Growing fodder for chickens

[Sunflowergirl]

I have been growing wheat berry fodder successfully for several months and would like to branch out now. Barley is next on my list. Living in a city I have limited access to feed stores. We do have a few TSC though. Where will I find barley that is sproutable?

I have gotten organic wheat berries from our local health food store called Natural Grocers. They let me special order a 50 lb bag. I was looking at their barley in the small packages to try out and decide if I want to order a big bag. I don't know if you have any health food grocery stores around your neck of the woods? Try them. Try out the small bag first to make sure it does sprout. Then go from there!

 

[Dagirls]

I believe from the vidoe that those long comfrey roots are beneficial to your soil and to the plants around them. Is it that difficult to remove? It grows that well he made it look effortless. I see if anything, great green waste for the compost. Any more information from anyone on liver damage with comfrey? Is that chicken liver damage? I have my root stock will see how it grows here.

 

[TheCrazyChick]

I have gotten organic wheat berries from our local health food store called Natural Grocers. They let me special order a 50 lb bag. I was looking at their barley in the small packages to try out and decide if I want to order a big bag. I don't know if you have any health food grocery stores around your neck of the woods? Try them. Try out the small bag first to make sure it does sprout. Then go from there!

Was sort of trying to avoid health food stores for sprouting grains, figuring they will be quite expensive, but it won't hurt to at least go see for myself. There is one just down the street. Thanks for the thought to start with a small bag, just in case it is harder to sprout than the wheat berries.
Thanks also to Amber for reminding me to get WHOLE barley, not rolled. That's the part I wasn't sure of.

 

[Eva2012]

I also got my roots from Coe's comfrey, he is a very nice and knowlegable man that will talk your ear off about comfrey!!!! lol lol lol

Thank you all so much for all the great information!

 

[Sunflowergirl]

I know what you mean about cost! I was able to get the wheat berries for under 70 cents a pound. The little one pound bags of the barley at my health food store are about $1.30. I was not wanting to go over $1/lb! Not sure what my cost would be for the bulk yet though.

Was sort of trying to avoid health food stores for sprouting grains, figuring they will be quite expensive, but it won't hurt to at least go see for myself. There is one just down the street. Thanks for the thought to start with a small bag, just in case it is harder to sprout than the wheat berries.
Thanks also to Amber for reminding me to get WHOLE barley, not rolled. That's the part I wasn't sure of.

 

[Kjordanov]

We have finally got our fodder system up and running. It is working great but we still have some things we need to add like a heater for winter, a a/c unit for summer and an auto-water system. We originally were looking at the Fodder Trailers but we could not justify the price on something we could build ourselves. If you want to check ours out visit our blog at Quartz Ridge Ranch

That is so cool!! I really need to try this. Though mine won't be anywhere near as nice as everyone else's that has been posted on here!! Lol

 

[The Chickeneer]

Does anybody know the types of beans that can be used for fodder? Thanks

 

[Kjordanov]

Alright I'm trying this and going to try growing meal worms
Too!!!

 

[ms4runr]

Alright I'm trying this and going to try growing meal worms
Too!!!

Me too. I started the wheatgrass , fermenting of grains and ordered mealworms. Just a note, I've spend hours reading through the lists of posts on all these but after buying a few containers and getting started I see how I want to adjust it all, especially after rereading the posts. So, if you are like me you might want to start small and keep reading. For myself I find it takes practice to figure out all the hows and whys and then adjust it to what I'm comfortable with. That said, I am SO excited about saving money on feed costs. I'm also excited about juicing the tops of the wheatgrass before I feed the rest to the chickens! 8)

 

[Kjordanov]

Me too. I started the wheatgrass , fermenting of grains and ordered mealworms. Just a note, I've spend hours reading through the lists of posts on all these but after buying a few containers and getting started I see how I want to adjust it all, especially after  rereading the posts. So, if you are like me you might want to start small and keep reading. For myself I find it takes practice to figure out all the hows and whys and then adjust it to what I'm comfortable with. That said, I am SO excited about saving money on feed costs. I'm also excited about juicing the tops of the wheatgrass before I feed the rest to the chickens! 8)

I was just thinking the same! Start small so I can get it all figured out of how I'd like things to go, once I get the hang of it possibly grow! I am SO excited also!!