Growing fodder for chickens

[TNBEARCHICK]

It has taken me a long time but, I finally read through this whole thing-

I have been sprouting seeds for my family for over a year and had never put two and two together that I could do that for the animals.

duh! But, just started a week ago before I read this today and am excited to try some different things and ways of doing it. I had 3 different trays to see which would work better and the fastest growing ones came from the big aluminum catering pans. I sat one inside another and one had holes poked in it- put in water- let it soak and drained it and dumped the water and sat it back in the pan so as to it would not drip on anything and make a mess. Repeated once daily and so far looks great!

 

[Zanna]

My experience with guppies is that the parents gobble up the babies if you don't separate them right away........ You can buy little breeder pens for the parents that have slats so the babies can get out and away, sometimes you still lose some. Anyone else?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

My experience with guppies is that the parents gobble up the babies if you don't separate them right away........ You can buy little breeder pens for the parents that have slats so the babies can get out and away, sometimes you still lose some. Anyone else?

I did platies and guppies both to feed my oscars. Platies are hardier, breed even faster, and a slightly larger fish. But both are tropical. if you get in the mid 70 temp range they stop breeding. Our power went out and i lost my 20 gallon breeder tank. Minnows or goldfish would have to be easier. For the babies, i float the Hornwart ferns and duckweed at the top and the babies hide in it. works wonderful..

 

[pawtraitart]

How fast do minnows reproduce? Growout?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Not sure, i am trying to find out myself. Anyone have more knowledge on minnows please shout out...
Tried wheat for fodder this week. That was much better received, happy beaks all around! Am looking for whole oats next, anyone know if rolled will still sprout?

 

[pawtraitart]

Not sure, i am trying to find out myself. Anyone have more knowledge on minnows please shout out...
Tried wheat for fodder this week. That was much better received, happy beaks all around! Am looking for whole oats next, anyone know if rolled will still sprout?

No, rolled won't sprout. The seed has to be whole.

 

[pawtraitart]

Photo of a wheat/lentil mix. The lentils are so cute!

 

[mg15]

Hi, I am not trying to be sick about this, but when
it was mentioned about a chicken swallowing a mouse
why not raise mice. Truly that is fast.
Personally I couldn't do it, but there are frozen
mice that can be bought.
Wonder how much protein is in a mouse. ?
mg

 

[pawtraitart]

Hi, I am not trying to be sick about this, but when
it was mentioned about a chicken swallowing a mouse
why not raise mice. Truly that is fast.
Personally I couldn't do it, but there are frozen
mice that can be bought.
Wonder how much protein is in a mouse. ?
mg

That is truly thinking outside the box! I hadn't thought of that option so thanks for bringing it up. Excellent brain storming going on. This is what a reptile site has to say about the nutritional value of mice:

• Pinky:12% crude protein, 4.72% crude fat, 0.2% crude fiber, 80% moisture
• Fuzzy:14% crude protein, 14% crude fat, 0.2% crude fiber, 69% moisture
• Hopper:17% crude protein, 8% crude fat, 0.4% crude fiber, 71% moisture
• Adult:17% crude protein, 7% crude fat, 0.3% crude fiber, 70% moisture

Sooo.....the protein might not outweigh the "ick" factor. If for some reason other sources were no longer available, however, I'd do it to keep my chickens.

 

[Spangled]

Hi, I am not trying to be sick about this, but when
it was mentioned about a chicken swallowing a mouse
why not raise mice. Truly that is fast.
Personally I couldn't do it, but there are frozen
mice that can be bought.
Wonder how much protein is in a mouse. ?
mg

Someone somewhere wrote on a forum here or elsewhere that they trap mice in the chicken house (somehow?) and then chop them up and feed them to the chickens. EW!

All I can think is ... Disease? Hanta anyone? And some mice carry salmonella, right?