New to sprouting

[psymbiosis]

I am just getting into sprouting for my chickens. My local feed mill has wheat, corn, barley, milo, and oats all of them between 7 and 10 dollars for a 50# bag. I was planning on doing a mix of wheat, barley, oats and milo, with no corn. Is there any reason to use corn? Does corn take longer to sprout? Does anyone have an idea of the comparison for how much dry feed you need compared to how many spouts you need? I am planning on doing a bucket system and leaving it in the barn...does it need any sunlight in the last stage? I have sprouted for myself and never put the spouts in light, yet they still had some green...

Thanks!!!

 

[Wifezilla]

Is there any reason to use corn?

No​

 

[haggisbob]

I saw this a while back, here is a link to the process on the Modern Homestead website.

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Sprouting.html

 

[Organics North]

Quote:
Hi I feed sprouts twice daily.
I sprout Wheat, Oats and Black Oil Sunflower. I mix them together in equal amounts. They sprout at about the same rate. In my experience corn takes longer and can get real nasty fast. The little 10% organic corn I feed is ground.

Volume will depend on how far along the sprouts are. Mine are usually 1 to 4 days old at most. I find the birds like them the most when the grain kernel just starts to sprout. When the sprouts are that size I use the same volume as with dry grain in my mix. Heavily sprouted grains will be more bulky so you could increase the volume.

Mine sprouts do not see daylight. I have a 5 gal pail with holes drilled in the bottom fitting inside another pail. I wash the sprouts twice a day. Simply fill pail with water lift it out and drain. I feed about 2 or so gallons of sprouts a day. See my byc page for what I feed my chickens.

It is my understanding from research sprouts have a higher protein level than unsprouted grains. Even with that said It is my opinion the grains you have listed above will not make a complete poultry feed.

ON

 

[psymbiosis]

Quote:
What would you add to make it more complete? Black sunflower? Anything else? Thanks!

 

[Organics North]

Quote:
What would you add to make it more complete? Black sunflower? Anything else? Thanks!

In my opinion one of two things.

You could have the sprouted grains wheat, oats, black sunflower, maybe try the barley, and keep the percentage lower like under 40% of their total diet. Still offer them a formulated feed appropriate for your birds.
OR
formulate your own feed. That is what I have done know my birds to not see commercial feed from day one on. I spent a whole bunch of time running the numbers trying to get a balanced feed. I think I am there birds are very healthy but I have only been feeding it for a year. Hens lay well though and start at the right age..

You could also sprout a little milo, I never tried it but why not try? The biggest negitive for me is it is not considered a "potent" feed, sort of just a filler even more so than corn. If I recall milo has under 10% protein as apposed to Hard wheat, black oil sunflower being around 15 to 17% and oats being around 12%. I aimed for 17 percent protein in my feed for laying hens. I do feed 10% corn because it has some nice amino acids and complements a legume well.

Here is my mix:
What is right for you will depend on what ingredients you can find locally...
6 part Black Oil Sunflower (17%P)
6 part Oats (12%P)
6 parts Red Wheat (17%P)

3 part Field Peas (24%P)
3 part cracked Corn (9%P)
3 part whole Flax (34%P)
3 part Alfalfa (17%P)

.5 part Kelp
.125 Oyster shell
.125 DE
.125 Azomite

Notes:
For daily mash first 3 ingredients are mixed and sprouted. Last 8 ingredients are mixed and wetted for mash prior to mixing in with sprouts.

Proper ratio is as follows for daily serving..: 2 parts sprouts to 1 part mash.

Above mix has ::: PROTIEN= 17% unsprouted

Sup. With meat or fish meal which is about 25% protein

Sup with ACV, Kombucha, Yogurt or water kefir for probiotic..

 

[psymbiosis]

Organics North, thanks! I think for now I will supplement with sprouts and keep them on a feed. I am not sure I can source some of the other items locally at a decent price and it will take me some time to research. So for now I will sprout what I have and add the sunflower, as well. Thanks a lot!!!

 

[Organics North]

Good luck!
Feel free to ask any questions.. I will try and share my experiences the best I can.
ON

 

[le neige homme]

ON, in your recipe, do you mean "parts" as a unit of weight or volume?

 

[Organics North]

I have been using volume.
ON