Growing Fodder

[mixedbreeds]

But how much are you spending on the seeds for sprouting?

I figured it out a while back and it was right at .50 a flat I'm feeding 1 flat a day to 40 hens I fed more last year but there rear ends got dirty and so did the eggs so I cut back. 1 flat is between 10 and 12 pounds not bad for 4 cups of grains

 

[mixedbreeds]

Around here wheat feed is $10 for 50 pounds and BOSS is $20 for 50 pounds. I wonder about the different germination rates for different seeds... I've been going 8 days with wheat alone.

They just tear it up until nothing is left. I'm just so glad I could provide some greens this time of year with so little work.
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JT

Yes giving them greens is great when it's in the teens outside. My wheat price was about the same the boss I caught on sale 12 bucks for 50 pounds.

 

[jthornton]

I was doing 1/2 cup of wheat but got some slightly bigger trays and another shelf so I've upped it to 2/3 cup. I'll see how that does in a few days. Need to add some misters under the second shelf so the bottom shelf gets watered properly. I should have measured the volume in a 50 pound sack... I can still measure out a pound and work back from there.

JT

 

[aart]

The greens are great in winter...both for the birds and my eyes.

The weight of fodder is mostly water...comparing it to chicken feed is not accurate.
And while they may eat less feed with fodder available,
they also may be getting less of the vitamins/minerals/amino acids not to mention protein.

 

[mixedbreeds]

The greens are great in winter...both for the birds and my eyes.

The weight of fodder is mostly water...comparing it to chicken feed is not accurate.
And while they may eat less feed with fodder available,
they also may be getting less of the vitamins/minerals/amino acids not to mention protein.

I certainly agree with you I know they are eating less and they look good no weight loss laying more eggs in winter than before I was feeding fodder. I was trying to up the protine with the lentils and mung beans I woluld think the boss would have quite a bit as well. It seems to be working well but I am no expert on nutrition either I have all the reagular feed they want available free choice they just don't eat as much of it when given the fodder.

 

[jthornton]

This is my current setup and it's working well. I'm thinking of adding another shelf so the tins don't hang off the side but I need to find more tubing to rearrange the misting heads. I also noticed a big difference between soaking for 12 hours and soaking for 24 hours in how many germinate. A couple of times I forgot to put the wheat in the soaking container and only about 1/2 germinated. Soaking for 24 hours I get very few that don't germinate. So now I have a 9 day rotation counting the soak time.



JT

 

[Rick&chickTampa]

That's a good system JT but I don't think my wife is going to let me take up the bath tub

 

[lazy gardener]

I can put 5 qt sized jars in a plastic dish pan. I bought a plastic dish strainer at the $ store which fits the pan perfectly. The jars then drain into the dish pan, and I can bring them to the kitchen morning and night to tend them, otherwise, they are out of the way in the living room. this gives my flock enough greens to meet their winter needs.

 

[jthornton]

That's a good system JT but I don't think my wife is going to let me take up the bath tub

At some point I'll move it outside when the temps go up a bit... going to need the downstairs bathroom when I change out the tub for a walk in shower.

I'd think in Florida you could do that outside.

JT

 

[Rick&chickTampa]

Yea this was the first winter in 8 years that we had freezing temperatures. I actually had to get out my heavy winter coat this year and found a receipt in the pocket from 2012 so I guess that was the last time I wore it. When you first started the thread I went out and looked at my trays from the growers but they were all open bottoms so I kind of let that slide. I did try growing some bird seed in a wire covered bed but the cold came to but that back on the fire too. This time of year when it is cool down here there just is not enough time to get everything done. It was 84 today and I did do some yard work. Once it starts getting into the 90's I'll probably remodel my kitchen or paint inside in the AC.