My chickies need some greenery!

[sjsoucie]

I'm looking to start a very small indoor garden for my chickens in the winter?
What is the fastest growing grass like plant I can give my chickens?
Wheat berries?
Sam in Maine

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Barley, wheat and sunflower seed.
Just soak it for an hour or two and then rinse about 3 or 4 more times the first day and then 2 or 3 times each day thereafter.
The barley and BOSS will start sprouting on the second day.

no soil is needed, the roots will make their own substrate

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/713334/growing-fodder-for-chickens

 

[lazy gardener]

Hi Sam in Maine: I'm a neighbor! I sprout the same grains as CC. Be sure the barley is in the hull, not pearled, like you'd buy at the grocery store! A good place to get whole grains in small quantity is the health food store.

 

[sjsoucie]

Thanks, so what does it grow in, if it isn't soil?

 

[sjsoucie]

Thanks!

 

[lazy gardener]

Do a thread search on sprouts and fodder. I grow mine in 1 qt mason jars with screen lids. rinse several times/day, put in the sun for a day after they've sprouted so they can green up. It's important to rinse and drain well, or they'll get rancid or moldy. About 1/4 cup or less of seeds per jar will completely fill the jar. Depending on flock size, you can start a new jar every few days.