Growing fodder for chickens

[The Golden Egg5]

I've got a bunch of roots!!
This is so exciting! I really hope my chicks like it though...

 

[mobius]

I bet they eat them all gone! Looking good!

 

[The Golden Egg5]

I bet they eat them all gone! Looking good!

Thank you! I'm not sure tho because they are free range... they get all the greens they want

 

[mobius]

Believe me they will

 

[The Golden Egg5]

Ok. I can't wait to try it out! It is constantly on my mind and I have to go out on a walk to keep myself from watering it like 20 times... I'm just to excited! I have to limit myself to 2-3 waterings a day.

 

[chick watcher]

All of my wheat is molding no matter how much drainage I have. I spread out the seeds as thin as I could without being able to see the bottom.[/QUOTE]



On day 2 add a half teaspoon of baking soda to a cup of water and let the seeds soak for about 5 minutes. I have not had a mold problem with mine , The temp in the kitchen ranges from 75 to 80.F

 

[mobius]

All of my wheat is molding no matter how much drainage I have. I spread out the seeds as thin as I could without being able to see the bottom.

On day 2 add a half teaspoon of baking soda to a cup of water and let the seeds soak for about 5 minutes. I have not had a mold problem with mine , The temp in the kitchen ranges from 75 to 80.F[/QUOTE]

What a great solution!

 

[andreanar]

I grow wheat grass sprouts. This is the first time for my new flock of young pullets. Thank you so much, @chick watcher , for the baking soda tip! I get mold once in awhile.

 

[Newbiechickchic]

I soak my seed in a bucket that has holes which is set inside a bucket without holes. (Actually, it's a pair of empty plastic ice cream containers.) You want your water level twice that of the seed. Rinse your seed well before leaving to soak. The water should be clear. The next day, give the seed a very good rinse and then spread onto the tray. Below is a picture of a set of trays seeded with wheat which is a few days old and just beginning to sprout some green. Wheat grows pretty well and is less likely to mold than barley, (and can be grown at higher temperatures) but barley grows a thicker leaf than wheat so that's what I like when it's available. I gather up my trays in the morning and give them a good rinse in the sink (the tray with holes is nested inside a tray without holes....) and then set back on the shelf. If in doubt, it's better to water too little than too much. You do NOT want water to sit in the trays. Pour out the extra water after rinsing! The seeds themselves hold enough water to grow and usually only need a rinse once or twice a day. You want the seeds moist inside but not overly wet on the outside for very long or you encourage mold. I have my trays next to a window for light. In the middle of winter when it gets dark really early, I have a fluorescent light that turns on with a timer.


Glad you posted this... reminds me that I want to do this!!

 

[The Golden Egg5]

Sooo much green! I can't believe how fast this has grown!!