Growing fodder for chickens

[tillyita]

Thank you for this post.  I subscribed to this thread a few weeks ago and have been trying to read it but I am so overwhelmed with so many ideas and opinions.  I will go back and re-read as suggested.  Here is my biggest question:  Someone posted about how to discourage mold growth on the damp seeds.  Chlorine VS ACV.   I want to find the post that suggested ACV and instructions on how they use it during the sprouting process. It is like finding a needle in a haystack.  Does anyone know which post I am referring to?  I wish I had bookmarked it.  I thought I could remember how to do it after reading.  I should have known better!  All I  can retain is water.  If you prefer ACV and can tell me how to treat my seeds, it would save me a lot of time.  Thank you!

Yes, It was me. I use ordinary vinegar (although ACV will work) and dilute it down (mix with water) and spay with a squirty bottle. It makes the environment more acidic and discorages mould growth. I spray at the beginning (when I seed my trays) but I have one of those large commercial fodder units because I feed stock. It would probably be just as effective to include some vinegar in your soaking or rinsing water.

 

[MaPa26]

Quote: THANK YOU! Just one thing---can you tell me how much vinegar to mix with, to say, a gallon of water? I am afraid I will use too much. I only have six hens, so I won't be doing this on a large scale. I will probably use small plastic containers (like sandwich-sized) but stack them so there will, eventually, when I get the timing figured out, be one ready for them every other day. I just plan to do this during the winter. But if they really enjoy it (and I am pretty sure they will!) and since it is beneficial for them and cuts down, some, on the amount of feed they will consume, I might make it for them all year.

 

[lularat]

I ordered 10 lbs. of organic barley seeds on Ebay for $15.50 and free shipping. The company is located in Texas (Detwiler Native Seeds). I also wanted to buy a small quantity to try it out. Mine are soaking now.

 

[tillyita]

THANK YOU!   Just one thing---can you tell me how much vinegar to mix with, to say, a gallon of water?  I am afraid I will use too much.  I only have six hens, so I won't be doing this on a large scale.  I will probably use small plastic containers (like sandwich-sized) but stack them so there will, eventually, when I get the timing figured out, be one ready for them every other day.  I just plan to do this during the winter.  But if they really enjoy it (and I am pretty sure they will!) and since it is beneficial for them and cuts down, some, on the amount of feed they will consume, I might make it for them all year.

I don't think you can use too much....

I have a 500mL squirty bottle and put between 50 and 100mL of vinegar in. If my seed is particularly dusty I add more (up to about 200mL) This stops most mould.

If you end up with any mould that is blue or green - throw it out (or put in your compost heap if you have one). If you end up with the stuff that looks like cobwebs or grey fluffy clouds - this is ok so long as there is not copius amounts of it. (if occurs naturally on pasture but you normally don't see it). My vet says that if there is excess of this then drying it for a day or so in the sun (basically killing the spores) and then wetting before feeding (so any residual spores don't become airborn) makes it safe to feed. So far since adding the vinegar to the process I haven't had to do this.

 

[Whoops]

Well, my test batch will be ready to feed tomorrow. I gave a smidgeon to my baby chicks today and they tore into it. I am just doing this as a supplement. I wanted them to have some green stuff.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I don't think you can use too much....

I have a 500mL squirty bottle and put between 50 and 100mL of vinegar in. If my seed is particularly dusty I add more (up to about 200mL) This stops most mould.

If you end up with any mould that is blue or green - throw it out (or put in your compost heap if you have one). If you end up with the stuff that looks like cobwebs or grey fluffy clouds - this is ok so long as there is not copius amounts of it. (if occurs naturally on pasture but you normally don't see it). My vet says that if there is excess of this then drying it for a day or so in the sun (basically killing the spores) and then wetting before feeding (so any residual spores don't become airborn) makes it safe to feed. So far since adding the vinegar to the process I haven't had to do this.

Wow! I hadn't heard that and I have experienced this kind of mold and have always tossed it. Glad to know that if I get it again I can take care of the issue and feed that stuff anyway. Thanks Tillyita!

 

[tillyita]

Wow!  I hadn't heard that and I have experienced this kind of mold and have always tossed it.  Glad to know that if I get it again I can take care of the issue and feed that stuff anyway.  Thanks Tillyita!

We had our vet test it a couple of years ago (mainly because we were feeding pregnant mares and didn't want to take the risk). It is what he recommended. Blue or green mould is a penicilin type mould and can kill your animals. I've only ever had it once and it was on a batch of seed that had lots of broken bits.

 

[Luke Berg]

Nice!

 

[StacyAK]

Started some BOSS since it was all I had on hand. Didn't have any plastic trays so I just used a glass baking dish and it worked wonderfully. Gave the ducks and chickens a chunk tonight and they loved it! Going to buy some plastic tubs and get a proper setup going

 

[michaelf]

This is my first attempt at growing fodder. I am doing it for a supplement for my birds. I had 4 trays , I shared one with my brother.lol he was eating it and saying how sweet it is. I have not tried it! It's coming along nicely. Now I will buy a couple of containers and continue to grow until spring and everything greens back up!