Growing fodder for chickens

[WHmarans]

And I am very very grateful to the many people who share and reshare! What they've learned through lots of research and trial and error!

 

[jbravo54]

This is my barley fodder setup. There are 10 bins. 9 of which are for each day of new seed with the 9th day being taken to the chickens, then filled back up with the soaked seed. It only takes a few minutes every morning and night.

I first tried in the basement, but 50 some degrees is to cold. I had to move it upstairs, which the wife did not like. The kids love it, so there it stays.

 

[WHmarans]

could urine be used for watering the fodder once it is growing well? Would that reduce mold issue? A yucky but serious question.

well when my horse pees on the lawn it leaves a big dead spot. Probably burns it. I'd have to think it would not work well. And would really make it taste bad to the animals. But have never tried it to be fair.

 

[crazyaboutchickens]

could urine be used for watering the fodder once it is growing well? Would that reduce mold issue? A yucky but serious question.

well when my horse pees on the lawn it leaves a big dead spot. Probably burns it. I'd have to think it would not work well. And would really make it taste bad to the animals. But have never tried it to be fair.

And even if it was diluted to the point of not burning, the high nitrogen content would provide a very good medium for bacteria to grow in and increase exponentially (even if it did reduce fungal growth, which I'm not so sure about either.)

 

[WHmarans]

This is my barley fodder setup. There are 10 bins. 9 of which are for each day of new seed with the 9th day being taken to the chickens, then filled back up with the soaked seed. It only takes a few minutes every morning and night.

I first tried in the basement, but 50 some degrees is to cold. I had to move it upstairs, which the wife did not like. The kids love it, so there it stays.

Nice set up. My sprouting wheat smells like cucumber. Nice to have in the kitchen. I like having it in the house.

 

[Indigosands]

I've finally got my set up where I have a nice clean smell and no fermentation, but I keep having one problem surface every other week or so that I can't resolve. I have lots of holes in my trays and they stay well drained. However, along the top layer of barley seeds the unsprouted seeds keep getting little dots of white mold starting where the sprout would emerge on the last day of growth (day7). Thoughts?

 

[nab58]

My thoughts....Try more air circulation, less water, fewer seeds per tray.

 

[crazyaboutchickens]

I agree with more air circulation and fewer seeds per tray. But less water may not cover all the grains, thereby allowing any chances of mold to fester and grow instead of being washed away.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Feed on day 6?

 

[WHmarans]

Does your watering not rinse these areas down?