Growing fodder for chickens

[TNBEARCHICK]

I have been doing fodder in my house for 4 weeks now and have had great success. I had one tray get some mold in the root base because I left it sitting for 2 weeks but, I cut off the grass on the top and threw away the rest and my chickens had it gobble up in minutes. I grow mine in takeout containers (just because they were available and easy to deal with) I didn't put any holes in the bottom just made sure to rinse them daily. I am getting ready to incorporate more permanent containers but, for now, these work just fine. I tried on the batch that I started yesterday to soak them in 1tsp bleach to 1 gal water to see if it changes any outcomes. I know fodder is extra work but, it make a lot of financial sense and it doesn't take that much time. For the chickens that are in breeding pens with no immediate daily run this make them very happy.

 

[groverlvchx]

Today my chickens got no fodder

I had to toss a trayful because of mold. Tomorrow's tray is a bit slower. I'm starting to come to the ones I've used bleach with and it may have slowed the growth a little but the absence of any sign of mould is a worthy payoff. I like the clean smell SO much better, too. I soak in a VERY light bleach/water mix (about 1 tsp per 3/4 gal water) for 24 hours, then drain. I put a tsp of bleach in my bottom drainage catcher, too, just for the smell. I'd rather smell swimming pool that whatever that smell was. I drain and rinse the whole works every 24 hours and just dump a bucket of water over the stack every 24 hours (so they're getting watered every 12 hours). They're in the coolest room in the house, which is still 65-70*, by a window. Since it's December MN that means they don't get much light but sounds like they don't need it. I'm counting this process a success that I will continue! My husband saw me carrying the huge stack back to the "fodder room" last night and now is talking about rigging me up some sort of wagon. Nice! It does get heavy.
I've been reading with interest about fermenting grains. Sounds like it must be beneficial, but how? Do you ferment until they sprout or just until they're soft? I assume ACV is apple cider vinegar, but how do you get your mother in there? I just don't see mine cooperating...

 

[Kassaundra]

Today my chickens got no fodder

I had to toss a trayful because of mold. Tomorrow's tray is a bit slower. I'm starting to come to the ones I've used bleach with and it may have slowed the growth a little but the absence of any sign of mould is a worthy payoff. I like the clean smell SO much better, too. I soak in a VERY light bleach/water mix (about 1 tsp per 3/4 gal water) for 24 hours, then drain. I put a tsp of bleach in my bottom drainage catcher, too, just for the smell. I'd rather smell swimming pool that whatever that smell was. I drain and rinse the whole works every 24 hours and just dump a bucket of water over the stack every 24 hours (so they're getting watered every 12 hours). They're in the coolest room in the house, which is still 65-70*, by a window. Since it's December MN that means they don't get much light but sounds like they don't need it. I'm counting this process a success that I will continue! My husband saw me carrying the huge stack back to the "fodder room" last night and now is talking about rigging me up some sort of wagon. Nice! It does get heavy.
I've been reading with interest about fermenting grains. Sounds like it must be beneficial, but how? Do you ferment until they sprout or just until they're soft? I assume ACV is apple cider vinegar, but how do you get your mother in there? I just don't see mine cooperating...

Fermented grains do not sprout. The grain will be a bigger plumper brighter colored version of whatever it starts out as. The grain will stay whole and the inside will be soft and white, but you would have to tear apart the husk w/ your nail or something to see it. Grains will ferment on thier own w/ the natural flora already on the grain and in the air, I started mine w/ just water and grains, it is still going 1.5 years later. If you use acv to jump start it you need to use the acv w/ the mother already in it, then the mother continues to grow and feed on the starch in the grains.

 

[pawtraitart]

I'm really liking the combination of sprouted grain and fermented grain. My birds are happy, too! I'm going to continue on with the fermented grain next season when the warm weather isn't compatible with growing mold-free fodder.

@Kassaundra - So you didn't like adding commercial pellets/feed to the soaked grain mix? I'm thinking about trying it with chick starter with my next batch of chicks to see if there is less feed waste. What do you think?

