Growing fodder for chickens

[butch vb]

instead of sprouting try fermenting much easier less time more consistence i do both the horses get fodder the chickens get ff and some fodder and the unsprouted grains they do love it so i might up their fodder in winter so they get greens all year, fermenting isless time and space consuming

 

[Don P]

I fodder BOSS Sunflower too and Peas, green or yellow. I would do lentils if I could get a better price on them, but you can get your digestion to handle the grains and gluten and its byproducts.

There are enzymes you can take to digest gluten as well. But getting rid of yeast and fungal overgrowth in the intestine and some good nutrients you will be able to eat grains most likely. I have seen many do it and no drugs.

I have never heard of anyone not being able to touch the dry grain or sprouts though. Is that from experience reaction on the skin to touching grains?

 

[LindaB220]

instead of sprouting try fermenting much easier less time more consistence i do both the horses get fodder the chickens get ff and some fodder and the unsprouted grains they do love it so i might up their fodder in winter so they get greens all year, fermenting isless time and space consuming

Totally in agreement with the fermented feed.

 

[potagergirl]

I fodder BOSS Sunflower too and Peas, green or yellow. I would do lentils if I could get a better price on them, but you can get your digestion to handle the grains and gluten and its byproducts.

There are enzymes you can take to digest gluten as well. But getting rid of yeast and fungal overgrowth in the intestine and some good nutrients you will be able to eat grains most likely. I have seen many do it and no drugs.

I have never heard of anyone not being able to touch the dry grain or sprouts though. Is that from experience reaction on the skin to touching grains?

It is experienced by many with Celiac disease. As my grandson's doctor has said there are different forms of celiac and it so happens
he has more then one which includes digestive and contact. He can not use toilet paper on the roll of many brands because there is gluten
in the glue used to adhere it to the roll.

Also the thought of being able to take a magic enzyme or anything else to digest gluten is dangerous for many people with celiac. yes the symptoms can be comforted however the damage done to the intestines is real and will continue as long as gluten is involved in that person's diet. Sorry no magic anything it is all about removing gluten from the diet.

I am new to having chickens and this is the first time I have experimented with growing fodder. So far I tried oats which did not work well. I also tried alfalfa which is growing like crazy. The black oil sunflower seeds (BOSS) are awesome and my chickens couldn't get enough. I used organic brown rice which grew very well but the chickens didn't like it as much.
I have figured out that I have a problem with yellow corn so I do not plan on having it in my chickens diet either. Mostly I have been looking at wild bird food which includes safflower (have not tried to grow yet but will in the near future). Thistle or Niger seed is another I want to try even though I've been told most will not sprout because it is heat treated and comes mostly from outside the country. I'm not sure about millet it's one I have to look up. Other people try clover, quinoa, and amaranth.
The grains are out there I suggest experimenting with small amounts to come up with a mix you make yourself and like.

Good luck with your fodder and if you experiment let us know how it turns out for you.

 

[chrissyr]

new here and great info. was wondering when people say to soak in hydrogen peroxide: they don't mean the whole first 24 hours do they? or is that just a rinse of the tray?
sounds unsafe to soak them in anything but water, but that's what i'm here to learn
i put a tray outside because it's about 71 degrees in my house. But 90-100 outside. Is it better inside? Just seems like the warmer weather it would grow better.
And my tray doesn't have holes. Should I put some in?
Finally: does barley really have a lot of issues? is wheat the best choice?
Thank you so much in advance

 

[dewey69usa]

Besides, Wheat, Barley and Rye we also sprout Mung beans. In fact our chickens and ducks favor them over all of the other grains and seeds we sprout. And, lentils, too. There are times when the lentils will ferment and the chickens go nuts over that!

I believe that you can have buckwheat and I read that Buckwheat has more nutritional value than the wheat and barley any way. My Daughter and Daughter-in-law candidate have Celiac as well.
Julie

I sprout a 50/50 mix of black oil sunflower & safflower for my chicks. They come running every morning when they see me with the sprout trays.

