I remember growing up as a kid my Mom would have jars of alfalfa and other types of sprouts up in the kitchen cupboard. Yes, it was the 70's and yes, she was into healthy eating (whole wheat bread, unsalted natural peanut butter and tofu) way before it was en vogue. A woman ahead of her time, she inadvertently gave me an idea for healthy treats for our chickens this winter ! I've been trying to think of inexpensive, healthy treats for them since now with more than thirty chickens and ducks, it's just too expensive to buy them produce at the grocery store like I used to do when we only had eight. Turns out, sprouts are extremely nutritious and easy to grow. If YOU have also been wondering what you can give to your flock for healthy treats this winter when they can't get out to forage, and when produce isn't plentiful, why not sprout some seeds or beans for them? It's inexpensive and give the chickens much-needed nutrition when they can't be out eating grass and weeds.
You can sprout all kinds of things: clover, alfalfa, mung beans, peanuts, lentils, peas, quinoa, radish, mustard seeds, grains, clover, oats, garbanzo beans, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, among others. Check your local health food store or online for organic beans and seeds for sprouting. (Caution: dried beans contain a toxin called hemaglutin and should never be fed RAW to chickens, however cooking or sprouting destroys the toxin. I would still suggest avoiding the larger beans such as lima, kidney and the like, and stick with grains, seeds and smaller beans like mung or lentil instead)
I recently sprouted some mung beans for our chickens. Here's what I did:
Materials Needed
Pint or quart canning jar with lid
1 rounded Tablespoon of mung beans (or other sprouting beans or seeds - organic is best)
Grapefruit Seed Extract or White Vinegar (optional) Cut the shelf liner to fit inside the ring part of the jar. This allows air to circulate inside the jar. You can buy pre-made sprouting lids, but this way is easy and inexpensive and works just as well.
Pour one rounded Tablespoon of beans into the jar and cover with cool tap water (optional: add a few drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract or White Vinegar as a sanitizer).
Let soak for about 8 hours and then drain the water. Refill the jar with plain tap water and swirl the beans to rinse them well and then drain again. Hold the jar upside down and shake a few times to be sure all the water has drained out. (Alternatively, you can set the jar upside down in a bowl at an angle or in your dish drainer rack until all the water has drained.)
Set the jar on the counter in a spot with low light and continue to rinse and drain twice a day for several days. All you are doing is keeping the beans moist. Be sure to drain the jars well of all water each time you rinse.
By the second day you should see sprouts starting.
Once the beans have cracked open and started to sprout, move the jar to a sunny location, but not in direct sunlight - a southern exposure windowsill is perfect, to allow the sprouts to green up a bit. Continue to rinse and drain the sprouts twice daily until they are done. The mung beans took five days until nice green leaves had grown and the sprouts were done and ready to be eaten.
It's as easy as that, and both your chickens and ducks will love them. Sprouted seeds and grains are actually more nutritious than either feeding them whole or grinding them into feed. Try a different kinds to see which are your flocks' favorites.
I am planning on keeping five jars going all the time this winter, starting a new one each morning so one jar is ready to eat each day, for a constant healthy treat source for our flock.
P.S....YOU can eat them too! Add the sprouts to salads or sandwiches or just munch on them by the handful.
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Wheatley Arkansas,
including Sussex Chickens, Welsummer Chickens, Turken Chickens and more.
Be sure to check out the Bargain Specials, as you can combine different
egg layers in smaller amounts and buy as an assortment. Wheatley
Arkansas also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Wheatley Arkansas, bantams for sale, ducks for sale, geese for sale,
turkeys for sale, guinea for sale, peafowl for sale, pheasant for sale,
chukar partridge for sale, bobwhite for sale, many different breeds of
baby chicks for sale in Wheatley AR.
Baby Chickens How To Raise in
Wheatley, Arkansas
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Wheatley Arkansas
catalog is a yearly traditions in many houses. My kids and I eagerly await
the Murray McMurray Hatchery catalog. We love looking at all the cool and
different chicken breeds available. Catalogs are free so head on over to
their site and request one if you are interested.
