Growing fodder for chickens

[PetRock]

.

Good point! New to chickens n feed so don't know what I am doing

. So just store it covered like regular feed (inside out of elements, off ground, and sealed so no pests get in it)?

You might be bringing home the eggs/larva already in the grain. That's what happened to me. The feed store said that sometimes the grain is older and tends to have bug problems. It isn't barley season year around out here in CA! I haven't had a problem with the wheat or oats but I'm storing all of them in the freezer for 3 weeks just to make sure. 3 weeks in deep freeze and the only weevils left are dead ones.

 

[goosegirl6]

I was going to try sprouting barley, so will it sprout with the shell, or does it have to be dehulled?

 

[Phoenixxx]

I was joking i've dealt with weavils before, like any other house pest they are very difficult to get rid of. I would suggest metal bins for the weavil-infested grains. It is true, though, that the chickens would probably love them - unless they taste gross!

 

[Amiga]

Ok smart chicken people with way more experience
than I do, I was very excited to read about fodder. This is
an extensive thread and I wonder what your thoughts
on this agricultural article that state that fodder may be too
good to be true. Any thoughts?

http://agfax.com/2013/10/14/california-hydroponic-forage-make-sense/

The article addresses numbers that are a concern for larger especially industrial livestock operations. It argues that there is a loss of dry matter in fodder around day 6 or 7 compared to seed (apparently it comes back up another 6 or 7 days later). It also argues that in a high-tech hydroponic setup, there is quite a bit of energy outlay to grow the fodder. The loss in dry matter is a concern for those who are looking only at dry matter fed. It's dollars spent for no return on the spreadsheet.

What the article does not do is report on any peer-reviewed papers that look at the actual effect of fodder systems on the livestock themselves. I did not see a reference to feed wastage or consumption (do animals eat more of the seeds when they have been turned into fodder than when they are dry?).

The article acknowledges that "There is little doubt that sprouts are highly palatable to livestock–witness the relish with which animals consume it in web photos and videos. High moisture feeds are frequently quite palatable. However, we do not have data to suggest that barley ‘forage’ is superior to feeding other forages with similar analyses, or even better than feeding barley directly. The feeding value of the shoot/seed/root mixture may not be better than the initial barley seeds themselves." The last sentence uses the term "may not." They don't know yet.

And I may have missed it, but they are looking at barley. I would not extrapolate that to mean all fodder.

Then there is the paragraph that relates more to my flock.

Quote:

Where Hydroponic Forage May Fit. Although the economics, the yield, and the quality of hydroponic sprouted grain forage are not highly favorable, the concept has a great appeal to those who wish to be more self-sufficient in feed. It may fit for those producers who do not have local sources for hay or forage, or simply want to be more self-sufficient. For small animal producers (rabbits, etc.), this may offer a ready source of palatable feed. Hydroponic sprouted grain may also be an appealing feed which varies the diet for animals fed only hay and grains, although we should caution that the costs must be considered.

End of Quote

My little setup had a one-time cost of $15 for the containers. That's the cost of half a bag of organic layer pellets. Anyone priced greens in winter? Wheat grass sells in a local shop for $6.00 for the amount of fodder I make in one container. I consider that economically favorable. I am feeding this because I want a more varied diet with fresh greens in midwinter for my flock. It is a non-electric setup. No pumps, no artificial light. $0 extra dollars for energy. I use a window for the solar energy.

If you come across a study about health and body condition on animals that have been supplemented with fodder, that would be really neat! Thanks for posting this. It does make a good point about keeping our eyes open regarding the increase in amount of feed. If that were the only reason to use fodder, then one might want to rethink it.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

Wouldn't the chickens WANT the weavils?

I mean, provided they don't find their way loose in your house - that can be disastrous.

I have seen posts about this before and people have warned that the weavils eatting the feed changes the nutrition in that feed making it less. I haven't done any research on it but on the surface it makes sense.

