Growing fodder for chickens

[LeslieDJoyce]

What you've described sounds like Aspergillus Mold. It generally appears as a thick white layer, like marshmallow fluff. (It can also be black or grey too).

Very possibly, but I've just researched that a bit, and that mold family is described as being white and some other color. My stuff is just white.

I am trying to grow this in both my kitchen and a bathroom. Both rooms are spacious and well ventilated. What is most important, IMO, is I know there have been mold problems in this house before ... I've done a lot to address that, but I know there is still mold here and there always will be. There are also pets, people, and houseplants. One thing we don't have a lot of is carpeting (mostly some tile and bit of hardwood throughout this home). Of course I thoroughly and constantly clean the areas where I'm working with the fodder. I'm not afraid to use bleach in my house ...

I can't imagine there is any area here, inside or out, barn or other building, where there ISN'T mold. No, I won't be buying a stand-alone fodder system ... and even with those I've read about livestock deaths from contaminated fodder, so ...

Quite possibly growing good fodder isn't possible here.

I hope I have better luck with fermenting feed. And once I can get my pastures set up appropriately the fodder won't be necessary.

It's a shame, really. It would have been such an awesome thing to do with all the rye I've got! Maybe I can mix my own feed?

Ugh. What I won't do for my chickens.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I tried my hand at the fodder trays, I didn't like having to mess with them everyday and I don't really have enough room so I'm now trying my hand at raised planters putting hardware cloth over the top and letting the grain grow(I've got barley in them) the hens can't dig up the roots just eat what's above the wire much easier to deal with

This is another expiriment I could try ...

 

[Kassaundra]

Fermented grains are much easier then fodder, it does it on it's own. I am going back to my burlap sprouting rather then fodder, it is just not working out for me, but I'm not giving up on the idea of fodder b/c I am thinking about meat rabbits and I think the fodder would be better then the sprouts for them. As soon as I make a trip to the fabric store for more burlap I will start working on a fodder type experiment to see if it would work better for me then the trays. If not maybe the rabbits would get enough nutrition from the sprouts?

 

[TNBarnQueen]

Well....I soaked all my seeds in bleach solution again for 2 hours then decided on a different place to put them. I had them in the bathroom but I think the humidity is too high. Then....I thought my office. Temp is great but the next day more white mold. I put a hydrometer in the room and it is around 75. I have plants stored there so I am sure that did not help. So...put one of the trays in my guest closet. Good temp...good humidity. So far no mold. ]
I am sprouting oats and wheat. The trays I am using are plant trays like the ones bedding plants are in. So the trays are very open and get plenty of air. I put one layer of cheese cloth in the bottom to keep the seeds in the tray and will let the roots grow through. The shelves I put them on are very open too. That is why it confused me about the mold but I am really thinking it is because I did not understand the rinsing process. Since the closet it dark should I turn the light on a little during the day?? I am going to take what I have..take a deep tray of soil and plant them. If I do that and cut the stems off when they grow a bit would they be safe to feed to the chickens?
Mold scars the begeezes out of me.

 

[mg15]

Fermented grains are much easier then fodder, it does it on it's own. I am going back to my burlap sprouting rather then fodder, it is just not working out for me, but I'm not giving up on the idea of fodder b/c I am thinking about meat rabbits and I think the fodder would be better then the sprouts for them. As soon as I make a trip to the fabric store for more burlap I will start working on a fodder type experiment to see if it would work better for me then the trays. If not maybe the rabbits would get enough nutrition from the sprouts?

I cannot get a fermenting bubbling brew started. I have done it twice and each time no bubbling, swirling threads, etc.
I sprout buckwheat, the tails just get long no greens. Then I bake them. The girls like them baked better than the sprouts.

 

[Kassaundra]

I cannot get a fermenting bubbling brew started. I have done it twice and each time no bubbling, swirling threads, etc.
I sprout buckwheat, the tails just get long no greens. Then I bake them. The girls like them baked better than the sprouts.

Is your ferment outside in the cold when you are trying to start it? It is slower in the cold. I just use grain and water no kefer, acv, yeast etc......

 

[mg15]

Is your ferment outside in the cold when you are trying to start it? It is slower in the cold. I just use grain and water no kefer, acv, yeast etc......

I used the ACV with mother. I only have the feed inside the house, I add ACV/mother and water. Nothing ever happens.
Are you saying you do not use any other ingredient in your feed ???

 

[Kassaundra]

I used the ACV with mother. I only have the feed inside the house, I add ACV/mother and water. Nothing ever happens.
Are you saying you do not use any other ingredient in your feed ???

I ferment grains, have for over a year and a half. Yes I started it w/ just water, it was before the actual thread about all the acv stuff, I have used the same batch all this time, just keep adding more grains and water. I did try briefly adding layer pellets to it, and had no issues w/ it fermenting, but it was harder to drain and feed out so I went back to the grains only. I have always had pellets out free choice no matter what grains I ferment or sprout.

 

[mg15]

I ferment grains, have for over a year and a half. Yes I started it w/ just water, it was before the actual thread about all the acv stuff, I have used the same batch all this time, just keep adding more grains and water. I did try briefly adding layer pellets to it, and had no issues w/ it fermenting, but it was harder to drain and feed out so I went back to the grains only. I have always had pellets out free choice no matter what grains I ferment or sprout.

Ohhhhh, okay, I keep getting the chicken feed and grains as the same. !

 

[pawtraitart]

I've started fermenting grains for my pigs and poultry. They love it! My house stays on the cool side so it takes longer to get any bubbling, but it smells nice and my animals are now even more spoiled than they were before. I used the acv with the mother in it to get started. I don't imagine that I'll have to add more anytime soon. I have a bucket with holes in the bottom set into another bucket. I did this so I could lift the top bucket up to drain, but I'm just scooping out what I want and add back to the mix. I add water as needed and give the batch a stir now and then.

My sprouted grains have been doing very well. No mold issues at all. I've been adding a small amount of oats to my wheat mix, but not too much because it leaches starch which can attract mold. The mold likes to stick and grow on starch.