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 Westby Wisconsin,
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. Westby
Wisconsin also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Westby Wisconsin, 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 Westby WI.
Baby Chicks
Outside With Heat Lamp in
Westby, Wisconsin
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Westby Wisconsin
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
Westby Wisconsin * 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 Westby
Wisconsin * 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 Outside in
Westby, Wisconsin
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
Westby Wisconsin 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 Westby,
Wisconsin Baby chicks are very
charming and also
challenging to stand up to,
however it's best to prepare for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare first
by compiling not only the
appropriate materials, but
likewise the proper
understanding to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
easy, you simply need
to offer them with the following: A
clean and warm and comfortable
habitat A lot of food as well
as water Attention as well as
love Habitat Your environment could be a straightforward box, fish tank,
cat service provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and also
coverings (without any loose
strings!) to start, and after a few weeks use straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid making use of only
paper or various other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can expand
misshapen. You also require
something to serve up food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
meal from the feed store, or a pickle container
cover for food and a pet dog bird water dispenser from a
pet dog shop. Also, as the chicks age you can present a perch
right into the environment to obtain them
educated on setting down. Heat To
keep your chicks heat you need to
give them with a heat source.
This could be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb likewise function effectively (my
referral). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which could occupy to two months). The freshly
hatched out need a temperature
in between 90 and 100 levels,
as well as every week this could
be decreased by
about 5 degrees or
so. The warmth resource ought
to be on merely one side of the cage
to allow chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
other corner of your heat
lamp, you need to
lower the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
warmth (not simply snuggling),
you need to add some warmth.
Home cleaning
Cleanliness is crucial and it maintains your chicks healthy. Be sure to change
the bedding
commonly and also
constantly supply clean
food and also water Food and water.
Chicks expand very quickly
which calls for a lot of clean
food as well as water. Give
sufficient in any way times as well
as inspect
often to
stop thirsty and
hungry chicks. Chick food is different than grown-up chicken food, as well as it comes
in both medicated and non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
first two months, then
switch to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
reduced healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks like to get a head start on taking
dust baths, while others won't take
up that task until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
unit, present a tray of sand or
dust for them to shower in.
Focus as well as love There are a
few benefits to spending time with your chicks. To start
with, they will certainly probably bond with you as well as
not run away as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and also
watch their actions, you could
catch health problem or various
other problems previously. Watch out for wheezing, hopping, or
other unhealthy
signs. Make certain to
likewise check out
their poop, as diarrhea could cause matted plumes and clogged cloaca.
Last but not least, it is essential to keep an eye out for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick obtaining teased. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently totally feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
security of your home
and also move outside right into a cage. Check out our
section on chicken coops to find out
more
concerning cages and
correct coop environments.
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