 

[Wednesday]

The article addresses numbers that are a concern for larger especially industrial livestock operations. It argues that there is a loss of dry matter in fodder around day 6 or 7 compared to seed (apparently it comes back up another 6 or 7 days later). It also argues that in a high-tech hydroponic setup, there is quite a bit of energy outlay to grow the fodder. The loss in dry matter is a concern for those who are looking only at dry matter fed. It's dollars spent for no return on the spreadsheet. What the article does not do is report on any peer-reviewed papers that look at the actual effect of fodder systems on the livestock themselves. I did not see a reference to feed wastage or consumption (do animals eat more of the seeds when they have been turned into fodder than when they are dry?). The article acknowledges that "[COLOR=333333]There is little doubt that sprouts are highly palatable to livestock–witness the relish with which animals consume it in web photos and videos. High moisture feeds are frequently quite palatable. However, we do not have data to suggest that barley ‘forage’ is superior to feeding other forages with similar analyses, or even better than feeding barley directly. The feeding value of the shoot/seed/root mixture may not be better than the initial barley seeds themselves." The last sentence uses the term "may not." They don't know yet.[/COLOR] [COLOR=333333]And I may have missed it, but they are looking at barley. I would not extrapolate that to mean all fodder.[/COLOR] [COLOR=333333]Then there is the paragraph that relates more to my flock.[/COLOR] [COLOR=333333]Quote:[/COLOR] Where Hydroponic Forage May Fit. [COLOR=333333] Although the economics, the yield, and the quality of hydroponic sprouted grain forage are not highly favorable, the concept has a great appeal to those who wish to be more self-sufficient in feed. It may fit for those producers who do not have local sources for hay or forage, or simply want to be more self-sufficient. For small animal producers (rabbits, etc.), this may offer a ready source of palatable feed. Hydroponic sprouted grain may also be an appealing feed which varies the diet for animals fed only hay and grains, although we should caution that the costs must be considered.[/COLOR] [COLOR=333333]End of Quote[/COLOR] [COLOR=333333]My little setup had a one-time cost of $15 for the containers. That's the cost of half a bag of organic layer pellets. Anyone priced greens in winter? Wheat grass sells in a local shop for $6.00 for the amount of fodder I make in one container. I consider that economically favorable. I am feeding this because I want a more varied diet with fresh greens in midwinter for my flock. It is a non-electric setup. No pumps, no artificial light. $0 extra dollars for energy.[/COLOR] I use a window for the solar energy. If you come across a study about health and body condition on animals that have been supplemented with fodder, that would be really neat! Thanks for posting this. It does make a good point about keeping our eyes open regarding the increase in amount of feed. If that were the only reason to use fodder, then one might want to rethink it.

I have been unable to find any peer reviewed journal articles that have good data. You make a great a great point about the difference between expensive commerical operations and backyard set ups using solar and your own labor. A 50 pound bag of barley is anywhere from 25-34 dollars if you aren't lucky enough to get a great local deal. Just want to make sure something makes sense before making a time and monetary investment for my small flock of 18 birds. Here's another interesting article I found (again, not a clinical study) http://www.grazeonline.com/fodderinterest

 

[mi2bugz]

I started my wheat soaking but have a couple questions please . I am going to do very small batches to start with as only have 4 chickens.

What to soak seeds in: a container with holes inside a container without holes with a lid with air holes?

Do you rinse in same container soaking in or is that counter productive?

Any reason can't rinse, soak and grow in one container instead of transporting to a new container for every step?

Sorry if redundant questions already asked in this thread but its a long thread and I didn't come across anyone doing it all in one container (but I might have missed it ).

 

[Amiga]

Try doing it in one container. What I do is soak it overnight in a mason jar, rinse it (sometimes with half hydrogen peroxide in the water to kill bacteria), then put it in a tray.

Most of my trays have holes drilled in the bottom and larger holes in the side for air flow, but I am still gearing up and a few times I have just set the soaked seeds in a plain tray.

I rinse three times a day. I do sniff tests to make sure there's no mold. And the last rinse is about half hydrogen peroxide, then wait a while, and then a very thorough rinse before feeding.

Just being cautious.

 

[christine9]

I haven't been doing this long but I use a Rubbermaid container with holes in the bottom inside of one without holes. I also have four chickens, so I only do one batch at a time. I've been sprouting a solo cup full of BOSS at a time. It fits in the container with holes about two seeds deep. I soak them in this container with the intact container underneath. To drain, I just remove the second container and leave them in the sink until drained. I put the second container back underneath just in case. I rinse the same way I drained. Once they begin sprouting, I feed a portion each day. I like doing one batch at a time because it takes up such little space.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Quote:

I was joking

i've dealt with weavils before, like any other house pest they are very difficult to get rid of. I would suggest metal bins for the weavil-infested grains. It is true, though, that the chickens would probably love them - unless they taste gross!

Metal bins will sweat on the inside and keeping feed in them can be hazardous as it will cause your feed to mold. I use very large trash cans and/or kitchen trash cans with the step lever to raise the top. Water does not get in and it will hold 50 pounds of feed.