Growing fodder for chickens

[BlueMouse]

I find that frequent rinsing and an intial soak with a little hydrogen peroxide in it is key to mold prevention. and good drainage! but, that said, if I have some that gets a little mold on it, if it's just small sprouts, not really grass, I'll dump it into my ferment bucket. Pretty sure that the good bacteria in there will take care of any (minor) mold problem. if it's reached the grass stage I tend to tear off the worst part, soak the whole kit and kaboodle in ACV and water to kill mold, rinse well, and feed immediately, even if it's not as full grown as I'd like. That way I'm not wasting feed. I mean, I could compost it, but that would be kind of counterproductive since my chickens favorite spot in the yard is the compost pile... Frankly, as long as you're checking a couple times a day to spray it, it should never really get out of hand.

 

[Hennemama]

Hi! How early can you start chicks on fodder? Thanks!

 

[deserthomestead]

I gave mine a little bit in their first week of life, but it took them about a week to figure out that it was food! Before that they just sat on it. (and fought over who got to sit on it)

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

Ha ha, thats cute

 

[tymimo]

I tried growing Milo (sorghum) but had mold on day three. I'm going to try again with a little bleach during the first soak. When people say "mild" solution do they mean 1:10 or even weaker?

 

[Lacy Blues]

I tried growing Milo (sorghum) but had mold on day three. I'm going to try again with a little bleach during the first soak. When people say "mild" solution do they mean 1:10 or even weaker?

Yes, 1:10

 

[DebraM]

Hi guys,

Was very excited to feed my chickens the very first tray of green fodder! Pity my excitement wasn't shared by them.........lol!!! They looked at it and pecked a little then walked away!!! Left them to it, much to their disgust an they eventually came back to it an shredded it up. Hard to tell if they ate much or just danced the whatusie on it!!! Better get used to it kids, that's what your diet is now going to be.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Hi guys,

Was very excited to feed my chickens the very first tray of green fodder! Pity my excitement wasn't shared by them.........lol!!! They looked at it and pecked a little then walked away!!! Left them to it, much to their disgust an they eventually came back to it an shredded it up. Hard to tell if they ate much or just danced the whatusie on it!!! Better get used to it kids, that's what your diet is now going to be.

I'd break them in gently. A vast change in their diet can cause problems, even if it IS the best thing for them.

The whatusie?

 

[h4farms]

Ok, I have 35 chickens, 2 ducks, and 20 bobwhite quail. The quail are seperate from the chickens. How many pounds of dry wheat should I soak to make up a big part of the chickens diet, and then how much for the quail?

 

[DebraM]

I'd break them in gently.  A vast change in their diet can cause problems, even if it IS the best thing for them.

The whatusie? 

Hi,
Yes I am giving it 2nd daily at present and have to say that quite a bit did get eaten by the end of the day. My crew are all let out to forage after lunch till dusk so that part of the diet remains the same. The silkies liked it the most and there was very little left. I had a small container of sprouted scratch mix that I had trialled and put that it in with the 3day old chick and her Mum and they went berserk. Very funny watching the little one dive in head first.
As for whatusie, ......... U know, a type of dance!!!!! Lol. Ok, the samba then!!!