Growing fodder for chickens

[JaceAgain]

Bleach isnt bad lol. Its in all tap water, and in well water if you have a softener. Its perfectly safe to rinse some beans in.

 

[JJSS89]

Bleach isnt bad lol. Its in all tap water, and in well water if you have a softener. Its perfectly safe to rinse some beans in.

Who said it was bad? My point was that by moving the fodder to a cooler area the bleach would probably not be needed.

 

[JaceAgain]

Bleach isnt bad lol. Its in all tap water, and in well water if you have a softener. Its perfectly safe to rinse some beans in.

Who said it was bad?  My point was that by moving the fodder to a cooler area the bleach would probably not be needed.

l

Lots of people, actually. Not just you

 

[PaulRaye]

So my second attempt is getting close but I have to ask is this mold or just normal plant stuffs?




Thanks for your help,
Paul

 

[CATRYNA]

Well my seeds sprouted but I ended up with mold before they where fully grown. I did however have them sitting on the counter above the dishwasher, in retrospect I'm thinking that was giving them a steam bath every night when we started the dishes.

I'm trying again this week with half the seeds, washing the seeds in a 10% bleach solution before soaking and placing them away from the dishwasher.

Paul

Well my seeds sprouted but I ended up with mold before they where fully grown. I did however have them sitting on the counter above the dishwasher, in retrospect I'm thinking that was giving them a steam bath every night when we started the dishes.

I'm trying again this week with half the seeds, washing the seeds in a 10% bleach solution before soaking and placing them away from the dishwasher.

Paul

Well my seeds sprouted but I ended up with mold before they where fully grown. I did however have them sitting on the counter above the dishwasher, in retrospect I'm thinking that was giving them a steam bath every night when we started the dishes.

I'm trying again this week with half the seeds, washing the seeds in a 10% bleach solution before soaking and placing them away from the dishwasher.

Paul

You might try skipping the bleach and simply finding a cooler place to grow it.

I agree; a cooler place and possibly soak them for a shorter period of time. It also looks like the seeds may be too deep, possibly adding to the problem. The depth of seed needs to only be about 1/4 inch. You want the seed to be able to completely drain between rinsing. Also, the first 3 days of rinsing, disturbing the seeds as little as possible, is best so it can more easily form a root mat. After that flood it, well, and let it drain.

 

[Marylani]

I start giving our chicks sprouts (fodder) when they are a couple of days old. The fodder is usually about 3 inches long; I cut it into 1/8" lengths; fodder as well as the root mat. We have 8 chicks that will be 1 month old on the 9th of this month and they already eat 1/2" long fodder and clover. But they have been eating regular size meal worms since they were 2 days old, too. They are headed outside tomorrow, too.

 

[Marylani]

I start giving our chicks sprouts (fodder) when they are a couple of days old. The fodder is usually about 3 inches long; I cut it into 1/8" lengths; fodder as well as the root mat. We have 8 chicks that will be 1 month old on the 9th of this month and they already eat 1/2" long fodder and clover. But they have been eating regular size meal worms since they were 2 days old, too. They are headed outside tomorrow, too.

Thanks that was going to be my question as well.

I read the beginning of the thread then skipped to the end.

I have 12 3week olds. Im researching Sprouts and fodder. I think I will make this for fun, give them something to do. But not main diet (of course for chicks) but when the get older as well.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[SebashtionH]

So I have this question. After reading thru this thread and countless hours of searching for info on the how and why for fodder... if your rinsing to get the starch out so it doesn't get slimy and moldy, why would you have a flood and drain. Dumping the starch and slime in the tray below, and the next and the next..... that is just dumping what you want out in the next tray.

Wouldn't it be better to have gutters and use new water each time....

 

[SebashtionH]

Are there instructions on making an automatic water system for fodder out there. So that someone that is not up on plumbing or all the parts can put it together?

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

I love growing the fodder! But I do it in the black potting flats. Put in a thin layer of potting soil, seeds, let soak overnight, drain....then cover with the clear cover that comes with the flats. It takes about 2 weeks to get them green and growing.

On feeding...the flock will devour it all....dirt, roots, and of course the green growing stuff.

Baby chicks; a broody mama will introduce new chicks to dirt and greens the day she takes them all out of the nest. Usually day 3. That's when they start "chicken school". I love watching mama hen teach the chicks. For those from incubators, they don't get that treat. But those chicks still need the dirt and the greens. When I had first bought chicks, I would get them a clump of dirt from the yard. The soil has micro-organisms that will help inoculate the chicks from some diseases and conditions.

You can also make sprouts in a glass jar on top of the counter. I do it that way too. I mostly use BOSS=black oil sunflower seeds ...for that. Put seeds in a jar and cover with warm water. Let set over night. Drain. Rinse every morning and drain. As mine sprout, I take the top handful off, and let the others keep sprouting till I have fed them all to the birds.