Growing fodder for chickens

[OrganicVanek]

Quote: Yes - of course! The mold in the fridge - I don't know why I didn't make that connection earlier

. Ok I'll try the vinegar spray too. Thanks again for all your help!

 

[WHmarans]

Thank you so much, I am soo excited I can't wait to start. My girls are going to be so surprised. I'm over here beside myself.

It takes a few feedings for them to catch on but then they really look forward to it. Mine pick the boss out first.

 

[ArtGirl]

I just found this post and thought it would be interesting to try. I want to start simple, get the hang of it and then build up from there. I have a area that is always in the 60s and has lots of light. What I was wondering was where is the best and cheapest place to get wheat, barley and lental seeds? We are trying to keep it a cheap as possible so the cheaper the better.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Quote:
Ok, thanks

.

 

[lauraloon]

Hi I wanted to know what kinds of fodder I can grow wheat, barley anything else?

 

[carlsaSC]

I just started doing this with wheat I bought as "feed" wheat at a an independent feed store. I have been growing the seed in styrofoam meat trays from the supermarket. (only have 7 birds). The first time I used plain water for the soaking and rinsing. Next time, for the soaking, I'll add vinegar to the soak water to try and reduce the amount of molding. The mold was not excessive, and I could pluck out that section during the daily rinse cycle. (The trays could easily have drain holes punched in one end to allow the seed bed to drain.) I harvested at varying intervals from the "short tails" sprouts until it was about 3" high. The birds were more eager at the short tails stage, but it did all disappear before the end of the day.

I have never seen buckets of wheat at WalMart.

 

[LIberty Farms]

Thanks for the fodder info. Can you give me an idea of cost for bulk seed (especially if you know of a non-Monsanto supplier) and size of the bag of seed (i.e. 10-50lbs).

 

[NotAFarm]

I just started doing this with wheat I bought as "feed" wheat at a an independent feed store. I have been growing the seed in styrofoam meat trays from the supermarket. (only have 7 birds). The first time I used plain water for the soaking and rinsing. Next time, for the soaking, I'll add vinegar to the soak water to try and reduce the amount of molding. The mold was not excessive, and I could pluck out that section during the daily rinse cycle. (The trays could easily have drain holes punched in one end to allow the seed bed to drain.) I harvested at varying intervals from the "short tails" sprouts until it was about 3" high. The birds were more eager at the short tails stage, but it did all disappear before the end of the day.

I have never seen buckets of wheat at WalMart.

Wal-Mart sells buckets of wheat at stores in certain parts of the country where there is demand for it. Anyone else can order from their website and shipping is free with a $50 order. On their website, on the menu on the left of the home page, scroll to the "Grocery, Household, Pets" tab and a menu will come up, in the left column chose "Emergency Food", you'll find a 26 lb bucket of hard white wheat for $18.30 in the middle of the first page. This is human food grade intended to be used to grind for flour. If you can find wheat, barley, etc intended for animal feed it will be cheaper but not everyone can get that locally.

I used the Black Oil Sunflower Seed that is sold as bird feed at our local stores. Sprouts great.

 

[TERRY4]

I soak my seed in a bucket that has holes which is set inside a bucket without holes. (Actually, it's a pair of empty plastic ice cream containers.) You want your water level twice that of the seed. Rinse your seed well before leaving to soak. The water should be clear. The next day, give the seed a very good rinse and then spread onto the tray. Below is a picture of a set of trays seeded with wheat which is a few days old and just beginning to sprout some green. Wheat grows pretty well and is less likely to mold than barley, (and can be grown at higher temperatures) but barley grows a thicker leaf than wheat so that's what I like when it's available. I gather up my trays in the morning and give them a good rinse in the sink (the tray with holes is nested inside a tray without holes....) and then set back on the shelf. If in doubt, it's better to water too little than too much. You do NOT want water to sit in the trays. Pour out the extra water after rinsing! The seeds themselves hold enough water to grow and usually only need a rinse once or twice a day. You want the seeds moist inside but not overly wet on the outside for very long or you encourage mold. I have my trays next to a window for light. In the middle of winter when it gets dark really early, I have a fluorescent light that turns on with a timer.

What do you grow them in, just soil? How much in the pans? I'm needing to start mine and can't think of what to grow them in either. I do have big commercial metal trays. Maybe those. They only have an about an inch or so edge though.

I soak my seed in a bucket that has holes which is set inside a bucket without holes. (Actually, it's a pair of empty plastic ice cream containers.) You want your water level twice that of the seed. Rinse your seed well before leaving to soak. The water should be clear. The next day, give the seed a very good rinse and then spread onto the tray. Below is a picture of a set of trays seeded with wheat which is a few days old and just beginning to sprout some green. Wheat grows pretty well and is less likely to mold than barley, (and can be grown at higher temperatures) but barley grows a thicker leaf than wheat so that's what I like when it's available. I gather up my trays in the morning and give them a good rinse in the sink (the tray with holes is nested inside a tray without holes....) and then set back on the shelf. If in doubt, it's better to water too little than too much. You do NOT want water to sit in the trays. Pour out the extra water after rinsing! The seeds themselves hold enough water to grow and usually only need a rinse once or twice a day. You want the seeds moist inside but not overly wet on the outside for very long or you encourage mold. I have my trays next to a window for light. In the middle of winter when it gets dark really early, I have a fluorescent light that turns on with a timer.

I soak my seed in a bucket that has holes which is set inside a bucket without holes. (Actually, it's a pair of empty plastic ice cream containers.) You want your water level twice that of the seed. Rinse your seed well before leaving to soak. The water should be clear. The next day, give the seed a very good rinse and then spread onto the tray. Below is a picture of a set of trays seeded with wheat which is a few days old and just beginning to sprout some green. Wheat grows pretty well and is less likely to mold than barley, (and can be grown at higher temperatures) but barley grows a thicker leaf than wheat so that's what I like when it's available. I gather up my trays in the morning and give them a good rinse in the sink (the tray with holes is nested inside a tray without holes....) and then set back on the shelf. If in doubt, it's better to water too little than too much. You do NOT want water to sit in the trays. Pour out the extra water after rinsing! The seeds themselves hold enough water to grow and usually only need a rinse once or twice a day. You want the seeds moist inside but not overly wet on the outside for very long or you encourage mold. I have my trays next to a window for light. In the middle of winter when it gets dark really early, I have a fluorescent light that turns on with a timer.

I soak my seed in a bucket that has holes which is set inside a bucket without holes. (Actually, it's a pair of empty plastic ice cream containers.) You want your water level twice that of the seed. Rinse your seed well before leaving to soak. The water should be clear. The next day, give the seed a very good rinse and then spread onto the tray. Below is a picture of a set of trays seeded with wheat which is a few days old and just beginning to sprout some green. Wheat grows pretty well and is less likely to mold than barley, (and can be grown at higher temperatures) but barley grows a thicker leaf than wheat so that's what I like when it's available. I gather up my trays in the morning and give them a good rinse in the sink (the tray with holes is nested inside a tray without holes....) and then set back on the shelf. If in doubt, it's better to water too little than too much. You do NOT want water to sit in the trays. Pour out the extra water after rinsing! The seeds themselves hold enough water to grow and usually only need a rinse once or twice a day. You want the seeds moist inside but not overly wet on the outside for very long or you encourage mold. I have my trays next to a window for light. In the middle of winter when it gets dark really early, I have a fluorescent light that turns on with a timer.

 

[lauraloon]

would something like clover be good for this?