How to make sprouted seed for finches (video)

[Stephanie]

Hi

I finally hit upon a seed-sprouting method that works really well for me, so thought I'd share in a little video. I call it the 'tea strainer method', for obvious reasons. Hardly news for old-time finch keepers but I hope it's helpful for newbies:

http://youtu.be/0VUJI_qcG2A

[Sally]

Looks like a really simple, easy way to sprout seeds for a smaller number of birds. I used to use jars with screen lids, but this is a much easier way to rinse the seeds. I have so many birds that I do much larger amounts, using the Mike Fidler method.

[Sam007]

good share!

[finchandlovebird]

Thanks for that excellent video. I really hate to watch UTube videos a bout Gouldians, 'cause then I see so many others offered on the screen that I spend tons of time watching them all. LOL

[nelloyello11]

I use a very similar method, but instead of a tea infuser, I use a small mesh colander. I also usually soak them for a few hours beforehand, in water, with a couple drops of ACV.

[Madcat]

Ooooooowe wee! That's what I'm talking bout Stephanie !!!

[Learning Finch]

I also sprout seed because I have heard that is so nutritious. Does anyone have any scientific proof of this? I can't find any studies or trials done by an accrettited source. I'm just trying to convince myself that the reward far outweighs the risk. Thx

[debbie276]

I look at it this way, it's their seed offered in a different way so can't be bad, may be better. Either way it gives them a variety and I don't see how that could be bad.

[Learning Finch]

I feel the same way. If anything bad happens to my birds it from overdoing it with variety. I feel they deserve the best. I'm just trying to fined out if seed sprouting is fact or urben legend. I hear 300% more nutritious. Why not 500% or 100%? I'm not trying to start a debate. Just want to be better informed before I start trying to convince my friends about sprouting. I'm easy going but a few of my friends need proof for everything and I would love to school them for a change.

[debbie276]

I'm not buying the 300% better idea either
http://www.sproutnet.com/Nutrients-in-S ... -Sprouts-O

Nutrients in Seeds and Sprouts of Alfalfa
Nutrients in seeds and sprouts of alfalfa, lentils, mung beans, and soybeans
Kylen, Anne M.; McCready, Rolland M.
Journal of Food Science (1975), 40(5), 1008-9 CODEN: JFDSAZ; ISSN: 0022-1147. English.
Dry seeds and sprouts of alfalfa, lentils, mung and soybeans were analyzed for selected nutrients. Sprouts compared on a solids basis contained Ca [7440-70-2], Fe [7439-89-6], and Zn [7440-66-6] at levels about the same as the seeds while protein was higher and fat content lower in sprouts. Total vitamin C [50-81-7], thiamine [59-43-8], niacin [59-67-6] and riboflavin [83-88-5] content was higher in sprouts than seeds, vitamin C showing the greatest increase. Cooking slightly lowered heat-labile nutrients in sprouts. Galactose-containing sugars of mung beans disappeared upon sprouting. Based upon chem. analyses, nutrient levels of sprouts compare favorably with other fresh vegetables.

[Stephanie]

There is quite a lot of data on this. Remember that 300% only means "3 times". This seems to be true for most of the B vitamins. Some nutrients increase dramatically more, like Vitamin C, which can increase over 30 times or 3000% in a sprout versus dry seed.

Starches reduce because they get used up, and various other vitamins, proteins and minerals become more bioavailable, and fats change. Other phytochemicals also seem to be at their peak at this time - the clever little substances that aren't vitamins, minerals or macronutrients, but things like glucosinolates.

When you think about it, there has to be a lot going on for this tiny little packet of genetic wisdom to transform itself into a fleshy, complex, vital plant that bears no resemblance to a little dry seed. Extraordinary really.

It also depends how long you sprout them for. When humans eat sprouts we take them much further along, whereas for birds we usually just chitt them, but that's still good as most of the important action occurs early in the sprouting process.

I'm making myself want to go and sprout some bird seed for my own lunch...

[elepaio4]

The data that indicates spouts are more "nutritious" than dry seeds are well established. There are quite a few articles in reputable journals (J. Nutrition, J. of Food Science) on this.

One thing should be made clear however. Sprouted seeds do not appear to be a source of unique nutrition. That is, everything in spouted seeds that we value has a better source elsewhere. For instance, Vitamin A is much more abundant in carrot, dandelion, and collards. Although the protein content increases in sprouts and has a more complete variety of essential amino acids, egg (or live food) is a better source of protein.

So if sprouted seed doesn't contain any nutrient that cannot be found elsewhere, what is their value? The value lies in the eagerness of seed-eating birds to eat seed! Finches love seed. Ask anyone who has tried to convert their finches to a pellet diet. It may take a month or more to do this. It will take the same bird 10 seconds to revert back to seed. I estimate "seeds" make up ~50-65% of my birds diet. I try to fill as much of this proportion with green milk-stage seed and spouted seed. By feeding more of this higher nutrient seed food, it makes it a lot easier to compensate for the nutrients that seeds tend to lack (vitamin A, lysine, methionine, some B complex vitamins) with other food stuffs that at least some birds may be less enthusiastic about eating.

As for risks, it seems that some common sense makes this very low. While spoilage and pathogen contamination can be an issue for anything moist, if the seed looks and smells fine, its fine. I think most serious finch breeders offer sprouted seed. Has anyone on this forum ever lost birds to bad spouted seed? I personally have never heard of this, and it makes me think that all the talk about the dangers of sprouts are more hype than substance. If we take reasonable precautions (use water cleansers, frequent rinsing, etc), sprouted seed is as safe as anything else we feed our birds.

[Learning Finch]

Thank you for all the info. I was told that if the dead was bad the birds would since it and not eat it. Just like poisiones plants. They know what's good or not

[flywhoaman]

I recently joined the Aussie Finch Forum and there is a wonderful discussion about nutrition developed by Ray and Wendy Lowe. On the subject of sprouted seed, they recommend soaking the seeds in a mixture of 10% bleach and tepid water for two hours, then place into a sieve, rinse, then put into a semi-dark area until sprouts appear. Keep the sprouts moist by rinsing several times per day. Once sprouted, rinse and soak the sprouts again in the bleach mixture for 20 minutes, rinse, drain and dry, then place in a sealed container in the refrigerator. They recommend only making enough for a 2 day period. After that, the nutritional value is lost.

Having been an organic producer, I know that bleach is used to kill any pathogens, especially molds and mildews which could become toxic to birds, especially juveniles. This same concentration of bleach is great for killing molds and mildews on plants, including roses. You rinse off the bleach but even at this concentration, the bleach is way more harmful to pathogens than to the birds or you.

[debbie276]

If you allow the seeds to dry like Mike Fidler recommends you can store them in the freezer allowing you to make more then just a 2 day supply. The seeds are best when they just "chit". I use Mike's method using my own seeds and without adding anything else.

Youtube of Mike Fidler sprouting seeds part 1 of 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xdo4XkExes