The Homesteader's Way of Feeding Chickens

[lwheelr]

MOST birdseed will sprout. A lot of chicken scratch grain won't sprout, because it is treated (baked, actually) so it won't sprout (but it will ferment, though the animals tend to not eat it as well as they eat live stuff).

Any whole grain will sprout.

Any leftover garden seeds will sprout.

Dill seed from your spice cupboard will sprout - some other seeds will too, but make sure the plant is safe for the animals before doing so. Fennel seed is good, not sure about caraway, for example.

Try WaltonFeed.com for sprouting seed, they have pretty good deals on it, and a decent if not impressive variety. They also sell a lot of grain, and most of their grains will sprout (pearled barley won't usually, and most rice won't, but other grains will).

 

[CrimsonRose]

I tried sprouting bird seed once and (it was cheep bird seed and was a tad old too) and about 1/3 to half of the seeds actually sprouted... So yeah it works but wasted a lot of seed... But it could have just been my old cheap seed too... but I say try it! what could it hurt!

you can get raw sunflower seeds at a grocery store they are usually pretty cheap and typically already shelled so work GREAT for sprouts... All you need for a jar of sprouts is one big spoonful! so a small bag of sunflower seeds goes a long way especially if you only do a few batches a week for them... you can also sprout lentils they are like a dollar a bag over by the beans... nice cheap sprouts! (they don't have the hard to digest stuff in them like beans so can be eaten easily as sprouts) but regular beans like pinto or something would be harsh on the tummy without cooking first... mung bean is an asian bean that is made for sprouting... so no need to cook those either (although they make great stir-fry!)

I keep my sprouts in the kitchen on the counter (that small space behind the sink...) that way they are in constant view easy access... and I remember to rinse them when I go to wash my hands... Otherwise I tend to forget them and they can sour... plus I've found some seeds tend to sprout a tad faster if they are kept warm (think spring!) A tend to have 2-3 jars going all the time and that doesn't take up much space...

 

[kcsunshine]

According to Storey's Guide to Raising Rabbits they shouldn't eat cabbage. Somehow it will damage their kidneys. Not a problem if you're going to eat the young, but I wouldn't give cabbage to a breeding pair you want to keep.

 

[lwheelr]

There's a difference between green cabbage and white cabbage. Fresh cabbage leaves or green ones have a different nutritional makeup.

 

[Beekissed]

I read once where this old fella used to sprout whole grains for his flock to extend his feed efficiency. He used to spread 1 in. grain~usually small like oat, wheat or barley~in a shallow pan, dampen a burlap sack and lay over the grain.

He would place this in a dark and relatively warm/room temp place and waited for 3 days, making sure the burlap stayed damp. Said if you went past 3 days the seed and sprouts would mold....sprout in 3 days, feed to chooks.

He said he kept 3 pans going at all times so he would always have sprouts to feed, especially in the winter.

 

[BarredBuff]

I really do need to start sprouting. Bee, do you sprout?

 

[freemotion]

Using a bucket with holes drilled and rinsing once or twice a day is soooo much easier. You don't need to use a tray unless you are going for green sprouts, which you won't get in three days.

 

[lwheelr]

Free, my biggest problem right now is where to put the buckets! I have to have them in the house because the garage is way too cold - they'd freeze. And there just isn't enough space in the house! So my buckets don't have holes (don't have enough lids to put on top and underneath) - I just rinse and drain them once a day.

Did you know that sprouting generates perceptible energy? The sprouts are warm to the touch when they are first germinating. I mean, we know that composting and fermenting can do that, I just didn't realize that sprouting would heat up the bucket if the sprouts were that close together!

 

[Kassaundra]

I just started sprouting for my chickens this week. I started w/ oats b/c it was the most affordable grain at the feed store. My system involves 2, 3 gall buckets and 1.5 yards of burlap sewn into 4 sacks, and 4 clippy's marked 1-4.
I am placing the oats in one sack and in the bucket w/ water sometime during the evening, then that next morning, I lift the sack out of the water and put it in the second bucket, repeating this procedure each day placing the new sack at the bottom of the holding bucket. By the time I get to the last sack, the first one is ready to give to the chickens. This is the plan, I just placed sack 4 in the water tonight and checked on the other sacks, so far no bad smell, and everthing is sprouting well. I should be able to feed the girls the sprouts tomorrow, and have time to dry the sack, before starting the cycle again.
I am sprouting just for the winter, and for 23 chickens.

I also started a colony of insects for the girls especially for winter. My colony is to small this winter to feed out of, but by next winter I should have quite a large colony. Did a lot of research on raising insects and chose the one that would work best for me and the girls.

I also am trying to get my husband to go fishing for the girls (he won't eat fish and I won't cook two meals.)

 

[BarredBuff]

Nice to see new faces!!
I might sprout corn or alfalfa.