sprouts 101

[Sylverfly]

So in an effort to reduce and improve my chicken, duck, and geese feeding this winter I want to sprout some grains. I don't have the space in a heated building to do this on a relativly large scale, so does anyone know how or have a link to a page regarding sprouting in freezing tempuratures, preferably without using heaters or lights. I admit I have just been toying with the idea and have done very little research on the topic so if I seem uninformed on the issue I am. I was wondering about using some kind of hot box, I know you can grow flowers and such in the very early spring using them. I was considering putting 2 fridges (doors removed) inside the barn drilling holes in the bottom (for drainage) filling with manure putting in a screen (for the grains/seeds to rest on) and covering the top with glass/old windows. The barn is quite warm in the winter and my rabbits are in there so it is warmer then outside (slightly). Fridges do have some insulation inside them but I may need to insulate further? Or I can hang brooder lights above the fridges for heat if needed (I would prefer to not have to use electricity) since it kind of defeats some of the money saving aspects of the venture. Like I said if anyone has any experience or info regarding this please let me know thanks.

 

[galanie]

Honestly, if you want to feed sprouted grains you don't need any light at all. If what you really want is the "greens" then you do. I firmly believe it is the sprouted seed itself that is good for them, not any green tops they might eventually produce. So I just sprout them in a bucket of water in the kitchen when I want to do a lot of them. It keeps the smell away to rinse them a bit every day but that need not be extreme, just use a colandar or something.

 

[mrshaggie810]

^^^ That...or you can sprout them in a mason jar or other larger jar, and place cheesecloth over the top, let them soak for a day I think it is, then once a day run water gently over them, and drain through the cheesecloth top. Harvest when they are the desired size/length.

 

[galanie]

See, the thing is, for people, we just want the green top, that's what we think of as "the sprout." But for chickens and stuff, it's the SEED. The sprouted seed is really where the nutrition is for chickens, not just the green stuff. In fact it's there for us too but we choose to pick and choose and only eat the green part.

In fact, as long as the seed has sprouted, that's the powerhouse of nutrition. The sprout itself doesn't have to even reach outside the two sides of the seed.

Mine don't even like the green part! they want that seed part!

 

[PuffyChick]

I was thinking about sprouting and a more nutricious way of feeding my girls and I was wondering what it is you would sprout.

There's a big bag of mixed grains I spotted at (wal-mart) Yeah I know but anyway it looked like it had corn, mixed seeds, perhaps sunflower seeds ..I didn't look at it long just checked out the price ..It was poultry mix like 8 bucks a bag.

Is that the sort of mix you would then sprout? I think my girls would love messing about with fresh sprouts every day.

 

[galanie]

I only sprout wheat or oats when I do it. Any seed grain that you'd normally give a chicken anyway is fine but I really wouldn't do sunflower seeds. I've had really bad luck sprouting those. And, what I do sprout is just from a 50 lb bag from the feed store. Lots cheaper than any mix you might get.

 

[laura625]

As far as heat goes, your fridge in barn sounds plausible, but id try it on a small scale first to see if you can keep it above freezing. Maybe a cooler for instance, before you go hauling fridges and risking grain.
The other idea would be to put the rig in the sun (glass facing south). And covering the glass at night. Depends on where you live, and what your Winters are like.
How many chickenswill you be feeding? You might be surprized how much you could produ einaide.