the flock needs greens... attempting to grow alfalfa! *UPDATE post 15*

[technodoll]

alfalfa horse cubes... never heard of those, how interesting!

I'll ask at the feed store if they have any

 

[bufforp89]

I also use the alfalfa cubes...they are great. I get a big bag for about $13 here and they last awhile as they do not get them everyday. They are great for ducks and geese too.

 

[Koolduck]

While I don't feed alfalfa cubes to my horses( risk of the poisonous blister beetle and too much protein for my fat piggys) and probably won't feed it to the chicks either, my husband shreds them up and puts it around his roses as feed. Happy roses! Happy wife!He has show roses so I have to get his culls for bouquets but I have the "never promised rose garden"!

 

[dwegg]

Alfalfa cubes? interesting...I buy a HUGE bag of collard greens for $2.50 at the farmers market and it lasts a whole week. That is me giving them greens twice a day from that. I have feed them this all through winter.. and they love it.

 

[technodoll]

WOOHOOO! It worked and it was a breeze!

In just a few short days and with very little work, the miracle of nature gave me this:

I grew about $10 worth of sprouts (if I bought the little containers at the grocery store) for about 50 cents, if not less

The flock got a bunch this morning and they hoovered it all up, ha ha!

I'm starting another batch tonight so that I have some available every day - SO much fun!

Will try growing wheatgrass next!

 

[possumqueen]

Yo, technodoll!!!! You go, girl!!

How much do you give them? Enough to clean up or some left over?

And HOW did you get your pics to arrange so neatly in your post?

footnote: I use alfalfa cubes, too. I lay them in a single layer in a pot and pour really hot water over them. They swell up in a few minutes, I crumble them and take them outside, and the girls LOVE them. On a really cold day it's like giving them a hot meal.

 

[feathersnuggles]

My girls don't like alfalfa pellets, even that are water-soaked. I don't know why?

I have discovered weeds, though. We have tons of chickweed. Everywhere I look, there's chickweed. So I gather up the stuff outside their free-range areas, and they get piles of it to go crazy over.

I really like the idea of sprouting. Wheat sprouts worked fast for me. But I can't get oats to sprout. Does anyone have experience with oats? I've used the whole oats, not the flakes, from our local food co-op bulk bins. The oats soaked up lots of water, but not one will ever sprout.

 

[technodoll]

Quote:
I gave them a big handful in their breakfast dish and they gobbled it all up, once they figured out it was tasty

The enzymes and fresh vitamins can only be good for them.

For the photo editing, I use this awesome and free app: www.picnik.com

Yey!

 

[cap1717]

Thanks for reminding me about sprouts. . . great idea. I've been going to my local 99 cent store and getting cabbage, broccoli, etc, for the girls. . . they love it. I hang it for them to munch on and play with so it provides entertainment and activity, too.

 

[smarsh]

cheapest greens for winter I have found is wheat. I sowed winter wheat on my garden and either cut them some or turn them into it. you might have to brush the snow off it.