Growing fodder for chickens

[RaresightFarms]

Can a continuous trickle of water be running through the fodder? Just barely over drips along the whole length?

 

[Phoenixxx]

For those people on here interested in the science,
here is one of the few studies on growing fodder.
The science does not seem to support this practice
unless its just something you have fun doing:

http://idosi.org/wasj/wasj16(4)12/9.pdf

The first chart, outlining the changes in the nutrient levels, tells me that it is worth doing. I didn't see anywhere in the report where they compared the differences in digestibility, either. When you take that into account, the story changes. Also, they were using cows who have 5 stomachs to break down the most difficult of fibrous foods and chickens don't even have ONE stomach

Anyway, I only just got my system going the other day. I used to ferment the barley but we'll see how this sprouting thing goes According to the long range, we're gonna be under snowcover into march so regardless of whether it pays off or not, they'll be needing some greens!

 

[Lacy Blues]

My chickens don't live in a test tube, nor do they live in a science lab.

Living food is WAY healthier than dead food.

If you put a bowl of those precious scientifically formulated rations out in the middle of a field of living, sunshine loving, growing grass that contains bugs and soil and rocks, I can guarantee you that your birds will walk away from that bowl.

If you want to feed your birds that formulated ration, giving them the same thing to eat day in and day out, year in and year out, you go ahead. But don't give them any water because as soon as they drink it, that scientifically formulated dry matter ration will be completely unbalanced and thrown out the window.

On this thread, we choose to give our birds a variety of feeds, living feeds among them. Some of us don't need some guy in a white lab coat to tell us what is good for our birds. All you have to do is observe the birds and then observe their health.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

What I want to know is which white lab coated scientist fumbling with test tubes claimed that water is bad for chickens?

The fiber thing is a biggie because sprouting any grain creates fiber in the form of little roots, stalks, and leaves. Fiber has already been pointed out as a substance that chickens are ill equipped to digest.

The correct word for what some are calling sprouting is spangling. Spangling is the process of repeatedly washing sprouted grains to extract the sugars and starches in preparation to pitching yeast into the water and brewing beer (or distilling whiskey) I can see why some would think that the green sprouts would be better than the original grain but it is not better unless there is a severe shortage of green food and the sprouted food is only used to supplement the chickens' normal daily laying ration.

Before American corn or maize was introduced to Europe the Romans fed their gladiators on barley because of the food energy in barley. I suspect that if you're training and fighting for your life in the arena, you would want every ounce of energy that you can get and cooked barley provided that.

Don't take my word for it, cook up about 2/3 of a cup of barley and just before it is ready add a 16oz. can of vegetable beef soup. Eat a bowl of this concoction sit quietly, and feel the power flow into your body.

 

[ashyndin]

Could you use the cheap aluminum roasting pans for this? And if so how many chickens would one pan feed?

 

[Wednesday]

The first chart, outlining the changes in the nutrient levels, tells me that it is worth doing. I didn't see anywhere in the report where they compared the differences in digestibility, either. When you take that into account, the story changes. Also, they were using cows who have 5 stomachs to break down the most difficult of fibrous foods and chickens don't even have ONE stomach

Anyway, I only just got my system going the other day. I used to ferment the barley but we'll see how this sprouting thing goes According to the long range, we're gonna be under snowcover into march so regardless of whether it pays off or not, they'll be needing some greens!

I think the problem is that there is very little scientific evidence to support the use of sprouted grains in poultry. In fact, there is very little scientific evidence to support benefits of sprouted grain in the human model either. One one hand, you can't say the first chart of this study supports growing fodder since you are correct, chickens have crops, not stomachs. We need to see data on how it is absorbed by the crop.

If people want to grow some greens, I have no issue with that. However people are talking about total feed replacement and lower feed costs without anything other than anecdotal stories. That can be dangerous to the lives of a new flock owner who doesn't know any better. I have a friend with 150 birds that is investing significant time and financial resources to start growing fodder for his flock to replace all commercial feed without any real analysis. As a greens supplement, it may make sense if you have the time and energy and potentially more money than you are spending on feed now to invest. I think it's important to scrutinize things. At this point, it seems like the scientific jury is still out on what fodder can offer your flock as far as actual benefits (feed replacement etc)

 

[DraigAthar]

Speaking as a scientist, I kind of resent the image being painted here of scientists in general. Mocking the scientists is like killing the messenger. Science attempts to reveal the facts. It doesn't tell you what to do with them. Believe what you like, reality is a honey badger. That study merely shows that there's no miraculous nutrient gain that takes place in the 6-8 days during which grain becomes sprout. That doesn't mean you should stop feeding sprouts to your birds, especially if they love to eat them and you love to grow them. And it's entirely possible that there are other beneficial nutrient alterations taking place that were simply not measured by that study. But don't throw out science in general just because you don't like what one study had to say.

 

[Wednesday]

Speaking as a scientist, I kind of resent the image being painted here of scientists in general. Mocking the scientists is like killing the messenger. Science attempts to reveal the facts. It doesn't tell you what to do with them. Believe what you like, reality is a honey badger. That study merely shows that there's no miraculous nutrient gain that takes place in the 6-8 days during which grain becomes sprout. That doesn't mean you should stop feeding sprouts to your birds, especially if they love to eat them and you love to grow them. And it's entirely possible that there are other beneficial nutrient alterations taking place that were simply not measured by that study. But don't throw out science in general just because you don't like what one study had to say.

I am confused. Did you think I was mocking science? My whole point is that I would love to see data that supports growing fodder. I have the utmost respect for science over anecdotal stories. I work in a science based field, hence the healthy skepticism. I want the facts please.

"That study merely shows that there's no miraculous nutrient gain that takes place in the 6-8 days during which grain becomes sprout" is my point exactly. If you love growing it, great. We still need actual data to show anything more than that.


Edit: just saw rude science jabs by others above my post. I get your point now. apparently it's not ok to some people to question things on this thread.

 

[ArtGirl]

Ok so my feed store only had Oats.  can I use this.  and no dirt?  I have a bin ready to put my seeds in with dirt in the bottom.  I thought you just planted it and waited for it to get high enough to give to them. Wow Ok  so take the dirt out of my bin and just put the seeds in there and drain into a different bin.  hum.  I can do that.  Is there any seeds you don't want to use? I went looking for wheat but they didn't have any so they suggested the oats. 

You could try the oats but I've heard that it make a huge mushy mess. You can get wheat at Walmart but it's pretty expensive.

 

[ArtGirl]

It has been 8 days and my wheat is only 2in. high. Is there a way to make it grow faster?