Hydroponics Fodder Farming.We Thought it would Solve our Dairy Goat Feed Issue but not Working Out!

As Suburban Dairy goat farmers, we are in a search for solutions to getting quality and affordable feeds for our animals. We sought to try two ideas... hydroponics Fodder farming and growing Sorghum . The latter is working great...as I told in the last video, but hydroponics Fodder farming is giving us a run for our money...but in a bad way. It's just not working!...Yet... That's what I explain in this video today. Help me find a sustainable solution...if you've done this before... I'd love to hear from you!

[@fritzdambreville9043]

There's also a better chance of success with flat bottom trays rather than grooved ones. Water sits in the grooves creating pockets of moisture promoting mold. Whereas it is absorbed or drained on a flat tray laid on an incline. This is great information all around. Great approach!! Thanks.

[@oak_farm4286]

Thanks so much for your feedback!

[@ronotarz4497]

That's what i use to feed my Rabbits though hope you will master it

[@eylemafnas7849]

I've made it a lot at home, but it produced mold only when too much water accumulated on the bottom of the box. First, you will wash the grains 2 or 3 times well with just water then leave them in water for about 10 hours, finally spread them on trays. Also, the grain you spread on the trays should not be too thick. It needs to get some air. The sun definitely dries it. Finally, my advice is to try in small amounts. With time you will experience a lot and make the right decision. Growth rate varies depending on the type and production of seeds. I tried it in different countries. Their growth rates were different.

[@omondidaniel622]

Hydrogen peroxide will help. Its also a cheaper option. 6% H2O2, use teaspoonful in 2 litres and spray. It also helps to add oxygen

[@Meshalleez]

Soaking should be done for 4 hours not 24 hrs. incubate for 48 hours before putting them on the trays. They should have sprouts before you put them on the trays.

[@stream2watch]

Nice to hear from somebody that tells us about their problems, and not just spread clickbait positiveness.

[@davinmars5177]

I've noticed you poked the holes on the part which is raised if you look from inside the tray instead of the furrows. This means the furrows will actually hold water since they have no holes. I hope you managed to make it work in the end though

[@kellyoketch2254]

Good job and educative content.

[@oak_farm4286]

Thank you, glad you're enjoying it.

[@danielwambugu-pd4wd]

Jik is also good

[@oak_farm4286]

Thanks for watching

[@juliewilliams489]

Im looking at feeding my chickens this way. Thankyou for your experience. I agree with the advice that the holes would be better in the lower parts of the tray but all the other videos ive seen use flat trays. But i have no experience with this yet. Leaving the seeds in water to long is how you ferment the seeds for food. As for the apple cider vinigar (ACV) im more experienced. You can ferment your own. All you need is apples, sugar, unclorinated water and some apple cyder vinigar mother. What you bought wont work. Go to a health food shop or to someone who already has some they can give you. The clear is not alive. You need the cloudy ACV with strands in, it these strands that are the mother. Its still alive. Mine has grown a scobi on the top. And makes stronger vinigar as its got older. The mother feeds on the sugar and apples turning the water into vinigar. The cores and skin is the best part some eat the apples and save these parts for the ACV. I Use the hole apples cut up. After a few brews the apples turn into a pulp. This pulp can be fed to the chickens but it makes the most butiful apple sauce. As for using im not sure what the purpose is in the hydroponics. If it is to clean and seteralise i would have thought white vinigar would be more suitable. ACV has many madicinal properties. And is good in the waterers. Some use this to control algea in the stock waterers. Personnally i dont use it all the time. But at any sign of illness or parracites i ues ACV and crushed garlic in the water and its usually works so long as you practice all the other good husbandry paractices too. If you know some one with an apple tree and can get sugar once you have the mother it is very cheep and healthy for the family to. There are many youtubes on fermentation and ACV. I have a 27lt fermentation kit now but started with glass bottles and chease cloth or paper towel and rubber bands as a lid so it can breath and off gass. I what i do 2/3s fill it with fresh apples choped and the apples from the previous ferment if younhave them (some fill the container) Leave about 1/5 of ACV from previous ferment. I leave about a 1/3 of the container with apples in it so not actually 1/3 by volume. Fill with syrip 10 lt water to 480ml of sugar i use raw sugar. Disolve sugar in some hot water then add the rest of the warm water. Dont add hot water to the living culture or use anything metal. Caution it becomes alcohol before it turns into vinigar. It can over flow so put somthing under the container in case Dark and warm place is best. Organic paales are best. Chemicals can interfere with the process. There used to be special cider apples i just use what i can get.

[@oak_farm4286]

Oh my goodness...what an elaborate guideline on how to make acv. I had never dreamed that I could make it by myself. Thanks for the great tips. Thanks for watching and for your feedback too.All the best as you try the hydroponics fodder for your chickens.

[@frankkunkundi786]

It's good to tell the truth, keep it up. However, you may also try to use dilute bleach solution( chlorine solution) for washing the grains and also for watering. Let us hear again from you.

[@oak_farm4286]

Ok thank you

[@enkidu9989]

Plain vinegar is fine ... why apple cider for this application? It's the PH that is used to clean the seeds

[@PlummerFootball]

punching holes in the tray should help with the mold that is being caused by stagnant water collected in the tray.

[@oak_farm4286]

We had done that, but it seems it was not sufficient. But some suggested to use flat trays without the ridges. Thanks for watching!

[@ittush]

​@@oak_farm4286 the holes you made (what I saw in the video were a lil faulty. You could've made holes in the smaller canals of the tray rather than the elevated flat areas. I hope you understand what I said.

[@oak_farm4286]

@@ittush thanks for the feedback. I understand

[@user-uv5pf5dt2t]

@@oak_farm4286 keep the trays at some inclination and drill holes on the side inclined toward earth. do not inclined more than 4 degree.

[@samuelsesco9192]

First u should wash the grain with gik like 3 hrs,then leanse with pure water after soak the seeds 48 hrs, remove them in water for 12 hrs,thn display them in trays,gik helps in that issue of molds

[@oak_farm4286]

Thanks so much. I will try this

[@oak_farm4286]

Please share how much of Jik should be used for what quantity of grains?

[@richardgarisonje5323]

I would also recommend using flat trays to avoid water logging when irrigating your seeds. You did not punch drain holes on the right side of the ridges at the bottom of your trays. Always soak your seeds in a bleach before sowing.

[@oak_farm4286]

@@richardgarisonje5323 thanks you, I'll check on that

[@Vicakinz]

What quantity of jik:water:grain should be washed/rinsed together?

[@allanchumba2798]

Where can i get barley seeds?

[@ramahlapewilliam9204]

Where can I find the seeds in South Africa?

[@oak_farm4286]

Hi, thanks for your question. However , I'm in Kenya currently and might not know the exact places to buy the seeds in S.A. but I'm sure you could find some good leads on Google Search for some contacts and location of seed suppliers.

[@margaretmujerule8326]

Kindly where can I buy this trays

[@oak_farm4286]

Hi Margaret, thanks for watching! If you're in Nairobi, Kenya or it's environs, you can get them at Farmer Zone Kenya.

[@margaretmujerule8326]

@@oak_farm4286 at how much please

[@vioegonduka8382]

Hydrogen peroxide is another, white vinegar is another

[@oak_farm4286]

White vinegar should be a more sustainable option if works well (more affordable). Thanks for the feedback!

[@luedch8460]

Just watched a successful farmer using this method but it seems you need to wait in the buckets till they sprout before putting them in trays! Research is everything before you try it. Good luck

[@edwinadaji4308]

you are doing this with no seriousness at all