Growing fodder for chickens

[pawtraitart]

I have been Fermenting feed for my birds but not tried sprouting any. Can I use reclaimed oats? I get them at the feed store for $12 for a 50# bag. It is what I have been fermenting. If not what kind of grains specifically do I ask for. My feed store already thinks I am a crazy chicken lady so I have to know exactly what I need or I will get that look as if I have 3 heads. LOL

Oats have a lot of starch and it leaks out to cloud the water. I prefer using whole (not rolled or heat treated) wheat or barley. I'm a crazy chicken lady, too. Welcome to the club. LOL

 

[melwynnd]

I'd LOVE to have more details on this! I have just cleared out a storage room in my house and it is the perfect spot to house a system like this ... chicken fodder and salad greens. Do you think it could be done like "Aquaponics" with fish in the storage tank, or are we trying to stay away from fish poo for this stuff?

Hi Leslie,

Fodder doesn't need any extra nutrients added to the water. It would also not be a good choice for Aquaponics where the purpose of the plants is to clean the water. Fodder is seeded so thickly that the water picks up a lot of starch, so it actually makes the water dirtier.

Sherry

 

[PrincessChicky]

This idea interests me. I'm wondering if it is a reasonable way to feed my 3 hens. Usually they eat layer crumbles and forage in the yard. In the winter, foraging is going to be kinda iffy (I guess, this is my first winter with them.)

Is this fodder a replacement for foraging OR the store bought crumbles OR both?

I can try my best to get a hold of some whole wheat or barley seeds, but I'm thinking that one of those 10x20 trays would be too big for my # of birds. How much would I need for them?

Thanks for this thread, folks, it is pretty cool!

 

[melwynnd]

Fodder can pretty much replace everything, but I would suggest adding a mixture of grains and some sunflower seeds for more balanced nutrition. Fodder is over 20% protein and very high in vitamin A and enzymes so you'd keep those lovely dark yellow yolks all year. A 10x20 tray will feed about 40 chickens.....

Sherry

 

[pawtraitart]

This idea interests me. I'm wondering if it is a reasonable way to feed my 3 hens. Usually they eat layer crumbles and forage in the yard. In the winter, foraging is going to be kinda iffy (I guess, this is my first winter with them.)

Is this fodder a replacement for foraging OR the store bought crumbles OR both?

I can try my best to get a hold of some whole wheat or barley seeds, but I'm thinking that one of those 10x20 trays would be too big for my # of birds. How much would I need for them?

Thanks for this thread, folks, it is pretty cool!

You can give them a whole flat, or since you only have three hens you could use a smaller container. It stays green and nice in the coop until they really start to scratch and shred it. Fodder isn't a replacement for my birds, but it does make the layer feed go farther. It's also nice entertainment for them, especially during the winter months when foraging isn't an option. Plus.....it's so nice seeing something GROW when everything outside is all dormant.

 

[PrincessChicky]

Perhaps a tupperware container will work for me then, those growing trays are going to produce too much. We'll have fodder coming out of our ears!

 

[Kassaundra]

I have been Fermenting feed for my birds but not tried sprouting any. Can I use reclaimed oats? I get them at the feed store for $12 for a 50# bag. It is what I have been fermenting. If not what kind of grains specifically do I ask for. My feed store already thinks I am a crazy chicken lady so I have to know exactly what I need or I will get that look as if I have 3 heads. LOL

Me too, they don't even ask questions anymore just smile sweetly like you do at a family reunion to that one (or more ) crazy relative and hope they they find someone else to talk to soon. lol

 

[melwynnd]

LOL!!! It's not like you're wearing your underwear on the outside of your clothes or anything..

Sherry

 

[Kassaundra]

Okay I am intrigued, I have been feeding fermented grains and poultry feed, they also have free run of about 1/3 acre of grass, weeds, bushes, garden gleanings etc.... (oh and forgot the bugs I grow for them to feed in the winter)

I understand several have posted you can feed this fodder as a main food source so how many actually use fodder as a primary feed w/o bagged chicken food? and how long have you been feeding your flocks that way???

 

[kreagerm]

Ok so I to decided to try it. I have a tray of Barley and a tray of BOSS. My girls don't get to free range so this is going to put some excitement in the run.