Raising grain for fodder questions

[FarmboyBill]

#1 How much should be givin to rabbits, and chickens?

#2 How long does it take to get 4in high tops out of sprouted grain?

[JoannaCW]

The answer is 'it depends"...
We're raising meat rabbits (Silver Fox and SF x NZ cross) in upstate NY where the winters are long and cold. We're feeding them partly on foddered wheat. Rabbits on maintenance diet (the buck, dry does) get ~4 oz of foddered wheat (tops 3" high) daily along with carrots or parsnips and dried willow. We're giving more to the rabbit who just kindled, and she's also getting some dry oats and BOSS.
It takes us 7 days to get the tops 3" high, but our fodder is growing in a quite cool space (probably in the 50s--somewhat variable). In warmer temps it would grow faster but mold could be more of a problem--we started doing fodder this winter and are thinking of dropping it during the warm season.

[RichNC]

I think Moonwolf in ST made a post about sprouting grain for his poultry.

[Astrid]

Originally Posted by JoannaCW

The answer is 'it depends"...
We're raising meat rabbits (Silver Fox and SF x NZ cross) in upstate NY where the winters are long and cold. We're feeding them partly on foddered wheat. Rabbits on maintenance diet (the buck, dry does) get ~4 oz of foddered wheat (tops 3" high) daily along with carrots or parsnips and dried willow.

Just out of curiosity, why dried willow?

[kasilofhome]

Teeth maybe

[JoannaCW]

Willow is high in protein (some say more so than alfalfa, which we don't have, while we have willow in quantity)--the woody part's also good for fiber and gives them soemthing to gnaw on.

[FarmboyBill]

im really starting to get interested in this fodder thing. it would give me something more to do on an ever shrinking farm acreage, while raising the value of the food grown on it.
im looking at all the U Tubes vids on it. Thinking about how it could impact positively my getting back into rabbits again. I still have around 60 cages, now empty.
Ill have to wait till the first Sat of next month to go to the sale to buy any NZW rabbits to get a start again. I have over 100 black trays that would work fine for growing the fodder. There around 10 X 16 with a 3in lip/sides. My thoughts/problems that im thinking on now is making the shelves. I saw where one guy did it in concrete blocks, making 2 blocks of fodder, one of which he gives his rabbit s each day. BUT, it seems a waste of water, tho I have also the blocks. Cant waste water, as I have none here.
Im leaning to angle iron 1X1 welded shelves, but im not certain of the size to make it. At one time I had over 150 rabbits, and I now have 50 chickens, and could get more IF this worked out as well as people in U tubes said it worked for them. So, im back to trying to figure out how many A DAY of the trays Id need, so as to know how big to make the shelves. ALSO, Not sure how far the individual shelves should be separated, as one or two said theyre shelves were too close, one above the next, for proper growth.

[Astrid]

Originally Posted by JoannaCW

Willow is high in protein (some say more so than alfalfa, which we don't have, while we have willow in quantity)--the woody part's also good for fiber and gives them soemthing to gnaw on.

I was curious because willow contains salicilic acid which is the natural form of aspirin. Have you had any adverse effects from them eating the willow in any kind of quantity?