Fodder/Sprouting Personal test

[PD-Riverman]

I been sprouting some oats I picked up. I got a 50lb bag and turned that into around 300lb of food. I would put 1lb of seed into a few trays, then 2 days later I would do the same with a few more trays etc. Around a week later I would have my first trays with a few inch tall green sprouts. I would let them grow to about 4" tall then I started feeding them to the rabbits, chickens and hogs. I just used plain water and sprayed the trays about 3 or 4 times aday. I waited about 12 hours after the last spraying to allow any water to drain before I weighed the fodder in each tray. The rabbits and chickens love it---the hogs are getting more use to it. With the cost of feed, I feel this is a big savings. Now I want to setup a better system so I can use some worm tea or miracle grow etc. I want to set-up spray heads on timers to make it a simple deal to use.

I also had about 3lbs of rye seed in a bag from last winter and I sprouted it. When it got to about 12lb I could not wait---I fed it to the animals--LOL.

I feel with a better set-up and some fertilizer I could have turned that 50lb into atleast 400lb or better.

Any of you tested this Fodder Deal out---If so feel free to post your results. Thanks

[fantasymaker]

If you took the sprouts and dried them to the same moisture as the opriginal seed would there be any net gain?

[7thswan]

I plan on trying this this winter, I have never tryed it before. Your info is encouraging.

[jwal10]

Originally Posted by fantasymaker

If you took the sprouts and dried them to the same moisture as the opriginal seed would there be any net gain?

OH yes, depending on how tall you let them grow, but I see no reason to dry more than you would for hay. At some point the plants need nutrients to continue growing. I raise yellow perch in my greenhouse and use this water. I grow the plants in floating trays outside the greenhouse in 2 small raised hoop beds after they sprout. I am experimenting in cutting the plants and letting them grow back again, seems to work OK. I feed to rabbits, chickens, pigeons and goats....James

[Otter]

Originally Posted by fantasymaker

If you took the sprouts and dried them to the same moisture as the opriginal seed would there be any net gain?

Yes, sprouting changes the nutritional quality of the grain to a more digestible protein with more essential amino acids.

There are a bunch of studies on it. You should look them up!

[cathleenc]

I am on day 6 of my personal experiment - sprouting 1 lb of wheat each day. Have yet to feed any to the chickens and pigs but hope to introduce the first batch to them on Tuesday.

I'm having a fruit fly issue with the sprouting fodder. Anyone else have this?

[haley1]

Any mold issues? Did you soak them before putting in trays? Was thinking about doing it too

[arnie]

While I was raiseing canarys as a profitable hobby in the ear,y 80"s I started feeding a sprouted mixture of seeds along with the regular canary and rape seed there were wheat and saflower and niger .there was a remarkable improvement in production and condition of the birds nearly every egg hatching .sprouting the grain before feeding I'm sure will be a big bounos for your birds.

[PD-Riverman]

Originally Posted by haley1

Any mold issues? Did you soak them before putting in trays? Was thinking about doing it too

I soak the seeds a few hours, then spread them in trays with drain holes and cover them with a clear dome until they start sprouting good. I then uncover them and mist the trays several times a day. I have had no problem with mold.

[Pony]

Originally Posted by jwal10

OH yes, depending on how tall you let them grow, but I see no reason to dry more than you would for hay. At some point the plants need nutrients to continue growing. I raise yellow perch in my greenhouse and use this water. I grow the plants in floating trays outside the greenhouse in 2 small raised hoop beds after they sprout. I am experimenting in cutting the plants and letting them grow back again, seems to work OK. I feed to rabbits, chickens, pigeons and goats....James

James, I'm curious about the protein content. If you leave the root behind, will there be less protein than if you feed the sprouts whole? If so, is it a negligible amount?

TIA!

[springvalley]

Everything old is new again, I have a thing that was (Is) called a seed sprouter, I think it has six to eight trays in it. The trays are about 18in. square, they fit in a cabinet about four feet tall, and on the very bottom is a very tiny kerosine heater. You would start a tray each day till they were all full, when they were full you then would start feeding the trays to your laying hens during the winter months so they had fresh greens to eat. Very novel idea, and is beging to take off again, as I have seen larger models starting to be used today. > Thanks Marc

[Alice In TX/MO]

Marc. Do you use it?

[BrightBay]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

Marc. Do you use it?

and how old is it? This isn't something I've seen referenced in older books, etc.

[MOgal]

PD-Riverman, are the trays you use the type for starting plants for the garden? If not, what do you use?

I have grown wheat sprouts for the chickens in half gallon wide mouth jars just as you would any sprout but I did get some mold. AND FRUIT FLIES!

[FarmboyBill]

How would the heater do much for the top trays. Yes, ive seem several pics of these, without a heat source,.

[melwynnd]

Originally Posted by MOgal

PD-Riverman, are the trays you use the type for starting plants for the garden? If not, what do you use?

I have grown wheat sprouts for the chickens in half gallon wide mouth jars just as you would any sprout but I did get some mold. AND FRUIT FLIES!

If you rinse it every couple of hours you won't get fruit flies. They're attracted to the fermenting starch from the grain.

Sherry

[CaliannG]

Ahhh...THAT'S the trick! Thank you Sherry!

I was wondering why the commercial models had sprayers on timers (set to go off every couple of hours) and this answers my question on that, and also answers why commercial models don't get the fruit flies.

[PD-Riverman]

Originally Posted by MOgal

PD-Riverman, are the trays you use the type for starting plants for the garden? If not, what do you use?

I have grown wheat sprouts for the chickens in half gallon wide mouth jars just as you would any sprout but I did get some mold. AND FRUIT FLIES!

I use flat bottom trays with sides about 1" or so tall with small holes drilled in them so they will drain. A few days ago I bought several hundred styrofoam sausers/cups(about 4" across and 1" tall) at a auction for a dollar---I drilled 4 holes in the bottom of them ---so I got individual servings sizes sprouting---LOL. I have seen a few flies but no mold, plus I do mine under my open shed so a few flies does not bother me, But it did give me a thought----trap the fruit flied-----anyone know how much protien is in a fruit fly? Bet my chickens would Love some of them.

Also keep in mind as soon as I see a sprout on some of the seeds, I remove the clear dome----so these trays are just sitting open under the shed. I got them under the edge of my shed so if it raind it does not rain in the trays plus they get alot of morning sun. When my seeds sprout and the green(looks like grass) gets about 4" tall--I start feeding that tray to the animals by flipping the "Sod" looking sprouting mats over and cutting it with a knife. I have even taken whole trays to my chicken yard and let them eat on it for a few minutes then put the tray back under the shed and let it grow another day or two.

[melwynnd]

I'm lazy, so mine rinses every two hours on a timer - even at night.

Sherry

This setup feeds 40 chickens.

[IMG][/IMG]

[MOgal]

I don't have a set up at all much less one as nice as yours, Sherry. I do have plenty of other things to keep me from rinsing more than 2x a day though. Great picture and something to consider building.