Growing fodder for chickens

[mobius]

First it was fermented feed, then kefir, now fodder. What else are you going to make me do? I hate you all (no, not really).

We are going to make you ferment alfalfa cubes.

 

[Kusanar]

First it was fermented feed, then kefir, now fodder. What else are you going to make me do? I hate you all (no, not really).

Raise mealworms and Dubia roaches!

 

[barred2rock]

Raise mealworms and Dubia roaches!

I've actually done that years back for a bearded dragon. The birds don't seem to be all that interested in dried mealworms, so I'm not sure it's worth the trouble for live.

 

[Richard Pryor]

Most threads (the popular ones with lots of replies) have the sure-way to do things in the first few pages. Be it plans, info supported by facts, detailed pictures, etc.

The first few pages of this thread have a few good looking systems, but the posters were trying to sell plans on their website. They also seemed like they weren't 100% sure of the best way to do this. One user said this is all they fed their chickens. It discouraged me from reading the 464 pages to be honest.

I want to give my chickens the best of the best. I'm raising mealworms. Have a source for fruits/veggies. Want to raise fodder.

Can anyone please resume the best way to go about this? Temperature, light, frequency of watering? I have an insulated barn where I raise mealworms. Figured I could do this there although mealworms require 80 degrees and the noobs that posted at the beginning of this thread couldn't make up their mind if 70 or 45 was best.

Thanks

 

[jeria]

Finding this interesting may have to try some, chicks are only a week old. Just an FYI wheat and barley grass is really good in salads and lots of nutrition. They are pricey in natural food stores.

 

[Lynn-n-JimsVT]

My barley fodder program may need to wait til winter. I read that it does better in cool temps not sure if that's true. I'm using the bucket system. So far I've made the following mistakes 1. Soaked them to long 24hours is to long, 12 is correct 2.
2. Didn't rinse prior with hydrogen peroxide to prevent mold

A couple of the buckets got molded. A couple sprouted but very weakly. And the top bucket (the youngest) sprouted like the videos. I will probably continue to refine and try again but I'm admittedly frustrated atm. Pics are one was perfect and rest like this or worse in pic 2

 

[room onthebroom]

Great thread! Looking forward to reading all the way thru.

 

[mobius]

1. Soak seeds in double the water for at least eight hours. Drain. Rinse. Drain.
2. Spread seeds about 1/4 inch thick in containers (at least two seeds deep).
3. Inside house temp is fine for sprouting
4. Rinse and drain twice daily with water.
5. After about six days you will have greens and a nice thick root mat: feed about now. You can vary this a couple days either way.
6. Lighting not necessary, I use ambient light
7. Don't sweat it, experiment
8. Repurpose or use inexpensive containers. Use several containers, some do one for each day of six and I use three and feed half a tray daily.
9. Rinse/wash containers with hot slightly soapy water after use to remove starches and prevent mold (which I have never had).
10. Do not feed only fodder. This is a supplement to regular crumbles/mash.
11. Provides fresh greens daily in winter which is wonderful, but i am now feeding it year-round.
12. Seeds, containers, water and attention twice daily. That is all you need.
13. Barley and wheat preferred, oats don't work so well. I use barley and it is wonderful. 50# bag is $14, and chickens get 1/2 cup equivalent of seeds daily six chix. That is cheap and super healthy food.
14. Couple pages back you can see my simple setup and pictures. And some other good simple setup pics too!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/growing-fodder-for-chickens.713334/page-462

It is a big hit with my six chix, who are fed the equivalent of half a cup of seeds grown into fodder every evening. Full crops and they go to bed. Happy.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Related to the post by the newbie of "Why can't someone just say the best way to do it in the thread" - it really is different depending on climate, set up, season, etc. Stuff molds in the wrong conditions, some folks can't get certain types of seeds, or some don't work, different numbers of chickens to serve, etc. As painful as it is, I find it most useful to truly read through a lot of different ways people do it - and especially ways that have not worked (or worked in summer but not winter, or winter but not summer). Maybe it's just me, but after lurking on this thread a lot (and having taken a stab at this myself briefly), it seems that it's the kind of thing that's really variable, and you take a stab at it and then adjust to your conditions.

(Am I being off base here?)

 

[mobius]

No! You are NOT off-base! Like I said, experiment! Remember...YCMV! and your fodder may vary. Adjust accordingly.