mixed seed!

Sorry about all the extra posts, but went back and was reading thru wormrun's post. Wormrun, have you used the grapeseed oil recipe yet? I use this oil a lot so I have it on hand. I would rather use this or even just vinegar instead of bleach.

And Mrs. Fluffy Puff, great looking fodder!! Is that a tent of some kind? How does it work?