Growing fodder for chickens

[adalau]

I just started looking into growing fodder and I think it would be great to give the birds something to keep them busy but does anyone actually have any nutritional data to support the claim of wheat fodder having over 20% or even 15% protein? I have seen on multiple web sites selling kits with claims that high but the only actual data I have found is from the USDA for sprouted wheat with 7.5% protein http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/6315
I would love to be able to grow high protein feed for my chickens but as Einstein theorized energy can neither be created nor destroyed, and since the you are only adding water and minor amounts of light to the seed, the energy it is using for growth must be coming from the seed. So the only way I can understand that the birds can gain additional nutrition from the fodder is the fact that they can digest it more easily. if anyone has any more information on the subject I would be happy to hear it. It sounds like a great idea an I may still do it just to give them something new to try.

Yes! That's exactly it, sprouting makes the protein & other nutrients more bio available. All grains (& seeds, nuts & legumes) have anti-nutrients such as phytates or lectins that inhibit nutrient absorption. Soaking & sprouting decreases the anti-nutrients & makes everything much more readily assimilated. Though the growin plant does produce some things through the energy from light (remember photosynthesis?).

I actually don't have any experience with chickens & fodder (learned everything I know by reading this thread over the last two weeks!) But I do know a lot about human nutrition. The WAPF says to soak and sprout all grains, seeds, nuts & legumes to decrease the anti-nutrients. Even the raw & paleo folks encourage soaking & sprouting for the same reasons.

One thing I haven't looked at in relation to soak time for chicken fodder is that there is generally a recommended amount of time for soaking for people food which I assumed had to do with the size of the seed and the levels of anti-nutrients present. People here are soaking anywhere from 30 min to 24 hours. But I am guessing maybe it's not as vital if you're going on to sprout/grow the seed rather than eat it right after soaking.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Yes! That's exactly it, sprouting makes the protein & other nutrients more bio available. All grains (& seeds, nuts & legumes) have anti-nutrients such as phytates or lectins that inhibit nutrient absorption. Soaking & sprouting decreases the anti-nutrients & makes everything much more readily assimilated. Though the growin plant does produce some things through the energy from light (remember photosynthesis?).

I actually don't have any experience with chickens & fodder (learned everything I know by reading this thread over the last two weeks!) But I do know a lot about human nutrition. The WAPF says to soak and sprout all grains, seeds, nuts & legumes to decrease the anti-nutrients. Even the raw & paleo folks encourage soaking & sprouting for the same reasons.

One thing I haven't looked at in relation to soak time for chicken fodder is that there is generally a recommended amount of time for soaking for people food which I assumed had to do with the size of the seed and the levels of anti-nutrients present. People here are soaking anywhere from 30 min to 24 hours. But I am guessing maybe it's not as vital if you're going on to sprout/grow the seed rather than eat it right after soaking.

What is WAPF please? If there is a website, could you share that too please?

 

[rcsegraves]

I am totally new to chicken raising and to sprouting grain for chickens. The state of the economy and the cost of food has convinced us that raising and growing our own has got to be better than shopping for mystery food in the supermarket. We are gathering information on how to, why to, and when to about chickens. When feeding the chickens sprouts, what ratio of sprouts to other feeds does one use?

 

[adalau]

What is WAPF please?  If there is a website, could you share that too please?

WAPF = Weston A Price Foundation
I've gathered most of my info from reading the book "Nourishing Traditions" but they do have a website. You can google and find some articles.

Here is one article on phytic acid:

http://www.westonaprice.org/food-features/living-with-phytic-acid

 

[adalau]

WAPF is also really big on fermented foods.

 

[Lacy Blues]

WAPF = Weston A Price Foundation
I've gathered most of my info from reading the book "Nourishing Traditions" but they do have a website. You can google and find some articles.

Here is one article on phytic acid:

http://www.westonaprice.org/food-features/living-with-phytic-acid

Thank you. I'd heard of them and read some of their articles several years ago but never gone into depth searches on anything. Just the soy dilemna. I'll have to do some more research now.

 

[rockingbearanch]

Sprout People org was the first place I started reading about sprouting for humans.

 

[MNickoloff]

My local feed store told me I can't use treated wheat/barley for growing fodder. Can anyone tell me why?

 

[SarahMelisse]

Because
A) the grain seeds are heat-treated and will not sprout from the extreme heat treatment they were put through...
or B) they were treated with pesticides that can/will make you animals extremely sick.

 

[deserthomestead]

So, what do you all think would be the most heat-friendly grain for sprouting? I even get mold when I keep my sprouting trays next to the window air conditioner in my bedroom...
I know barley is happiest in very cold temperatures, and spring wheat can handle higher temps than winter wheat, but that's about as far as my knowledge goes.