difference between the alfalfa we eat n what our livestock eats?

[kryptoniteqhs]

I know this is another stupid question, but is there a difference between the alfalfa sprouts we eat and the hay ours horses & such eat? I am wondering because I want to get some alfalfa seed and grow it for the chickens. I dont want a lot, just enough to where I can start it out in a pot in the house. Does anyone know where I could buy these? Is this the right stuff?

http://www.amazon.com/Alfalfa-Sprouting-Seeds-Grams-Vitamin/dp/B000SE0HIS

 

[greathorse]

Pretty sure most of the alfalfa seed for planting would be treated. sprouting seeds would be available in health food stores and the like. I would also check with seed companies to confim whether or not the seed is treated. I think most seeds of that nature are.

The seed is very small and it is the same as for growing hay sprouting may be a slightly differnt variety

Yikes I just looked at the website three bucks for little over an ounce of seed, makes for 50 bucks a pound 2500 dollars for a fifty pound bag. Is that right?? Is my math bad???

 

[nnbreeder]

Your feed store should be able to point you in the right direction for seeds. If you are wanting to sprout them you do not want treated seeds. Last time I priced it Alfalfa seed was 2 dollars a pound for the latest and greatest variety.

There are many different varieties of Alfalfa, most are tuned to soil conditions and drought resistance plus whether very leafy or more of a clover type and more stemmy but basically all are the same.

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

awesome! do either of you know of a good website to start? i dont even know where to look. how do i know if its treated. ive been googling it for the last 20 minutes and cant find anything really.

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

oooo check this out. bird basics sprouting kit! its growing stuff just for birds!
http://www.sproutpeople.com/

 

[greathorse]

Do you have a health food store like a co-op of some kind in your area they may have them for less than three bucks an ounce. Call your feed or seed store and see if they will have untreated seeds. Seeds sold for sprouting would not be treated. I am not sure if Alfalfa seed is normally treated or not but I am guessing it is if for seeding in feilds. Here many of the farm stores will have pasture seed and grass seed for sale by the pound.

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

you wanna know what really ticks me off!!!!!!!! when they want your credit card information before theyll tell you how much shipping is!!

or when it costs $10 to ship 2 OUNCES!!!!!!!!!!

dont worry i didnt buy anything yet, i just wanted you to know how frustrated I am while looking,

 

[greathorse]

why dont you sprout something a lot less costly than alfalfa?/ the old timers used to sprout a lot of wheat or rye or something like that. Alfalfa sprouts taste great on a sandwich but am betting the chickesn wouldnt care

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

because i have been reading this vitamin deficiency thing > http://www.apa-abayouthprogramsite.org/Edu_Material/VITAMINS.pdf
and it give things you can feed to help with a certain vitamin deficiency and alfalfa is listed a lot

 

[nnbreeder]

Quote:
Seed that is treated will be colored according to the treatment and it will be bright so it's easily spotted.

If you shop locally then you can get a small amount for just a few cents, if you order online you will either pay way too much for just a little or you will have to have a minimum order, usually a pallet load.

Have you considered feeding Alfalfa pellets? Usually they are the larger 1/4 inch pellets so here is what you do. Boil up a quart of water and when it gets to be a good rolling boil add a cup or so of the pellets, keep it boiling till they start to break down and then remove them from the heat and cover the pan. Stir every 20 minutes or so. You may have to adjust the measurements but you get the idea. A 50lb bag of pellets is about 9 dollars here and the feed store should have them in stock. All it contains is ground Alfalfa that has been ran through a pellet mill.