Growing fodder for chickens

[allsummedup]

Holy wow this is awesome! My chickens are gonna love this with their long winters!

 

[deserthens]

I have heard of fodder using buckwheat (I think) seed being used by Alpaca breeders. Think it would be easier for us chicken folks!

 

[wormrun]

I have heard of fodder using buckwheat (I think) seed being used by Alpaca breeders. Think it would be easier for us chicken folks!

Well, I tried sprouting it once and I don't recall it doing that well. Is it planted or sprouted? Try sprouting let me know how it goes. Thanks!

 

[wormrun]

Thank you wormrun! Your setup looks to work very well. I'm thinking I may start this way. Like you say, start small. I want to experiment this summer so I can be ready for winter. My chicks are free rangers, so probably don't need to supplement much at this time. I was just thinking about the automatic system. I like the idea of a timer on a faucet or maybe even a water hose. Have it drain into a container that had a valve or connection somehow that you could turn to drain it out, to say, your garden or flower bed. I'm just thinking here. Or use the pump-recycle system and have it set up the same way to drain the tub everyday to every other day. You say you only rinse yours 2x a day and by using only 2-3 trays, the recycling system might work and not cause any mold. I've read where some folks rinse 4-5 x a day. I know humidity plays a big part in the mold issues. It was around 80 here to day and not much humidity, but wait until summer comes and we will be dripping!!! I'm just not sure where to put my system. In the summer, I don't have a place that stays cool enough, except the basement. We only have an exit door with a half window down there, so that is the only light. I know they like dark though. I will have to check humidity levels down there. It is pretty dry most of the time, but not sure about the summer. I know it is really cool down there when it is in the 90's. We only have a 1 room air conditioner that we will run when it gets real hot. Raised 3 kids here without ac, never wanted or needed it. We have an attic fan that we use at nite that works very well, but now that we are getting older

we are starting to appreciate the ac!! I think I will check around our area tomorrow and see what kind of seed is available. I may just go ahead and get a couple of trays started and see what happens!! I'm really excited about it!

I also just started a mealworm farm to have for the winter! I have 1000 worms in my utility room!! HaHa!! I didn't tell my middle DD though. She would flip!!! Hates bugs! Will keep you updated, and I will keep up with yours and lets see what we can do together!!!

I know what you mean, same here with the AC. I can't live without it now that I'm older!!! You will have to send some pictures of the meal worm setup so I can get a picture of that in my head. Yep, get the trays and just do it! I am curious about the meal worms. I will stick to the red wigglers for now until I find out a bit more about the meal worms. One worm farm at a time!

I hear some of the folks only sprout the grains to like day 4, not much green on them and the chickens LOVE that. Just a thought. It still makes the grains go farther. Now if you had rabbits you could have them eating the tops and the chickens eating the bottoms. I'm just thinking permaculture here!!!

This should be fun!

 

[wormrun]

This is to wormrun, or anyone who wants to chime in!

Do you mix all these seeds together and if so, how much of each do you use? I like the idea of mixed seed!

Howdy,

I have mixed BOSS (Black Oil Sunflower Seeds) with wheat, BOSS with Barley and BOSS with Triticale. I have also mixed Triticale with Wheat. Here's the thing, the barley grows fastest, but you could mix with wheat. I have kept them separated because I wanted to see how they liked each grain, remember I'm new at this too. I think you could mix any of the 4 grains above. Oats,however are not to be messed with, they are in a league of their own. Keep an eye on them if you start growing them. Watch for the mold!

