Growing fodder for chickens

[Aphrael]

I have been reading and following this thread with great interest, but haven't posted anything here yet. Today I got such a nice surprise that I just HAD to share it. I've been trying to source some wheat to sprout for my chickens and ducks. So today I went up to our local elevator and asked if I could get a 5 gallon bucket filled with wheat (it's what I have available with a lid). They said that it would be almost impossible for them to fill something that small, but that they have LOTS of spillage and that I was more than welcome to bring as many buckets as I want whenever I want and scoop up any spillage I can find for free.

With the really high cost of all the other wheat I've looked into this is a huge deal for me.

 

[dollbaby769]

are your flats just 9x13 cake pans? if not what is the size and where did you get them?
thanks!

 

[Aphrael]

The stuff I grow out I am just doing in the seedling starter tray things. I don't know how long those will last though, they are pretty brittle. So I'll probably look into getting plastic totes of a similar size or something when I can. Some of it I just take to the sprout stage in ice cream buckets and feed it to them like that.

 

[AletaG]

So today I went up to our local elevator and asked if I could get a 5 gallon bucket filled with wheat (it's what I have available with a lid). They said that it would be almost impossible for them to fill something that small, but that they have LOTS of spillage and that I was more than welcome to bring as many buckets as I want whenever I want and scoop up any spillage I can find for free.

With the really high cost of all the other wheat I've looked into this is a huge deal for me.

That is FAB-ulous! Wish there was a mill near us. We've been doing FF and supplementing with fodder, 'cause for us, we can sometimes find a brewer who is going to throw out the 'spent' grain ... free food is THE best, I say! Welcome to the fodder thread!

 

[Banriona]

where would one find UNtreated barley/wheat/rye etc. to use for fodder in NC? I've been online for days trying to find this information. I refuse to pay more for shipping than I did for the actual product. Right now I'm sprouting BOSS and some locally sourced wheat seed. The guy I got the wheat from doesn't normally grow it though, so no guarantee I'll be able to get it again. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Try checking the classified ads here

Sometimes they will have listings:



http://www.ncagr.com/paffairs/agreview/index.htm



http://www.ncagr.gov/paffairs/AgReview/class/Oct13/Hay.htm



Also check this thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/235042/feed-mills-in-nc

 

[Aphrael]

That is FAB-ulous! Wish there was a mill near us. We've been doing FF and supplementing with fodder, 'cause for us, we can sometimes find a brewer who is going to throw out the 'spent' grain ... free food is THE best, I say! Welcome to the fodder thread!

Thanks! Yes free food is the best hands down.

 

[Banriona]

Try checking the classified ads here
Sometimes they will have listings:

http://www.ncagr.com/paffairs/agreview/index.htm

http://www.ncagr.gov/paffairs/AgReview/class/Oct13/Hay.htm

Also check this thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/235042/feed-mills-in-nc

Awesome! Thanks sooooo much!

 

[beverly evans]

I have been reading and following this thread with great interest, but haven't posted anything here yet. Today I got such a nice surprise that I just HAD to share it. I've been trying to source some wheat to sprout for my chickens and ducks. So today I went up to our local elevator and asked if I could get a 5 gallon bucket filled with wheat (it's what I have available with a lid). They said that it would be almost impossible for them to fill something that small, but that they have LOTS of spillage and that I was more than welcome to bring as many buckets as I want whenever I want and scoop up any spillage I can find for free.

With the really high cost of all the other wheat I've looked into this is a huge deal for me.

How wonderfully lucky for you! And you only had to ask! Hooray!

 

[Banriona]

I have been reading and following this thread with great interest, but haven't posted anything here yet. Today I got such a nice surprise that I just HAD to share it. I've been trying to source some wheat to sprout for my chickens and ducks. So today I went up to our local elevator and asked if I could get a 5 gallon bucket filled with wheat (it's what I have available with a lid). They said that it would be almost impossible for them to fill something that small, but that they have LOTS of spillage and that I was more than welcome to bring as many buckets as I want whenever I want and scoop up any spillage I can find for free.

With the really high cost of all the other wheat I've looked into this is a huge deal for me.

That is wonderful!! I'll have to look into doing that myself. Off to find a grain elevator nearby......