FINCHforum

I know how to do both, but I am wondering what the different benefits are. I know the soaking makes the seeds softer, and that sprouting them makes them higher in protein than dry seed, as long as it's offered when it is just chitted and the sproutd are not very long.

But are soaked seeds also higher in protein than dry seeds? As much as sprouted seed?
Soooo, are the benefits of sprouted great enough to make it worth the extra time/effort over just soaking?

Someone recently in the last couple of weeks posted something on this. I'll see if I can find the topic thread.

cindy wrote:Someone recently in the last couple of weeks posted something on this. I'll see if I can find the topic thread.

I thought I remembered reading part of a thread, but couldn't find it...

Sprouted seed is past the soaked "chit" stage. Soaked seed that has a tiny white chit has the optimum nutritional value. Both are better than dry but soaked is best.

This was the recent discussion

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15999

wellingtoncdm wrote:Sprouted seed is past the soaked "chit" stage. Soaked seed that has a tiny white chit has the optimum nutritional value. Both are better than dry but soaked is best.

In my experience what most people are referring to when they say "sprouted" seed is actually "chitted" seed. ;)

If the "sprout" is anymore than about 1/8" long (and IMO that's too long, still) most of the protein is gone or diminished so not really beneficial.

nixity wrote:

wellingtoncdm wrote:Sprouted seed is past the soaked "chit" stage. Soaked seed that has a tiny white chit has the optimum nutritional value. Both are better than dry but soaked is best.

In my experience what most people are referring to when they say "sprouted" seed is actually "chitted" seed. ;)

If the "sprout" is anymore than about 1/8" long (and IMO that's too long, still) most of the protein is gone or diminished so not really beneficial.

That's how I undertand it too.

wonder if flax seed can be chitted, has anyone tried that?

Ok I might be coming in a bit late with this but I would like to add, with soaking of seeds I really think that's there is three stages 1- soaked seeds which have been soaked for no more than an hour rinsed and added to cage 2- chitted seed 3- sprouted seed. Each method is done differently by people under different circumstances usually got to do with seed and weather. Benefits are good for using all three methods at the right time. Soaked seed I use when my young canaries and finches are wheening themselves on to seed not much more nutritional value than dry seed but much easier for them to open and eat. Chitted seed has the most nutritional value out of all 3 soft and easy digestible by young in the nest a win win for all. Sprouted seed has nutritional value plus makes a great Green food which is cheap and relatively easy to produce in a short time. All in all I can't give the actual nutritional values of all the seeds ranging from wet and dry mixes but have read numerous articles debating the value of all three/soaked chitted and sporouted. They are higher in nutrition ranging from slightly to alot than dry seed. I have also gone past sprouted seeds to actually grow wheat grass which my finches devour readily and also have grown patches of seeds which I allow to pod which are also great source of nutritional food for young and old. I hope I haven't babbled to much and answered your question.

Probably moving off-topic to greens here, but just wanted to put in a plug for Dan78's mention of growing seed grasses for the birds. I do them all winter in little pots in the bird room - and grow wheat grass, their seed mix, chicory, lettuces, etc. I put the whole pot in the cage and the birds have a blast eating the greens and then tearing into the roots and dirt.

The greens are very good for them - and some of them seem to like the dirt, too (all organic). It's a real party in those flights when the new pots go in!

So the general consensus is that chitted/slightly sprouted seed is best, but that even soaking is a little better than dry seed. That's what I thought, but wanted to hear others' thoughts on it as well.

Martie wrote:Probably moving off-topic to greens here, but just wanted to put in a plug for Dan78's mention of growing seed grasses for the birds. I do them all winter in little pots in the bird room - and grow wheat grass, their seed mix, chicory, lettuces, etc. I put the whole pot in the cage and the birds have a blast eating the greens and then tearing into the roots and dirt.

The greens are very good for them - and some of them seem to like the dirt, too (all organic). It's a real party in those flights when the new pots go in!

I know what you mean with the grass. I grow wheat grass as well and they love to play in it. I sprinkle some seed in there as well and they "forage" around for it. So cute! I recently posted a video of them enjoying their grass.
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=16212

Thanks for sharing the video, Nelissa! It feels so great to give them something they enjoy so much.

Martie wrote:Thanks for sharing the video, Nelissa! It feels so great to give them something they enjoy so much.

It really does. I don't even care that they destroy it within a matter of hours!

Although we could gripe JUST a little - LOL - after spending two weeks lovingly watering and tending...

What do you grow the greens in? just dirt from outside? Sand? Special sanitized dirt? Sorry for getting off the topic