Growing and Harvesting.....Sprouted Grains, Fodder, and Timber

One of the projects we started this past Fall was a five gallon bucket sprouted grain/fodder system for the poultry.  I found the idea online for The Dead Simple Fodder System and thought it would be a great addition for the flock especially during the Winter months when the grasses aren't very plentiful and they often spend more time in the chicken run than out free ranging because of bad weather. 

It was a very inexpensive, easy to set up and use system.  We set it outside the greenhouse for easy access to water and when the weather became too cold for the seeds to germinate I placed the buckets in the greenhouse. Once it warmed up again in Spring, I placed the buckets back outside once again. The only problem we had with the system was once the heat and humidity started the sprouts started to mold very quickly.  We stopped using the system and stacked the buckets up until Fall when we could start again.

This got me thinking!  I know there are massive, expensive sprouting/fodder systems that large farms use, but it was not possible because of space or expense to have one of those systems.  I just needed something that would be small enough to fit inside our kennel room, but make enough sprouted grains/fodder to help supplement our flock.  I went to searching online and found this picture.

It looked like a doable project so I talked to my Farmer Man. Of course he could do it!  We took a trip to Lowe's and Walmart and picked up the wood and bins and set out to make our own version of this indoor sprouted grain/fodder system.

Here is our system!

I punched holes...a lot of holes!..... in all the bins except the bottom one.  The bottom one is used for soaking the grains.  I think now I should have kept two bins without holes though.  It would make it easier to swap bins, drain the grains and still have one solid bin at the bottom.....that's why there is a towel on the floor. I'll be picking up another bin on my way to town next trip.

It has taken some tweaking to figure out how much oats and wheat per bin, how long to soak and how long to allow it to grow out, but I think I am figuring it out.  The first couple of batches, however, fermented....phew...due to too much grain. We now have it figured that one quart jar of grain seems to be the right amount for the size bins we have and we are adding a couple of caps full of hydrogen peroxide.

This bin isn't the greatest, but once I cut the green s a bit, to keep the poultry from having an impacted crop, it works.  I think our seed is a little old and our sprouting percentages aren't the greatest, but we will use up what we have on hand and purchase some new seed soon.  All a learning process!

There has been a lot of commotion and noise right next to The Old Five Notch Farm lately.  The property owners next to us are clear cutting the timber to replant in pine trees for a timber harvest crop in about 20 years.  The neighbors own half of the pond so the cutting and clearing will be very close to the animals. I would love to own the whole pond one day where we could fence in all around the pond and pasture to make it harder for predators.

My biggest concern has been the geese and ducks on the pond.  These geese and ducks are rehabbed at Izzie's Pond  and then released here on our farm.  This years releases are now all old enough to fly and can leave if they choose to....I just don't want them to leave because of all the noise.  It is one thing if they leave because they are ready and choose to move on, but I worry about them when they leave because of being scared off.

We had four of this years babies fly off with "Hissy and Prissy", a pair of wild geese that have helped raise each years releases.  I didn't worry too much since they were all together.  Saturday morning "Hissy and Prissy" were back without the four babies.  Later in the day, one baby WALKED up from across the field.  We think she must have been at a pond on the adjoining property and heard the other geese and returned.

As of this morning, we are still missing three of the babies, and the logging has resumed at 6:30 this morning.  I know these are "wild" geese and ducks, but since they were brought here to be released we have cared and feed these little ones and have become quite attached to them all.  I am praying for all to return safely....and soon.

I'd like to introduce you to "Angel" <3 on this years releases.  She is named for her rescuer Angel Durham from Izzie's Pond and because she has what is known as angel wing.  She is spoiled rotten, very friendly and very insistent when she wants fed!

It was feeding time and "Angel" was saying...."Feed me...I see the food...it is right here in the feeder!"

These birds are so very interesting!  They are very family oriented, very intelligent and each has his/her own personality.  We are blessed to be a release site for Izzie's Pond and have the wonderful pleasure of helping these amazing animals.  Thanks Angel and Izzie's Pond!

Please say a prayer for all the animals and for me too....we are all a bit stressed!!