 

[Wile E.]

Any benefit to sprouting corn? I have about 1000 lbs of it.

 

[Kassaundra]

I'm really liking the combination of sprouted grain and fermented grain. My birds are happy, too! I'm going to continue on with the fermented grain next season when the warm weather isn't compatible with growing mold-free fodder.

@Kassaundra - So you didn't like adding commercial pellets/feed to the soaked grain mix? I'm thinking about trying it with chick starter with my next batch of chicks to see if there is less feed waste. What do you think?

I think it would be great w/ chick start. We ferment our grains in 33 gal trash cans (plastic) we do basically the equivalent of one 50 lb bag (maybe 1.5 bags) feed out of that for several weeks then add more. Adding the pellets it had to be done in much smaller scale so more putzing, and my husband has most of the feeding duties and he really, really likes the automatic chicken pellet feeder he made (a bin that holds a whole 50 lb bag.) If I were going to add the pellets and grain to ferment I would do Bee's two bucket method.


I am on day 4 back on my burlap sprout bags and it is working sooooo much better for me the day 3 bag is way sprouted even the oats which had not sprouted in the trays until day 6 or so. I don't have enough bags right now to try and grow it into fodder yet (many of last years bags went to the compost bin) I should be able to make more bags in a week or so then I'll try experimenting w/ growing to fodder stage using the bags.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I think it would be great w/ chick start. We ferment our grains in 33 gal trash cans (plastic) we do basically the equivalent of one 50 lb bag (maybe 1.5 bags) feed out of that for several weeks then add more. Adding the pellets it had to be done in much smaller scale so more putzing, and my husband has most of the feeding duties and he really, really likes the automatic chicken pellet feeder he made (a bin that holds a whole 50 lb bag.) If I were going to add the pellets and grain to ferment I would do Bee's two bucket method.


I am on day 4 back on my burlap sprout bags and it is working sooooo much better for me the day 3 bag is way sprouted even the oats which had not sprouted in the trays until day 6 or so. I don't have enough bags right now to try and grow it into fodder yet (many of last years bags went to the compost bin) I should be able to make more bags in a week or so then I'll try experimenting w/ growing to fodder stage using the bags.

Kassaundra, I am going to do your bag system, space and time wise, i think its going to be the easiest for me too. I found a huge roll of burlap stored in the barn, thats kinda helped me decide too! I will be putting the bags in the 2nd bathroom.... think i will use one of the 48 qt totes, drill holes in the lid, and use that to stack bags to drain. be easy to pick up and move when someone needs the shower. and I can just pull lid & bags off, dump the water from the tote and replace. I like easy

I Do the same you do with the grains FF, but add it to the feed crumbles and ferment a day ahead (always have a new bucket cooking) I use a 2 gallon bucket, mix 3:1 feed to grain. there's enough of the ferment going on its very bubbly by the day i feed it out. Its thick like drywall mortar/mud, and will have puddles form in the top after i stir it. I also do the same with the livestock feeds.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

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.

Its made a huge difference for my pigs too! The FF has been very beneficial to my little runt Roxy (she was given to me, long story). I was sure i was going to lose her, and she has really came around quickly. i could feel every bone in her back, hips, just sad. now she is plump and sassy

 

[Cynthia12]

Any benefit to sprouting corn? I have about 1000 lbs of it.

X's 2, not that I have that much corn ~ but wondering if it can be done. Doing well with wheat.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Any benefit to sprouting corn? I have about 1000 lbs of it.

If you have it, i would sure put it to good use. Haven't tried myself yet, but i only "test drove" a few days with lentil and scratch. If its the whole corn, i bet it will. you may need to soak it longer? Not sure if anyone else has tried yet. Why not test a handful... I know it sure is cheap, 50# for like 6 bucks here locally and i bet cheaper at the feed mill. I know the whole GMO issue is there, and i hate it too. Until i can get to the point of non processed foods 100% i will have to face that part of it i guess.