growing wheat grass

[Organics North]

Quote:
Interesting! I have searched high and low wondering the time frames..( Carb to sugar to protein)

Thanks!

Yes a bucket of wet grain must be tended to regular. I rinse twice a day often times more than one rinse if the stench is high.

Beth 59,
BOSS you can get from anywhere that sells bird seed. Oats from somewhere that sells horse feed. Wheat can be tough. I buy organic wheat when it is planting time from a seed suppler. Clover is a great treat to spout too. (I use that mostly for chicks.)

I have had bad luck with sprouting corn. It gets nasty fast and takes longer to sprout than other grains. At least in my experience.

Chris09, being apple season I may need to try that one if we press out apples this year...
ON

 

[ZombieChickens]

If you have a local market or juice bar, you may be able to score a flat of wheatgrass. I worked at a juice bar for several years. We sold juiced wheat grass by the shot, then threw out the cut-off flats. You can re-grow it. We just went through so many that it would have taken too long to re-grow. Maybe worth checking out.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Here's a you tube video on how to malt/sprout grains safely.

But when he says its perfect he means mostly sugar, perfect for fermenting. For chicken feed I would think you would want it well over malted/modified.

 

[doublehead]

Check this out... I just used empty potting flats from the nursery, organic topsoil, and hand-fulls of organic grain from the health store.

Whole wheat, Amaranth, and Alfalfa.
I figured I'd let it grow a few inches into a nice grass before sacrificing it to the Krakons... hehehe.

Any suggestions as to why I should or should not let it grow long first?

-Shaun

 

[KenK]

I grow sunflowers in the used nursery flats. I let them get a couple inches tall or until the seed leaves are thumbnail size.

 

[jemiller31]

I plant organic wheat berries from our local co-op in a our square foot raised bed. Just hand till them in about 2 inches into the top soil. It grows like mad with regular waterings. When the grass is about 8 in to a foot tall, I trim a square per day to throw in to my 6 ISAs. They love it, eat whole grass blades like spaghetti. It is cheap, organic, and delicious. I am still curious about the protein content of wheat grass. I'd like to avoid commercial feed altogether but how to boost protein?

Cheers,
Joe

 

[sarah92107]

This was on Wikipedia the link that was on page 1... Interesting. I wish it went to day 21 or so just to know when the best ratio to give as feed

Crude Protein and Crude Fibre changes in Barley Sprouted over a 7-day period

Crude Protein (% of DM) Crude Fibre (% of DM)
Original seed 12.7% 5.4%
Day 1 12.7% 5.6%
Day 2 13.0% 5.9%
Day 3 13.6% 5.8%
Day 4 13.4% 7.4%
Day 5 13.9% 9.7%
Day 6 14.0% 10.8%
Day 7 15.5% 14.1%
Source: Cuddeford (1989), based on data obtained by Peer and Leeson (1985).

 

[Shewholovesducks]

I might try that myself once I get some birds! I wonder if ducks like it too? Can you grow it outside?

 

[krys2000]

I just bought some wheatgrass seeds for my 14 girls and I wanted to just plant it out in the yard for them to free-range on when it pops up and grows some. We were going to picket it off until then to save it from the girls and our dogs. Can I grow this outside? If I start it inside in flats and roll it out like sod into the yard, would that also work?

Thanks in advance for your help!