Hand harvesting oats

bja105 · #1 09/09/13, 01:03 PM

I have a patch of oats ripening soon. They were planted in a new garden patch as a summer cover crop. I plan to plow them under, but I would like to use some oats.
I have a sythe, but I am sure I can just strip a few buckets full by hand if needed.

I would like to feed some to our chickens and horses. If possible, we can borrow a grain mill. Is there a way to hull them with simple tools? Wll chickens and horses eat oats with hulls on?

rambler · #2 09/09/13, 01:16 PM

Leave the hulls on, good roughage for the horse, and give the chicken something to do to pass the time of day.

Paul

jwal10 · #3 09/09/13, 03:14 PM

IF you let the oats go to seed, they will sprout when you plow them under. Oats are better for cover crop when plowed under green. Cut the mature oats and remove to some where else to thrash. I agree, feed the oats whole, or ground with the hulls. You can soak the oats in milk, whey or buttermilk for the chickens, too....James

bja105 · #4 09/09/13, 04:43 PM

What processing can I do to use them for our consumption?

fishhead · #5 09/09/13, 04:49 PM

You could use the dry stems and heads for chicken bedding and let them keep it fluffed up as they look for the oats.