 

[tillyita]

new here and great info. was wondering when people say to soak in hydrogen peroxide: they don't mean the whole first 24 hours do they? or is that just a rinse of the tray?
sounds unsafe to soak them in anything but water, but that's what i'm here to learn
i put a tray outside because it's about 71 degrees in my house. But 90-100 outside. Is it better inside? Just seems like the warmer weather it would grow better.
And my tray doesn't have holes. Should I put some in?
Finally: does barley really have a lot of issues? is wheat the best choice?
Thank you so much in advance

Most people rinse the trays - some add it to the soaking water to innoculate the seed (kill the mould spores). Peroxde won't hurt either way though - It breaks down to water and oxygen - neither of which will hurt your animals - or your sprouts

Most grain grows best between 21 and 24 degrees C (70-75 Farenheit) So in the house would be perfect - outside either they wont sprout or they will sprout and wilt.

Your trays will need holes or you will just cause the seed to rot or ferment.

I use barley - it is better nutrionally. Wheat is fine too - I feed my horses the sprouts (as well as the poultry) and wheat is not as good for them.

 

[debbiegt]

It is experienced by many with Celiac disease. As my grandson's doctor has said there are different forms of celiac and it so happens
he has more then one which includes digestive and contact. He can not use toilet paper on the roll of many brands because there is gluten
in the glue used to adhere it to the roll.

Also the thought of being able to take a magic enzyme or anything else to digest gluten is dangerous for many people with celiac. yes the symptoms can be comforted however the damage done to the intestines is real and will continue as long as gluten is involved in that person's diet. Sorry no magic anything it is all about removing gluten from the diet.

I am new to having chickens and this is the first time I have experimented with growing fodder. So far I tried oats which did not work well. I also tried alfalfa which is growing like crazy. The black oil sunflower seeds (BOSS) are awesome and my chickens couldn't get enough. I used organic brown rice which grew very well but the chickens didn't like it as much.
I have figured out that I have a problem with yellow corn so I do not plan on having it in my chickens diet either. Mostly I have been looking at wild bird food which includes safflower (have not tried to grow yet but will in the near future). Thistle or Niger seed is another I want to try even though I've been told most will not sprout because it is heat treated and comes mostly from outside the country. I'm not sure about millet it's one I have to look up. Other people try clover, quinoa, and amaranth.
The grains are out there I suggest experimenting with small amounts to come up with a mix you make yourself and like.

Good luck with your fodder and if you experiment let us know how it turns out for you.

I have good luck sprouting bird seed...

 

[chrissyr]

Can I sprout in foil containers? I have the small and big ones from Costco. I can sprout in the small with drainage holes and place in the big to catch any extra water. Should be fine but I know metal reacts to some components and haven't seen it used before for seeds

 

[Elizabethan]

Hi
We've had chickens for 4 years, although we enjoy the fresh eggs and meat it's always a break-even to expensive venture using commercial feed. This year we have bought a ton of wheat from the farmer across the road and have started to grow fodder, as well as using some permaculture methods. At this time we have 55 layers (25 1-2 year olds and 30 pullets just starting to lay), 60 meats and 10 turkeys.

We have no problems growing the fodder, we are using wheat with a cup of black oil sunflower, but our older girls have stopped laying. They are approximately 3.5 to 5 lbs. various breeds. Vents are clean, no lice. Their craws are full, good fresh water supply. We are using a poultry net/electric fence area so the have lots of space and they are otherwise quite healthy. We have seen them cycle before, but not all of them stop laying at once.

We thought we were over feeding them, but when they see use coming they act like they are starving. So we gave them more, now they are not laying. We've cut back with no change. We also give them the kitchen compost. We have added grit and oyster shell sporadically.
Any ideas on how to fix this problem?
Thanks