1. I do not mix together as some float (BOSS and OATS are floaters) this makes cleaning harder.
2. I would start with 1 cup wheat, 1.5 cups of barley, and 1/2 cup of BOSS.
3. First clean the wheat and barley (go ahead mix those two) toss them together (3 cups dry per 10x20 ish tray use less if your tray is smaller to reduce mold issues).
4. The barley will have LOTS of chaff/hulls coming off, just let it float to the top and pour it off.
5. Swish it a few more times and repeat the rinse water.
6. Toss in the sunflower seeds, rinse and place into a soaking bowl for 30 minutes. This 24 hour stuff is not necessary, I have experimented with the 30 minutes and it works!
7. Give it a spray with Grapefruit Seed Extract mix (I used this recipe) - 8 sprays did the job) and rinsed before placing into sprout container.
8. The key is to sprout for the highest nutritional value and you get more value from a shorter sprout time, you also get faster growth,
   
   weird, but true, so I've been told!

 

[wormrun]

Sorry about all the extra posts, but went back and was reading thru wormrun's post. Wormrun, have you used the grapeseed oil recipe yet? I use this oil a lot so I have it on hand. I would rather use this or even just vinegar instead of bleach.

And Mrs. Fluffy Puff, great looking fodder!! Is that a tent of some kind? How does it work?

I just did today!!!! It was awesome! I mixed it like the recipe said for the veggie wash (Oprah), it did have vinegar in it, which is okay on the sprouts. If you follow this, be aware that it will explode, oh yes, it will! Use a bowl and THEN put it in the bottle! Although I used this recipe, I think the Grapefruit Seed Extract would have done the job all on it's own. Here are more uses that used the product without all the other ingredients. So, it worked wonders and sort of reduced the slick feeling on the bottom of the trays. I only rinsed once today with the GSE spray. Naturally, the temperatures dropped today again, which really helped me as well. Now we need to find a cheaper source - that product was $$$$!! I wonder if the oil and the extract are the same???? Hmmm...

Time for a little research on that one. Let me know what you think or if you've found other uses. I'm going to try it on disinfecting the rabbit cages tomorrow. Wormrun - over and out!

 

[wormrun]

Sorry, I was able to edit the post above. - My bad

 

[Arielle]

Behind . . as usual. lol

Quote: seed sources = sprouts success !

 

[OHhappychicks]

Anyone know of any organic seed, preferably non-gmo, here in sw ohio? Also I'm getting feed seed, not planting seed, correct? Planting seed has all the insecticides and chemicals to protect the seed, is this right? I'm going to go out today and find some wheat grain. Going to try to get started today.

 

[OHhappychicks]

I know what you mean, same here with the AC. I can't live without it now that I'm older!!! You will have to send some pictures of the meal worm setup so I can get a picture of that in my head. Yep, get the trays and just do it! I am curious about the meal worms. I will stick to the red wigglers for now until I find out a bit more about the meal worms. One worm farm at a time!

I hear some of the folks only sprout the grains to like day 4, not much green on them and the chickens LOVE that. Just a thought. It still makes the grains go farther. Now if you had rabbits you could have them eating the tops and the chickens eating the bottoms. I'm just thinking permaculture here!!!

This should be fun!

Good Morning! I just got started with the meal worm farming!

I've had mine about 1 1/2 weeks. I started by reading the mealworm thread here on byc. It was started by hannakat. I ordered mine from westknollamy, 1000 for $17, included shipping. I forget I have them sometimes, but I've found that mine love carrots the most so I throw in a few mini carrots for them and check on them occasionally. Waiting for them to pupate, to turn in to beetles that lay eggs that turn into mealworms, that pupate into beetles.......well you get the pic!! You can freeze them and feed to your chicks in the winter. That's what I'm doing it for. Mine aren't pupating very quickly as it is cool in my house. The warmer it is, 80's, the faster they take off. But I'm not in any hurry. But check out the mealworm thread on feeding and watering section and you will learn more about mealworm farming than you ever thought possible!!

And I was confused on the grapefruit seed extract and the grapeseed oil! I cook with the oil, and it is not the same thing as grapefruit seed extract! Sorry, my bad! I may have some grapefruit essential oil, as I sometimes make my own soap and had some at one time. I wonder if it is the same thing? Will check the health food store. I'm just wondering if plan ole vinegar and maybe rosemary essential oil would work? Many possibilities!!! Have a GREAT day!!