Growing fodder for chickens

[ocap]

Yep. Vinegar works, as does GSE (grapefruit seed extract). I've always used those two with soaking/sprouting, never used bleach.

can the vinegar be used more than once?

 

[Lacy Blues]

I think it can. If you only do a ten to thirty minute soak in the vinegar water, I reuse mine in another batch. As long as it still smells like vinegar I figure it is safe to use.

 

[erinszoo]

So, how much fodder do chickens and turkeys need for a day's worth of food? Is there a set amount or is it just what they will eat? I've been growing some fodder for a couple of months now but just in large bowls in the kitchen to give as a treat during the winter but we're interested in doing it more permanently on a larger scale to feed with. Have no idea how to even figure how much they would need. We only have 17 chickens, 2 bantys, 6 ducks, and a whole gaggle of turkeys due to a very successful hatch of them. We also have rabbits and are looking at getting pygmy goats but I'm not sure about feeding the rabbits fodder or not.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Some people on here have fed fodder to their rabbits. After all, the wild rabbits eat grains and grasses and stuff like that. They eat alfalfa, right? I don't see why you wouldn't be able to feed fodder to them.

 

[erinszoo]

Very true, rabbits do eat grass and whatever in the wild and make it. It would be nice to have one feed for everyone ... but how much do we need to be growing for everyone? Is there a chart somewhere that shows?

 

[Lmestre84]

I love this post, I'm looking forward to learning more about this!

 

[Bitterroot]

can the vinegar be used more than once?

I'll be honest. I have no idea. I mix with water, use once, and pitch. Don't see why it wouldn't work, though, as long as it's stil relatively clean and vinegar-y. (is that a word?)

Regarding how much to make for chickens, I take notes as I read things that interest me, and someone here somewhere said 1 cubic inch per chicken per day is a good start.

 

[BlueMouse]

This is a great idea! just finished reading all 162 pages (whew!) I was planning on sprouting for my chickens just like I do for my parrots but this is even better!

I'm starting out small with the spinach container on the counter method. I'm starting sprouts just like I do for the birds, then planning on spreading them in flats on the counter. Should work? So far I have three containers of sprouts under the sink, and a fourth soaking.

Tomorrow I'm planning on spreading the oldest sprouts in a tray and awaiting developments. I did notice a bit of an odor in one of the sprouting containers (I think it's because I don't have enough of the sprout jars, and the tupperware doesn't get enough airflow, it has to be covered because otherwise the mice think it's a sprout buffet.) So I'm soaking that one with ACV today, then I'll drain it more thoroughly. I am almost out of what I sprout for my parrots (wheat, barley, buckwheat, lentils) So I'm just kind of throwing a few things together, BOSS, some feed oats, lentils, a little bit of "wild bird seed" that I also feed my parrots.... We'll see how it does. I need to re-stock on sprouting mix for the parrots and I figure I'll just grow the same thing as fodder. heck, I'll probably feed some of the fodder to the parrots. That way they'll have something new in their dish to stare at like it might bite them....

 

[TheCrazyChick]

Would u mind checking and let me know the brand name? Unless it's something they recently picked up, our local WM's don't have it, I checked couple months ago. With the brand I can call and check without driving around at $3.50 a gl.

Next time I am there I will check for the brand. I don't remember and always dump it into a pail to keep fresh etc.

 

[TheCrazyChick]

I too am having a mold issue. It occurred to me that perhaps I should thoroughly clean each container before starting with new berries. It could be that the used containers, while they seem fine, could be harboring some invisible bacteria/mold that simply spreads to the new grain from there. I have been soaking my wheatberries in a diluted bleach water solution for 2 days and have thoroughly cleaned the containers and added new wheatberries as of this morning. I will let you know if this works better.