Growing fodder for chickens

[Lacy Blues]

Guess I'm just not understanding what benefit the bulap "tray" will give you that the plastic tray w/ holes wouldn't. And w/ the plastic trays you could immediately reuse them by removing the fodder biscut whole, but w/ the burlap you will need the chickens to clean it for you tying it up for another day at least. Actually two b/c once the chickens clean it you will need to launder it before using again. Unless you have an awesome idea for keeping them from getting on it or scratching it all over thier yard. (I never came up w/ a clever idea for that, tried several the chickens always outsmarted me on that front) (that is actually embarassing to type, I got outsmarted by chickens!!!!

)

Could you use clothes pins to pin it to the fence of their yard?

 

[Kassaundra]

I don't know everyone seems to be saying oats mold more that other seeds. Trying to figure out how to avoid that. Have several other ideas also that I will be doing. Its all about the experiment with me. I'm kind of a curiosity killed the cat type of person.

Kindered spirits then, and everyone forgets that ....................... "satifaction brought it back" lol lol lol

 

[Kassaundra]

Could you use clothes pins to pin it to the fence of their yard?

Hummmmmmmmmmmmmm, clothspin vs hungery determined chicken hoard w/ claws that love to scratch their food.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I didn't mean to lay it on the ground and pin it. Hang it on the fence up higher than their feet, using several pins.

Or... since yours is a bag, can you put a draw string in the top of it, then suspend it from something, perhaps a locking hook of some sort on a post. They can peck and scratch at it all they want and it won't come down.

 

[Kassaundra]

I didn't mean to lay it on the ground and pin it. Hang it on the fence up higher than their feet, using several pins.

Or... since yours is a bag, can you put a draw string in the top of it, then suspend it from something, perhaps a locking hook of some sort on a post. They can peck and scratch at it all they want and it won't come down.

I was going to try a wire hoop that sticks in the ground ( think larger croquet (sp) hoop and drape the bag over it.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I just got a good laugh and had to share.

 

[pigeonguy]

Unless you have an awesome idea for keeping them from getting on it or scratching it all over thier yard. (I never came up w/ a clever idea for that, tried several the chickens always outsmarted me on that front) (that is actually embarassing to type, I got outsmarted by chickens!!!!

)

I don't know if this will help but you know those rings like are on the corners of o tarp to tie it down with. You can buy a kit at walmart to attach those to the burlap bag. Put one in each corner of the bag 1 ring threw both pieces of burlap. That would give you a strong hold place to hang the bag while draining and clip a chain (like a dog chain) on to hang it or just retrieve from chickens by grabbing the chain and pulling it to you instead of chasing chickens when you are in a hurry.

They are called grommets and here is an eBay link cheaper than wallmarts

http://www.ebay.com/itm/60Pc-X-1-2-...592?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7af36cb0

And her is the walmart link
http://www.walmart.com/ip/General-Tools-71264-1-2-Inch-Grommet-Kit-12-Piece/16491399

 

[pigeonguy]

I just got a good laugh and had to share.

Yep

 

[unkadan]

I used burlap/sprout bags last winter,,,, to solve the ripped and dirty bag problem I drove a stake in the center of the coop floor,,, left a few inches more than the bags length exposed. Turn the bag inside out and placed it over the stake,,,this worked pretty well, they pick it clean and never did get it off and on the floor. I usually just rinsed the bags out and restarted with a new batch of seed.

I'm betting that if you sprouted in the bag, then turned the bag inside out and exposed the "mass" to light you might get greening, this would eliminate the daily rinsing and watering, worth a try. I'm planning on getting set up for sprouting in the next week or so for the winter, I'll give it a try and let ya know.

I rotated corn, oats, wheat, and boss,,,they don't sprout at the same speed so I just did them separate and used as a supplement.

 

[pigeonguy]

I used burlap/sprout bags last winter,,,, to solve the ripped and dirty bag problem I drove a stake in the center of the coop floor,,, left a few inches more than the bags length exposed. Turn the bag inside out and placed it over the stake,,,this worked pretty well, they pick it clean and never did get it off and on the floor. I usually just rinsed the bags out and restarted with a new batch of seed.

I'm betting that if you sprouted in the bag, then turned the bag inside out and exposed the "mass" to light you might get greening, this would eliminate the daily rinsing and watering, worth a try. I'm planning on getting set up for sprouting in the next week or so for the winter, I'll give it a try and let ya know.

I rotated corn, oats, wheat, and boss,,,they don't sprout at the same speed so I just did them separate and used as a supplement.

I like it and its free.