Growing fodder for chickens

[CrosStitching]

My new preferred method for growing fodder... Throw in yard, cover with bottomless chicken wire brooder cage, water, wait a few days, let chicks loose! They grazed this hefty patch for over a week!

 

[Lacy Blues]

My new preferred method for growing fodder... Throw in yard, cover with bottomless chicken wire brooder cage, water, wait a few days, let chicks loose! They grazed this hefty patch for over a week!

That looks to me to be the way to go!

I was just thinking something... how cold do the professional fodder systems keep the rooms? Isn't it like 40 degrees or somewhere in that neighborhood? I'm getting ready to acquire a used fridge. I'm wondering about setting it up for growing fodder in the refrigerated portion and set it for say 40 degrees and put a couple of fans in there to circulate the air and maybe a little sprinkler system that goes on drip line tubing. The actual purpose for the fridge is to keep eggs in but I'm thinking I can probably keep them in the freezer portion if it can be set warm enough. I don't want them to freeze, just be cold.

Oh dear, my brain is in gear now. I may NEVER get to sleep tonight!

 

[dawnpel]

I've done BOSS by itself & in birdseed mixes.
It is an easy seed to sprout & grows easy.

Jeanette

I've done BOSS by itself & in birdseed mixes.
It is an easy seed to sprout & grows easy.

Jeanette

Thanks Jeanette, I have started some and it is sprouting nicely!!

 

[zinkie]

How about winter rye? Would that be good for sprouting? Has anyone tried that yet?

 

[BlueMouse]

I know that some of the rye family plants are poisonus to chickens (at least the seeds are, not sure about the greens?) I would read up first.

 

[zinkie]

Ok, I will. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[rockingbearanch]

I'm sure someone else has discovered this but I'm not going to read 2,000 pages to find out. Sprinkle seeds on the ground. Cover with kiddie pool. Fill it. Ours is for the dogs. Wait 3 days or how ever many needed for your particular sprout. I have not had mold with 3-5 day sprouts.

 

[Nutcase]

Hi everyone, I have a question about barley. Can you use as fodder the barley sold for livestock in large bags? Or will it not grow? If not, where could I get some (not pearled) that can be grown?

 

[Lacy Blues]

Hi everyone, I have a question about barley. Can you use as fodder the barley sold for livestock in large bags? Or will it not grow? If not, where could I get some (not pearled) that can be grown?

It'll work. Just be sure to rinse often, keep it as cool as possible, and keep some air circulation such as a fan going on it.

 

[Nutcase]

Thanks for replying so quickly! I was just wondering, because we may move to a larger property and have room for more animals. In those circumstances, a fodder system would be useful. I didn't the reply to be a yes because I assumed that barley sold for livestock (particularly horses) like the product I saw would be pearled or dried.