Author Topic: sprouting grains  (Read 3031 times)

lord flynn

  • Joined Mar 2012
sprouting grains
« on: February 09, 2014, 06:59:24 pm »
how, where, why etc please? heard it mentioned, would like to try it given the conditions atm.

HesterF

  • Joined Jul 2012
  • Kent
  • HesterF
Re: sprouting grains
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2014, 09:51:05 pm »
I've had some in the food bowls - as you say, given the conditions at the moment! Hadn't heard or them in association with poultry but I know they're good for us so I guess it would work for them too. Normally just leave them on a damp surface, don't you? Certainly for people, you can buy all sorts of special equipment but I don't think you need it.

clydesdaleclopper

  • Joined Aug 2009
  • Aberdeenshire
Re: sprouting grains
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2014, 10:51:21 pm »
I do it for the goats and sometimes for the hens.


I have 6 plastic boxes with lids and a large kitchen sieve. Each day I fill one with a days worth of grain. I soak it in warm water for a few hours then rinse it and put in the box with the lid on and leave in a warm place (mine are in the utility room as it is next to the sink and the tumble dryer which is on so often it keeps the room warm  :-[ ). Each day it gets rinsed in warm water. As one box gets used it is refilled and goes back to the bottom of the pile.


The grain needs to be whole as it won't work if it has been crushed at all. I use a mix of barley and oats.


Since I changed to feeding sprouted grains I never see undigested grain in the goats' poo. The hens go mad for it and wait underneath the goats' feeder waiting to steal any they can get.
Our holding has Anglo Nubian and British Toggenburg goats, Gotland sheep, Franconian Geese, Blue Swedish ducks, a whole load of mongrel hens and two semi-feral children.

Steph Hen

  • Joined Jul 2013
  • Angus Scotland.
Re: sprouting grains
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2014, 11:06:45 pm »
I had a go at doing this after reading a bit on here in the summer. Think I soaked grains for a few hours, then poured into large plastic gardening trays, they are black and were warm back in the summer. Covered with sheet of glass and after 2-3 days they had shoots. The hens went mad for them. Was definitely a treat as far as they were concerned. Thanks for reminding me about this, I'll put some to soak in the morning!

lord flynn

  • Joined Mar 2012
Re: sprouting grains
« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2014, 12:41:54 pm »
ok, thanks :) where do I get the whole grain from, ag merchants?

HesterF

  • Joined Jul 2012
  • Kent
  • HesterF
Re: sprouting grains
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2014, 01:15:57 pm »
Could you not just normal mixed grain or wheat? The stuff I feed normally sprouts if left in the damp - like I said, accidentally!

lord flynn

  • Joined Mar 2012
Re: sprouting grains
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2014, 02:12:00 pm »
the mixed corn I sometimes give them, would that be OK? some of it is crushed?

I don't feed  grain to anything else so don't have it.

Clansman

  • Joined Jul 2013
  • Ayrshire
Re: sprouting grains
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2014, 02:19:43 pm »
The crushed stuff won't sprout but any agricultural suppliers should have whole wheat/barley etc

I find wheat is easier and they seem to like it better.

Just be careful with some of the wild bird seed type things, some are specially treated to prevent the seeds sprouting

 

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