⠀ Hydroponic Foarage in Poultry Winter Feeding

[Jafaremal]

Hydroponic Forage in Poultry Winter Feeding
By
Emal Mohammad Jafar, National Poultry Advisor, IFAD/RMLSP/MAIL, Kabul, Afghanistan
31st May 2015
Poultry feeding becomes more critical and expensive during prolonged winter, snow cover and cold weather in rural areas of north Afghanistan. In order to overcome the problem and reduce the cost of feeding in winter season when the chicken has no access for scavenging outside the coop a new well proved technique of hydroponic forage and pulses sprouting was introduced in five targeted districts of Balkh and Jauzjan provinces of North Region by the Backyard Poultry Development Project funded by International Fund for Agriculture Development(IFAD) through the Rural Microfinance and Livestock Support Program (RMLSP) of Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock(MAIL) of Afghanistan. The technique was very well adopted nearly by 5000 women beneficiaries with very good results of 30% increase in egg production and raising healthy chickens/layers, and positive impact on food security and improved livelihood of rural farming families.

 

[centrarchid]

Looks very good. Have you been looking into of plant species? What about additions of locally available limestone to increase calcium content of seedlings? I see you are using imported plastic containers. Do you have any locally sourced materials that could serve same role and possibly generate demand of services from others in local community?

 

[Jafaremal]

Thanks for your comment and consideration,
The grains used are mostly Barely which is grown in Afghanistan for animal feed, some H.Hs use wheat grains. This practice has long historical background among rural women, called "SAMANAK" for making special food from hydroponic wheat for human, not for animals. This tradition is being practiced only in the first days of New Year. But our poultry project encouraged the women beneficiaries to use the practice for poultry winter feeding. Huge practical training and extension work was launched through Female Family Poultry School (F-FPS) approach which was well adopted by the women. Above 5000 women received training and inputs (barely grain) for extension purpose.
The container used is made from Empty Cooking Oil Plastic Cans, which is cut in to two half for growing hydroponic forage. The imported one is used only for experimental purpose.
Introduction of this new feeding technique was well adopted due to its positive impacts as:
1. Very easy to be practiced by housewives,
2. It is very economic, one Kg grain, gives 6-8 kg, 100% digestible feed with high protein( 18-21%), vitamins, energy and minerals.
3. Improve the health and general body condition of layers with 30-40% increase in eggs production.
4. It doesn't need hard work and soil/land.
5. Very fast growing, after 8-10 days it can be feed to the chicken.
6. Small amount of grains(250 gr) is needed to feed a flock of 10-15 layers in a week.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Very nice. I do it in a very similar way.
I've found that the grain sprouts best with a 2 hour initial soak. Longer soaks like 8 or 24 hours really slow sprouting cause they're too bloated.
I mostly do barley but also wheat, buckwheat, peas and sunflower.

 

[Jafaremal]

How to prepare hydroponic wheat for 10-15 layers?
Lets do this step by step,
1. make tray from empty cooking oil can


2. Take 250 grams of wheat grains, wash it and put in a plastic bowl, soak in clean water for 12hrs.



3. take out the soaked grains and put it in the half empty plastic cans as shown above,
1st day

4. Spray or wash the soaked grains once or twice a day
3rd day


4th day4th day6th day7th day8th day

9th day10th day
5. Feeding method: cut the grass into small pieces and put in front of layers



Other photos on village level:





The growth depend on temperature, it grow well in room temperature
Clean and fresh water should be used

 

[Asadullah Battr]

Dear Emal,
Thank you very much for the post, In our country each family in rural area storing wheat for the winter season as most of the road being blocked due to heavy snow fall and I think this method will help families to provide chickens nutritant feed from the resources thy have. I like it and thanks.

 

[centrarchid]

Jafaremal,

Do you have grains other than wheat for such use. In my location wheat is too costly as it is mostly for direct human consumption. The alternative I use are oats and corn (maze) that are associated with moister climates. I also like to mix the grains and have little concern using seed that is contaminated with weed seed.

Have you considered using lentil or chickpeas. They might be worth mixing in.

This winter I may try playing around with exposing the sprouts to sunlight prior to feeding out. Light exposure could induce additional nutrient synthesis by seedlings.