Hatching Eggs / Paypal CHAT Thread

[pysankigirl]

That's why we all need to grow fodder!!

DH is helping me set up a fodder thing in the basement. I am using these "antonius" frames from Ikea (minus the wire trays) that I already had with some plastic tubs I found at walmart that fit the rails pretty well:

 

[TNBEARCHICK]

I am still trying to figure out growing fodder. It sure is hard to make sense of things with a headache. I want to do this. I'm no dummy, but right now I feel like one!

My wife grows it in our kitchen for now in carry out trays(like fast food) WE HOPE TO DO something on a larger scale in the future, for now we have little trays all over the kitchen. She may be able to answer some questions, just P.M. us.

 

[mzstre]

I haven't started yet either. I can't get a straight answer on sprouting Producer's Pride whole oats. Some have said as long as it's whole and untreated, it'll sprout, but also hearing that oats turn to mush and don't sprout well.

It helps if you soak oats in hot water instead of cold. I find it sprouts much faster!

 

[Arielle]

Popping in to say "Hi", its been 10,000 posts since my last visit!! I'm sure I have missed out on a lot of fun!!

 

[Sahwithchicks]

Rye Fodder - probably same as any other, but this is what I had available when I started. Maybe when I get halfway through my 50 lb bag, which will be MONTHS, I will add something else.
Step one:

Measure out and pour dry seeds in a soak dish. Cover with water. Put aside for soaking. I do not rinse these soak seeds until they have soaked, as I have found it much easier to rinse after they are saturated. I also haven't noticed any problems by doing this.

Step 2:

After seeds have soaked over night, rinse them very well. I rinse 4-5 times. After thoroughly rinsed, drain well an place in a tub with drainage holes. I have mine numbered, although once the seeds sprout, it's easy to tell what day they are on. Ou want the bottom covered, but not too thick. I would say I have it 1/4 inch thick. This tray is done until tomorrow.

Step 3-

Rinse each tray you have going from previous days. Once the seeds have started rooting it easy. Be careful with fresh seed sprouts. They are more difficult to drain.

I only rinse once a day. This whole process takes me 15 minutes an with 7 trays I feed one a day to the birds.

Here is my closet set up. These trays never see the sun until I bring them out to feed them to the birds. In fact, thy only get any light when I am in the closet (checking on the incubator) or rinsing them.

Here are some shots of various stages.
Day two

Day three

Day four

Day five

Day seven and six, respectively

Let me know if this makes sense, or if anything needs to be added.

 

[madamwlf]

Thank you Sah! Awesome pictures. Wow, I'd need a bigger set up to do all my birds.

 

[sonew123]

OMG 454 posts!!! Not even going to try andncatch up!! I started soaking my Boss and navy beans ( only thing i had on hand) i will tray it up tomorrow!!!

 

[debs_flock]

This looks great, but I only have one problem

I feed one a day to the birds. My only problem is I have 27 runs. But that's the product of my addiction

Day seven and six, respectively

 

[Bettacreek]

What about whole corn? We still have a ton of that here.
Oh, finally weighed some eggs. Apparently my eggs are bigger than I thought. Got used to them I guess, since we don't have any other eggs to compare them to. My girls are all laying jumbos, except the "tiny" ameraucana eggs, which are large on the egg scale, lol. Mine are actually bigger than the store jumbo eggs, I know that much, since many won't fit into the jumbo cartons and I have pics of them compared to store jumbos.

 

[Bettacreek]

Sweater boxes, Deb? Then just hack sections out?