Growing fodder for chickens

[Fryze]

We love SS too-- friendly girls that like to free range. I have lots of eggs in the incubator so more chicks coming!! THey collect most of their fodder directly from the woods/ open areas.

I've been chopping grass for the penned birds.

Good luck on the hatch Arielle, We ended up having to go with the partridge plymouth rocks as the hatchery said no more SS until next year.

 

[GreatWhiteAfro]

I've got some lentils sprouting on the counter! I'm on day 2 and they are taking off well! I will try to get a pic or two to share.

 

[Fryze]

can I use pinto beans for fodder? or kidney beans? or pea beans? or white beans?

 

[Lacy Blues]

can I use pinto beans for fodder? or kidney beans? or pea beans? or white beans?

I haven't tried pinto, kidney or pea beans but I have sprouted either navy beans or white beans (might be the same thing?) and they did extremely well. I also sprouted the small red beans (look kind of like kidney beans but are the size of white beans). I fed out sprouted black beans tonight and I have black eyed peas sprouting as we speak. They might be black eyed beans if there is such a thing... they look more like a bean than a pea.

So, I say GO FOR IT! My birds LOVE them!

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

I haven't tried pinto, kidney or pea beans but I have sprouted either navy beans or white beans (might be the same thing?) and they did extremely well.  I also sprouted the small red beans (look kind of like kidney beans but are the size of white beans).  I fed out sprouted black beans tonight and I have black eyed peas sprouting as we speak.  They might be black eyed beans if there is such a thing... they look more like a bean than a pea.

So, I say GO FOR IT!  My birds LOVE them!

Oh, I hadn't even thought about sprouting beans for fodder. What a great idea. I am going to have to try that. Do you have some pics of your sprouts? I would love to see them!

 

[Fryze]

ok this is my concern with dried beans.

Nutrition & Allergies. Dry beans average about 22% protein in the seed, the highest protein content of any seed crop. They contain all essential amino acids, except methionine. Methionine can be obtained from corn, rice, or meat. Beans are an excellent source of fiber, starch, minerals and some vitamins. Some beans have a human digestion enzyme inhibitor. This enzyme can cause a nutritional deficiency if the beans are eaten raw. Cooking destroys the enzyme. Most beans naturally contain cyanogens4. These are sugars with a cyanide component attached (C-N). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows levels of cyanide in dried beans up to 25 ppm. Small amounts can be handled by the human liver and are not toxic. Cooking will also help break down and remove the cyanide. Toxicity levels are hard to reach -- It would require a person eating approximately one pound of beans for each pound of their weight at one sitting.

are they safe for chickens?

 

[Lacy Blues]

ok this is my concern with dried beans.

Nutrition & Allergies. Dry beans average about 22% protein in the seed, the highest protein content of any seed crop. They contain all essential amino acids, except methionine. Methionine can be obtained from corn, rice, or meat. Beans are an excellent source of fiber, starch, minerals and some vitamins. Some beans have a human digestion enzyme inhibitor. This enzyme can cause a nutritional deficiency if the beans are eaten raw. Cooking destroys the enzyme. Most beans naturally contain cyanogens4. These are sugars with a cyanide component attached (C-N). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows levels of cyanide in dried beans up to 25 ppm. Small amounts can be handled by the human liver and are not toxic. Cooking will also help break down and remove the cyanide. Toxicity levels are hard to reach -- It would require a person eating approximately one pound of beans for each pound of their weight at one sitting.

are they safe for chickens?

I started with about 2 cups of dry beans. They were soaked from 4-6 hours and then sprouted for only about 4 days. I didn't weigh them but I'm guessing I served about 6 cups of sprouted beans to be shared by about 40 chickens. So, I really don't think I have hurt them and they don't get them daily by any means... I'm just not consistent enough as I have too many things going on.

 

[Skiier47]

So always just let my chickens kinda do whatever.... what is this and why is it important? Is it? it this in place for the regular food? do you add dirt or is this just seeds?

 

[Lacy Blues]

Just seeds. A brief soak first, and then rinsing the seeds several times in a day to keep them clean and moist.

 

[greenhorn]

Been planting organic non GMO Soybeans and lentils and other grains and pseudo grains to make fodder with. First time we've done anything like this, always planted veggies though.

This autumn we plan to plant wheat, barley, rye and spelt. All organic non GMO of course, already have the seed.

Also planted a bunch of other goodies for the chickens too but that's kind of off topic. Before we knew about fodder planting grains for the critters seemed useless with the small field we have. Making fodder changed my mind about having enough space to raise feed grains etc.

Now I think we'll even be able to make our own breads etc. and feed the birds too.

Still plan on ordering some different heirloom wheat seeds but we have einkorn, black emmer and an heirloom variety of wheat. Pretty stoked about growing seed for fodder and fermented grains from the ground up organically.