Starting a Fodder adventure

[WunnySharbit]

Are there measurable benefits to feeding green vs not green? Is it the chlorophyll or the fiber/protein/bulk or ??? What about the roots-are those nutritious, too? (The only experience I have with sprouts is if I forgot some in the rain or in the spring when all the seeds the chix missed come up an are gobbled up!)

 

[GirlsMommy18]

Are there measurable benefits to feeding green vs not green? Is it the chlorophyll or the fiber/protein/bulk or ??? What about the roots-are those nutritious, too? (The only experience I have with sprouts is if I forgot some in the rain or in the spring when all the seeds the chix missed come up an are gobbled up!)

From what I understand, the nutrients from the seeds are more easily processed at the sprouting stage, and the roots are also nutritious. The whole thing (sprouts, roots, and seed shells) can be fed. It not only is more nutitious than feeding strait seeds, but you need to feed significantly less. Stretches grain costs considerably as a huge bonus.

 

[FnWeirdo]

21/Jan/2019

-Morning updates-


XP1(day7)
(weight of jar w/cap and fodder before feeding)
(metric)

(standard)

(out of jar on plate)

(better look at the "mat" that forms)

XP2(day6)
*Rinse*
*Drain*
(seed progression)

XP3(day5)
*Rinse*
*Drain*
(seed progression)

(put xp2 and xp3 in sunlight)

XP4(day4)
*Rinse*
*Drain*
(seed progression)

XP5(day3)
*Rinse*
*Drain*
(seed progression)

XP6(day2)
*Drain*
*Rinse*
*Drain*
(seed progression)

 

[mixedbreeds]

Mine isn’t very scientific but I started with a little under a pound of black oil sunflower seeds and about a pound and a half of hard red wheat. After 7 days it was 14 pounds of chopped fodder. Here is a chunk from this morning not as pretty as OP’s. I do mine in 10” x20” trays.

 

[FnWeirdo]

hello BYC

day 1 is here and we got our 5 pound bag of organic non gmo “juice grade”( means its meant for sprouting, juice grade doesn’t really mean anything just means its sold for humans to juice and consume)

(around 16$ for seed)

day 1 is nice and easy. First we measure some seed . Dry volume measure will be 3 Tablespoons. heres some pictures of weights.
(empty jar with cap weight)
(metric)

(Standard)

(jar with seed and cap) (weighed dry)
(metric)

(standard)

now that the measurement is done we will rinse the seeds and fill the jar with room temp water. ( the seeds need to soak over night) soaking the seeds help the sprouting.
(rinse)

(soak)

now we store them in a cabinet or cover the jar and wait for the morning.

feel free to discuss in the thread and ill see you tomorrow for day 2 of xp(experiment) 1 and day 1 for xp2. have a great day BYC and heres some side notes

*side note -some information say before soak to rinse the seeds in a bleach water solution or other chemicals. I do things with minimum chemicals so i do this with plain water.

*side note -alot of information states to cover the jar while they soak and for the first few days. i will be storing my jars in a cabinet.

*side note- sprouts (fodder) do not need much sunshine and depending on the seed will sprout well in cooler conditions as well

*side note- moisture is our worst enemy with fodder , moisture leads to mildew and mold which is not good at all for our birds. i will be expanding more on this with future posts.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have done this using pie pans with holes and used coffee filters. I get 5 pans in rotation, and each day feed one and make one. I used wheat.

At first in the dead of winter, they liked it, but as spring came on, I would find the sprouts in the run.

 

[mixedbreeds]

Only watering system I have is carrying the trays to the sink and sprinkling with the sprayer, when I do that it washes the seed around is that what you ment by rotating. Once they start to sprout it doesn’t move around anymore. It does make the yolk darker not real dark but better and the taste is excellent.

 

[mixedbreeds]

Yes I like to give them different ones to get the protein up it works pretty good the sunflower seeds are a little slower but they are fine in 6 or 7 days. Anything past 7 days and I start having mold problems.

 

[mixedbreeds]

How many chickens are you going to give fodder to? I think the way you are doing it is much cleaner you probably won’t have the mold problem.

 

[mixedbreeds]

You are having fun now, it takes a while to do a weeks worth. It’s looking good