Sprouting? Help...

[newchickenmom33]

That’s so many eggs!!! I’m glad you’re business is doing well! I’m still trying to figure how to get rid of just an extra dozen or two a week. . My girls started laying about 3 weeks ago and now their eggs are ready to share.

 

[lazy gardener]

I don't call it a business. Currently, the egg sales are almost covering feed costs. (chicks are filling their bellies, but many weeks before they put anything in the egg cartons!)

 

[newchickenmom33]

I don't call it a business. Currently, the egg sales are almost covering feed costs. (chicks are filling their bellies, but many weeks before they put anything in the egg cartons!)

I don’t think we will ever break even. My kids love having them and we will never have to buy eggs again. If I can sell just a dozen or two a week it would help.

 

[Redhead Rae]

My egg count out paced my customers, so I removed 8, simply to make more room for replacements, and better match supply and demand. Wouldn't you know it, I picked up about 50% more egg customers within 2 weeks of that well thought out plan. Now, people are beating a path to my door, and tackling my egg bag when I take it with me. (I set it down, and folks help themselves... first come, first serve.) Hubby is under strict orders to never sell the last dozen! I keep it in the back of my mind that a predator could easily wipe out my flock, or take my roo, then... I'd be starting out from scratch. So... gotta keep extra eggs "just in case".

Oh gosh, I wanted to scream when my SIL once used my hatching eggs for dinner. Now, people know not to use those eggs.

 

[oregonkat]

The way I look at it is if the sales of the eggs can cover the cost of the feed and put a little aside to contribute to the inevitable fencing fixes or coop roof repairs, I'm happy. Hubby is indifferent but not complaining so, all is well in the household!

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

I have only had my chickens since June. I have been fermenting their feed. Now.... I may have to sprout for them! This site is very, very bad!!! LOL I hope my family understands when I don't have any time to make the people dinner because I only make dinner for chickens! But I had been thinking of growing microgreens for the people, but then got chickens, so I got sidetracked. Does anyone know how fermenting feed and sprouting and microgreens compare. Sprouting and fodder and microgreens all sound very interesting, but I don't really know which is best and should all of them be done. Thanks.

 

[glib]

micro-greens use up most of the calories, and also have fewer enzymes. highest enzymes is when the tail is length-of-seed. largely sprouting and fermenting do the same things. some anti-nutrients are removed, in one case by bacterial degradation in the other by the seed own chemistry. The same two methods also make nutrients available, improve protein digestibility and generate new vitamins and enzymes for digestion. fermentation also creates amines which the chicken body has to clear, however it is proven to also virtually eliminate phytates. I have posted in another thread, probably the two methods give similar results.

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

micro-greens use up most of the calories, and also have fewer enzymes. highest enzymes is when the tail is length-of-seed. largely sprouting and fermenting do the same things. some anti-nutrients are removed, in one case by bacterial degradation in the other by the seed own chemistry. The same two methods also make nutrients available, improve protein digestibility and generate new vitamins and enzymes for digestion. fermentation also creates amines which the chicken body has to clear, however it is proven to also virtually eliminate phytates. I have posted in another thread, probably the two methods give similar results.

Thanks so much for the summary!

 

[newchickenmom33]

It’s amazing how much info is out there and what we do for our chickens! . I picked up lentils from Walmart and soaked last night. Some appear to be spouting but not all yet hopefully tomorrow will show progress! Thanks all for the great info.

 

[newchickenmom33]

micro-greens use up most of the calories, and also have fewer enzymes. highest enzymes is when the tail is length-of-seed. largely sprouting and fermenting do the same things. some anti-nutrients are removed, in one case by bacterial degradation in the other by the seed own chemistry. The same two methods also make nutrients available, improve protein digestibility and generate new vitamins and enzymes for digestion. fermentation also creates amines which the chicken body has to clear, however it is proven to also virtually eliminate phytates. I have posted in another thread, probably the two methods give similar results.

How do you know how much to ferment? I haven’t tried that since I thought it would rot if I left it too long or made too much. With the sprouts I just do a cup or so at a time and feed it all at once in the morning and it’s gone before the evening feeding. I only do it every other day or so... they might get sprouts twice a week... I’m not sure if it makes a difference or not but they love to eat them.