Foolproof Fodder for Chickens
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 พ.ย. 2020
- This video shows how to grow fodder for chickens with a system that is fast, easy, and convenient. This DIY fodder system will show you tricks on how to get an excellent sprout rate and how to keep it in your kitchen without getting your floor wet. The same system can grow fodder indoors and outdoors, year-round. This is the indoors video.
Sounds like you've got a great system going! I'm sure your ladies love it!
Great to see the whole flow, my time is so limited, I always look for systems that I can do almost automatically!
Yes, that's what I need too. It's nice to be nice to the chickens, but I have a family and work too!
Great video. thanks for taking time to show us how you go through your routine. Nice job. And your little girl is cute as a button.
Wanted to add this thought to making the fodder. It is an alternate way to give your chickens some greens that is simple to do and definitely less time consuming for those who cannot set up a neat system like yours.
It started as just some nutritious winter greens for my chickens. I took 5 pieces of 2x4 and created a frame...whatever size you like. Stand the boards on edge. The 5th board straddles the middle of the inside of the frame.
Now take 1/4" or even 1/2" hardware cloth and lay on the top of the frame with an overlap of 1/2 or 1". Staple the hardware cloth to the frame and then bend down the overlap all the way around the frame.
I put my frame in the coop...but first put down about 1 1/2" of potting soil. Set frame over soil. I used winter wheat and sprinkled it very liberally over the soil and watered in. Then added another inch of soil over that. Again watered it in.
The wheat grows up through the cloth but not before it has grown good roots into the soil. The chickens will graze the wheat like grass but it just grows back. Water as needed. Hope this helps some folks. Jesus bless.
What a wonderful idea! The chickens would love this!
👏I ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR SPROUTING SYSTEM,THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING!🥰❤
Thank you so much! It really works well.
I have sprouted lots of seeds and I soak the wheat berries for 24 hours, drain, put the jar back in the sunny window; every day, I rinse 2-3 times and drain well. When I see them beginning to sprout, I put them in trays and keep them damp with a spray bottle, no dirt.
Once I get green growth, I will carefully pour water into the tray and holding on very well, drain it off once a day. The roots make a mat.
This works with sprouting mix, too, but a piece of paper towel in the bottom keeps them wet because they’re so small. Or, you can leave them in the jar with the mesh top, upside down. Rinse at least once a day.
I haven’t had good luck with sunflower seeds this way but I keep trying.
You will probably get even better results if you let them soak for 8-10 hours instead of 24. If I forget to drain mine after 8-10 hours, the germination isn't as good. I am now combining black oil sunflower seeds and other grain (I sprout wheat, corn, barley, and sunflower seeds together), and everything sprouts. I don't know why your sunflower seeds wouldn't be sprouting. Try the shorter soak time, and make sure the seeds are fresh. I'm sure your chickens love your efforts!
@@revolutionarychicken6251 Thank you! I will try what you say.
The black oil sunflower seeds sprouted but only with dirt.
I've done fodder basically the same way, except I use regular sprouting trays that I got real cheap online. I just stacked them on a shelf by my sink so I could empty the top one each day. The others didn't have standing water because the roots soaked it up. They did really well. My jars I just turned upside-down on my kitchen sink (I have a 1930's sink with the ridges in the surface).
Sounds like you have a great system going! I especially like your 1930s sink with ridges on the surface. That would make the initial draining so much easier!
Great demo! Much appreciated.
Thank you Amy! Make sure to catch the other video showing how to hook it up to a hose and use it outside.
Pour the bucket water into a plant. :) Great info TY
Yes, I throw stinky water into my lawn. I don't think it minds.
Learning more from you
Good video. Thanks
Glad you liked it!
Good job, great video, thanks
Thank you!
Your kitchen is very beautiful
Why, thank you! It's usually kind of a mess. Ha ha!
I'm going to try this with barley and lentils (just because I have those already. I need to buy some wheat berries). I got one of those rolling laundry cart rack things and I think I'll try to make it into a system.
I've made some salad bars for them with barley and sunflower seeds and they love it, but they kick so much dirt in the salad bars there often is waste going on.
