Bargain DIY Chicken Fodder (Sprouted Wheat)

[@KirstyHart-nq4wk]

We do this as we don't have a lot of grass. They love it.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@KirstyHart-nq4wk Ours totally demolish it 😁

[@FulbrightFarmstead]

Very cool. I definitely need to try this for our chickens as we have an ag bag of wheat.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@FulbrightFarmstead Definitely worth a try - they will love you

[@dlgrilli]

Thanks for this information. I just ordered my sprouting trays. I have wheat berries, and I have clover and broccoli seeds for sprouting. I'll use all 3 and see how it goes. By the way, how many days until the sprouts have grown enough to give to chickens?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

These took about 8 days but they are fine for a little longer

[@SpinsterSister]

I loved adding fodder to my girls' rations. Do you add Apple Cider Vinegar to the sprouting water? Are you allowed to add marigold flower petals to their feed to help color their yolks? I don't know if adding them will add to the creaminess but I know out here in California, a lot of people add it to increase their bottom line!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@SpinsterSister We make our own ACV but tend to add it to (plastic) drinkers rather than the fodder. We certainly could add marigold but our experience is that it acts as a dye rather than the carotenoids in green veg which genuinely improve the egg flavour. Thd trouble is flavour is so subjective!

[@SpinsterSister]

@@EnglishCountryLife Have you made a video showing how to make ACV? Getting difficult to find at the moment!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@SpinsterSister It was a long time ago but yes, in two parts. Part 1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKnZmZqDZpuYjs0 Part 2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp7JdGqKesRmgNE

[@RS-jo6se]

Could you give your birds the water you drain off the grains. Does it have any nutritional value?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It's not advised to do this

[@chrishamilton-wearing3232]

I first saw a bid on chicken fodder about 2 years ago and thought what a good idea. The chap doing it used great big seed trays about 4 feet long and fed the sprouts to his chickens and his cattle. I have some mung beans which I want to try. How many chickens do you have in your run and how many trays do you give at a time, and, how long does a tray last ? .....Yes, I am a nosey bugger ! 😛

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@chrishamilton-wearing3232 Hi Chris. We've just got the core flock in the run. 8 breeding Orps, 6 egg layers & Orp males ( 2 but 1 soon). The run is 600 sq ft. We give one tray at a time & it's empty the same day

[@chrisfiller465]

Hi Fiona. Please can you tell me how you stop your Nestera automatic doors from freezing closed overnight. I find mine jams shut every frosty morning.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@chrisfiller465 Hi, it's not a problem that we have, but if the door is freezing in the channel, it runs it, it's either debris or moisture that's doing it. Check the channel first for any small bits of bedding that are caught, and try adding Vaseline to the channel that will lubricate and help prevent any moisture building up. I hope that helps

[@sandypipher5846]

When is the best time to give a green treat? Would it be in the afternoon, so they will have eaten their feed first? ❤

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@sandypipher5846 That's generally when we offer it, yes although with sprouted fodder we are less concerned than when we offer mixed dried corn which we only do in the afternoon to ensure a balanced diet.

[@IrishBeekeeper]

Hope your hens will be back free-ranging again soon 🙏

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@IrishBeekeeper Thanks - fingers crossed!

[@Bamboni100]

Do you sell your hens when it's time, chick's I mean?❤

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@Bamboni100 We do rear some hens for sale & maintain a waiting list. We can also hatch to order in the Spring for those that want unsexed chicks

[@sgmarr]

What on earth is this about a "Regional Flock Down"????? Is there another Panic Attack issued?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@sgmarr There is a housing order for all poultry covering several counties in the East of England

[@sgmarr]

​@@EnglishCountryLifewow! I've never heard of it.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@sgmarr If you have a registered flock in the affected counties you should be notified