Typically hatcheries online offer both standard breeds
and bantams. Bantams are fun hardy little chickens, they lay tiny eggs
that kids especially love collecting. Bantams typically weigh less than 2
pounds when full grown. Just like ordering anything online there are pros
and cons to ordering baby chicks online. Pros of buying baby chicks in
Wheatley Arkansas * Big Selection - If you are wanting a large
variety of different chicken breeds and egg colors, you will find the best
selection at an online hatchery. * Both Bantams and full sized chickens
available * You get to choose what sex you want. If you want a mixture of
both male and female then choosing a "straight run" will save you money
and you will get a mixture of male and female chicks. You can also choose
all males or all females too. * Weekly specials. Hatcheries have sales on
chicks, you are likely to get a good deal if you are flexible with the
breeds you are wanting. Cons of buying baby chicks in Wheatley
Arkansas * Order early to get the best selection. Certain breeds sell
out fast, sometimes as early as 6 months in advance of shipping! If you
are wanting a certain breed it's best to order your chicks in the fall
before their orders sell out.
Baby Chickens As Pets in
Wheatley, Arkansas
Quantity - you must order a certain number of chicks. Typically hatcheries
will require you buy a minimum of 25 chicks at a time. The number is
necessary for the chicks survival during shipping. All 25 chicks are put
in one small box without heat. They are crowded in the box and produce
enough body heat to arrive in good shape. * The wait - If you choose to
buy chicks from a feed store you will have them the same day but if you
choose to go with a hatchery you have to wait until they are ready to ship
and then wait for the chicks to arrive. Ordering baby chicks online in
Wheatley Arkansas is easy and has always been a very pleasant
experience of me. It can be a little frustrating waiting for the chicks
but it's so worth the wait. When the post office calls and you hear all
those little "cheeps" or "chirps" in the background you'll know the wait
was worth it! How to Care for your new baby chickens in Wheatley,
Arkansas Baby chicks are extremely
cute as well as
hard to withstand,
however it's best to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare initially
by compiling not just the
proper products, however
likewise the appropriate
knowledge to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
basic, you just should offer them with the following: A tidy as well as warm
environment Lots of food and also water Attention and
love Habitat Your habitat could be a
simple box, fish tank,
pet cat provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (without any loose
strings!) to begin, and after a few weeks use straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid making use of just
newspaper or other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs could expand
misshapen. You likewise need
something to serve up food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
meal from the feed shop, or a pickle container
cover for food and a family
pet bird water dispenser from a family pet store. Additionally, as the chicks age you could present a perch
into the environment to get them
trained on setting down. Warmth To
keep your chicks warm you need to
offer them with a heat source.
This can be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb also function very
well (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which can take up to 2 months). The newly
hatched out need a temperature
between 90 and 100 levels,
as well as weekly this could
be lowered by
about 5 degrees approximately. The heat resource must get on just one side of the cage
to permit chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
opposite corner of your heat
light, you have to
minimize the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
warmth (not simply curling up),
you have to include some warmth.
House cleaning
Cleanliness is essential and it keeps your chicks healthy. Be sure to change
the bed linens
usually as well as
always offer tidy
food and water Food and also water.
Chicks grow quite quickly
which calls for plenty of clean
food as well as water. Provide
enough whatsoever times and also examine
commonly to avoid thirsty and also
starving chicks. Chick food is various compared
to grown-up chicken food, and it is available in both medicated as well as non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, after that
switch to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
then to a slightly
reduced protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks prefer to get a head start on taking
filth bathrooms, while others won't occupy that task till they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
unit, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to wash in.
Interest and also love There are a couple of benefits to spending time with your chicks. Firstly, they will certainly probably bond with you and also
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and
watch their behavior, you could
capture disease or various
other issues previously. Watch out for wheezing, hopping, or
other unhealthy
signs. Make certain to
also consider
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can cause matted plumes and also obstructed cloaca.
Last but not least, it is essential to watch out for social problems, such as the
smallest chick getting teased. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are now totally feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
security of your house
as well as relocate outside right into a cage. Have a look at our
part on chicken cages to read more
concerning cages and also
correct coop environments.
Baby Chickens HatcheryBaby Chickens Breeds More Posts Baby Chickens for Sale in Alpine, Arkansas Baby Chickens for Sale in Haynes, Arkansas Baby Chickens for Sale in El Paso, Arkansas Baby Chickens for Sale in Diaz, Arkansas Baby Chickens for Sale in Viola, Arkansas