I did lentils, and my chickens didn't love that. But go ahead and try it--who knows? I tried barley, and it worked well. My only thing is the smell seemed a little unpleasant, more than with wheat. But I think barley is a little cheaper than wheat. Good luck!
Good
Thanks
Thanks bunches for this! I watched many videos on fodder systems but this method resonated and now works for me! Walking through your daily routine was so helpful. I've been doing this for a couple weeks now and my chickens are happy!
My one question is where do you get your seed? I've found the organic, non-gmo wheat grass seed, but the cheapest I'm finding is around $18/5lb. Using 2/3 cup per day means that 5 lbs is lasting about 24 days. I've looked all over for bulk to no avail. Any suggestions!
Oh wonderful! I'm so glad it's working well for you!
As far as suggestions of where to buy seed, I used to get mine at Winco Foods (not organic). Then I tried barley at a local mill. By local, it's 30 minutes away. It's cheaper, but I do prefer the smell of the wheat. You might google to see if there is a grain mill within driving distance.
Another idea is joining a local chicken FB group. I have learned so much from mine! You could ask them, because certainly someone near you who is into chickens would know.
Look into mixing hydrogen peroxide into your water to prevent mold. If I'm not mistaken you can use 25% peroxide to 75% water. I've used this for sprouting other seeds but not sure about wheat or other smaller seeds.
I don't get mold because I drain the sprouts at an angle upside down. I don't get mold in the fodder trays either, but thank you for your comment!
i think you mean 2.5%
Hello, good video, just what i needed, just one thing,, i have watch this twice and where is the part that shows where your drainage from the totes are, I realize they lean, but i don't know how to lean them so that they wet the bottom ones evenly,,as it drains through the totes,, could you show that part in one of your video..I kept watch it and stopping to check what i could see from the pictures,, but it didn't show much.. thanks, hagd..
I'm so sorry I didn't see this comment until now. I have four drainage holes in each tote or pan on the side. That is a really good point, because it's very important to have holes that are large enough and drilled in the right place.
Hi just subscribed. Did you put four holes in the Rubbermaid totes One on each side. Or on the bottom. Thank you.
I like this! Thank you.
I'm doing fodder also and really like it.
But...there might be something with the chicken/ducks starting to lay a bit slower in the spring? I'm not quite sure of this yet. I've been doing fodder for about a year. But it wasn't until last August that I'd figured it out. I didn't try to push the birds to lay over winter, but some people do.
Only one of my ducks is laying. (Now I only have ducks.) But it seems like they are slow to start up again. But the ducks are healthy. (I'm a higher altitude in mountain west. Our springs come very late and vulnerable to late frost until may first.)
If you get a chance I'm interested in if you have data on the comparison of egg production with and without fodder, as well as comparing spring start up of egg production.
(I'm doing barley fodder, if that makes a difference. most the time when ppl say fodder they do mean this but occasionally there's someone doing other things.)
Hi Noah, I do have data on my chickens' egg production. I've kept records since they started laying. However, I won't be able to compare it to when they don't have fodder, because they always have gotten fodder--except when I'm on vacation. This was their second winter, and they kept laying for the most part, albeit slower. And they seemed to ramp up just fine in the early spring. I'll total it up and post it and let you know. I have read that giving fodder can slow egg production somewhat, although I haven't witnessed it in my own chickens. This past year, I experimented with feeding them the fodder a little sooner in the growing cycle--when the shoots were only 1" high instead of 3" high. I rather think they like it better a little earlier in its development, although they'll eat it either way. I have used wheat for fodder, but I just got barley to try. Thanks for checking it out!
Its great to see a result. Although I'm doing the fodder in the basement. It works great there to grow, but I haven't had a chance to test how high the temperatures can be and still grow fodder outside, like in an outside shed. That's something one day I think could be useful for homesteaders since a lot of them tend to be works in progress.
@@noahriding5780 I live in Utah, and our summers get pretty hot. I found that if I keep my fodder in the shade and water more frequently, I don't have a problem outside. I just realized I never uploaded my fodder system video for growing it outdoors. I use the same system but use misters for growing the fodder instead of pouring water. Here is the new video: th-cam.com/video/24fT6y0dlzk/w-d-xo.html
what size are your growing trays? Where did you buy them?
