How to sprout rye for feed

[KatGold]

Good Morning Friends,

I came into a bag of rye seeds. Can I sprout this for my chickens? I've tried searching sprouting rye with many different search terms, but I only find ways to spout on the soil as grass.

I am hoping that I can soak them, put them on a tray, and watch them spout to give to the girls. I am experimenting with this today (just put them on trays), but I'd like to know if this is a futile effort, of maybe I ought not be feeding my girls sprouted rye, or if there is a better way to do this.

I kind of feel like I ought to toss a little potting soil on them to get htem going, but that's not how I want to do it.

Ideas? Suggestions?

Thank you!

 

[Cecisflock]

You could do a hydroponics system! that is what i do...

 

[glib]

Rye sprouts vigorously and easily. IMHO the easiest sprout to make bar none. Soak them and put them on a tray, they will do the rest.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I kind of feel like I ought to toss a little potting soil on them to get htem going, but that's not how I want to do it.

Ideas? Suggestions?

The seed if in tact and not heated etc.. has EVERY thing it need to sprout within it already.. Soil comes into play later in a plants life when it starts need to take up more nutrients to support larger growth and reproduction of more seed..

Most things.. a 12- 24 hour soak.. then rinsed several times per day.. more rinsing draws oxygen etc over them and equals more rapid growth, which is also dependent upon temperature.. many of us use jars with a mesh lid.

During the "sprouting" phase.. darkness is preferred.. The roots and first shoots don't need sun energy to make chlorophyll..

Most folks feed out "fodder" around 3 inches or when the blades START to open up.. they do NOT need soil prior to this point.. ALL the energy and nutrients inside the seed have converted into it's new current form of fodder.. Going beyond the 5 ish inch tall point and YES, I think soil or SOME other source of nutrients would then come into play.. This is where may folks make "grazing frames" directly on the ground or in their runs.. and YES some folks over plant rye in the winter (California) to get a green lawn..

This rye seed.. does it have any added fertilizer or herbicide or pesticide coating the seed? Not all seed are FEED grade seeds. KNOW this before allowing your birds access!

So your birds could eat the rye AS IS with NO sprouting.. though sprouting unlocks a LITTLE more of the nutrients. The research I've done notes that even though the 1 # dry seed may turn into 7 pounds of fodder.. it does NOT increase the ENERGY aka caloric value by 7 times.. it is DRY matter that counts.. So the sprouting and fodder thing is to ME done MORE for enrichment value than it is for the alleged increase of feed "volume".. it doesn't save me a DIME.. I do it because I enjoy doing it.. The enrichment value would be increased even more for confined birds and during times of say snow etc.. NOT because they NEED it.. but because we enjoy doing that little extra for and with our birds!

General rule of thumb is keep treats to less than 10% of the total daily intake to not mess with protein, amino acid, and other key vitamin and mineral profiles of the domestic animals.

My information also shows equal benefit around day 3-4 as day 7-8 but with less mold issues, etc.. rinsing more often ALSO helps keep mold issues down in MY experience.. keep those spores moving instead of them settling on top.. Living in the PNW.. spores for everything seem to be in the air here.. and fodder or other starter plant seeds get moldier faster in my kitchen than the laundry room or bedroom.. My LOW temps.. have given me sprouting hassles.. I haven't tried rye YET as I had read barley was the easiest. My house temp is about 58- 62.. and sprouting/fodder takes 1.5 to 2 times as long as the stated times

Rinsing is hydroponics done by hand. WHICH is the WHOLE idea behind sprouting and fodder.. to never use soil. I'm SURE that growing actual fruit and veggies hydroponically requires ADDED nutrient resources.. some folks do this using a gold fish or tilapia tank.

I found the following link to be a good informational resource that was easy enough to follow. Hope it helps on your sprouting adventures!

Fodder Nutrient values

Best I can tell rye is about 10% protein.. noting values can vary by growing and field conditions. You MUST ignore the recommended daily value for HUMAN diet and just look at the nutrient numbers..

https://www.nutritionvalue.org/Rye_grain_nutritional_value.html

Corn is usually around 7% protein. Peas are often 20- 22%. IIRC barley, wheat, and oats were around 15%.

Flax does NOT sprout well.. rather it seem to congeal.

Some folks have sprouted BOSS.. which is a good resource of certain nutrients like vitamin E and magnesium.. but beware of fat content as it's very high.

Happy sprouting!

 

[Sally PB]

If you look up "fodder," you will find a lot of helpful information, as that is essentially what you're making. There were a few threads here on BYC about fodder too.

I did barley fodder last winter when there were no greens because everything was under a foot of snow. It made a great treat for the chickens.