Growing fodder for chickens

[sonew123]

I see shoots! Wow!

 

[mzstre]

Well, that's really interesting because I have been sprouting milo for my birds.  I let the sprouts get about a half inch long and then feed them out.  I haven't had a single bird die yet.

Are you sprouting true milo/sorghum? I've been terrified to sprout it because of what I've read. Have you read anything about it? How long have you been feeding the sprouts to your birds and has it been in large quantities? Sorry for bombarding you with questions! I'm just trying to figure it out.

Added - I'll have to find that last report I read, but I think the toxicity level it was discussing was after sprouting for 3 days without adding light.

 

[spiritrancho]

I grow barley grass in the green house for my meat rabbits. I use the aquaponic fish water 5 min every three hours and drain back to the fish. It builds to much starch in the fish water and I have to pump out 50% or so every week or the water gets foul. I plan to change the system to use its own water recirculation because water is scarce here in the desert . Then if I fail to exchange water I wont lose fish.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

I'm going to start some wheat berries soaking today!!!! I am also going to start fermenting some feed to see how that goes.

 

[ChickenPeep]

Yes!! My wheat and BOSS is sprouting!!

 

[groverlvchx]

I'm going to start some wheat berries soaking today!!!! I am also going to start fermenting some feed to see how that goes.

I love your OCD pic! I do fodder and fermented feed. My chickens love it!

 

[Lacy Blues]

Are you sprouting true milo/sorghum? I've been terrified to sprout it because of what I've read. Have you read anything about it? How long have you been feeding the sprouts to your birds and has it been in large quantities? Sorry for bombarding you with questions! I'm just trying to figure it out.

Added - I'll have to find that last report I read, but I think the toxicity level it was discussing was after sprouting for 3 days without adding light.

Yep. I had to wait and check the label on the bag. It says "recleaned sorghum milo" I haven't read anything about it until your post. I've been feeding them sprouts for a few months at least and the quantity is like this: about 1-1/2 cups dry, soaked overnight and then sprouted to approx 1/2 inch. It takes AT LEAST 3 days and I keep them dark until this point. I end up with about 4 cups of sprouts. I then mix that through about 2-1/2 gallons of fermented feed. I only feed it every 3 or 4 days when I'm on the ball. When I'm not, then its less often. This gets fed out to 50 - 60 birds.

Once it turns green, are there any issues with the cyanide? It wouldn't hurt a bit to leave it for one more day, exposed to light so that it can green up some. I tried growing fodder with it and the first time went well. After that, I started having too many issues with mold so I decided to just sprout it as that part is easy and the birds seem to LOVE them. I pick up all their left over food at night when I close up the barn for the night and there are NEVER any sprouts left over except for in one or two pens and those birds are just weird. They don't like any of the sprouts I give them. They're "chicken" after all and are too afraid to try them.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

Quote: Haha, thanks! Do you have any tips for fermenting feed?

 

[Lacy Blues]

Haha, thanks! Do you have any tips for fermenting feed?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds/4310

 

[Chicks Galore3]

Quote: Thank you! how much of ACV do you put it to how much food? I couldn't find anything about that.