I talk about my trays in my second video that shows how to use this fodder system outdoors. th-cam.com/video/24fT6y0dlzk/w-d-xo.html
The trays are Rubbermaid food containers called "Take-Alongs", about 9"x13" size, available at Walmart or most grocery stores. They are much better than growing trays because they are sturdier. I drilled holes in them.
Would a canning rack also work for draining?
I'm so sorry I didn't see this earlier. It definitely would work.
I have about 40 chickens. Putting fodder 8n jars wont work. Id be working on it all day long! All you do is put drain holes in your fodder trays. It drains into the next tray, then the next. The bottom tray is ready for them to eat. This way, you always have grain in 3 stages. With all my chickens, if have to buy stock in a jar factory. No way. Your way is extremely time consuming. Its fine if you have like 4 chickens. But hey, if it works for ya. 😊God bless.
I actually did start with the seeds in trays when I started this process years ago, and the sprouting rate was extremely low. The seeds sprout much better when started in jars. Then I move to trays. Granted, it would not be feasible for 40 chickens. I admit I'm geared more towards small backyard flocks.
You can actually get a 5gal bucket and drill holes on the lid to simulate the jar growing
@@revolutionarychicken6251 you are such a cutie ❤ thank you for showing it to us. Do you have any thoughts on temp range? I am still troubleshooting, but not giving up 👌
Haha, weed - cannabis - edible hemp plant is actually amazing for chickens.
Well thank you! Sounds like you're having a bit of trouble with it. You can also email me questions at Revolutionarychickenstore@gmail.com. I believe that the fodder grew a little faster the warmer it was, but it still grew for me in the winter, and we keep our house pretty chilly (60s). If you grow it outside, it must be kept in the shade.
So, is your water cloridated? works better with fresh water..
My water is chlorinated, yes.
You may have to use a bit of bleach water so you don’t get bacteria, ect. State food law makes sprout growers for human consumption do this to prevent illness.
I know a lot of people are totally opposed to bleach water--even for chickens. But I've heard that if you use a small enough ratio, it's ok.
How many chickens are you feeding on that system?
Seven, but you could certainly feed more. They also have free access to their regular food at all times.
Did you drill holes in the metal canning lids or just glue in some screen or something?
My son actually designed and 3-D printed some plastic mesh draining lids with swinging doors on them. You open the door to fill it and close the door to drain it. They stay closed with magnets. At some point I'm going to sell those as well. For now, I'd recommend window screen material. Or you could get stainless steel mesh draining lids for pretty cheap.
I forget what it is called but the plastic craft mesh you use for various crafts works well also. Just cut out ever how many you need for whatever size jar you might be using. Hope this helps. Jesus bless.
@@revolutionarychicken6251 thank you! I built the little stand and am at the point on how to drain the lids. I'd love to send you a picture somehow. I'm going to place the stand on my draining systems so I won't need the extra little tray I made. This is so cool!! If you ever sell those lid 'doors', I'd love to support you and buy some.
How much should give fodder to chiken
Hi Saifi, that's a good question. I don't think anyone really knows. I asked a professor who has done a lot of research into poultry diets, and he said that there hasn't been a lot of research done on fodder. He said that as long as chickens are laying consistently, they are probably ok. That said, I still think chickens should have full access to regular chicken feed. I made my daily fodder out of 2/3 cup or about 85 grams of wheat or barley for six chickens.
4:21 Process
I sit my sprouts sit at an angle, upside down in my dish rack.
I love the creative use of a dish rack!
I tryed feeding fodder to my chickens but theey didn't seem to like it...
That's interesting. What kind was it? And were your chickens pretty young? Sometimes the older they are, the more willing they are to try a variety of foods (like my kids).
@@revolutionarychicken6251 مثل اطفالك 😂
Seems easier to do it in the shower or bath tub or in the garage, then you dont have to worry about dumping water
That's not a bad idea. I think it would be pretty convenient to not have to worry about dumping out the water. But I guess you'd need an expendable bath tub!