Is this right?

[slwatson]

My first time sprouting seeds....does it look right? I can't tell if it's chitted long enough...I used the Mike Fidler method. I could only find Virkon S tablets instead of powder.

For the next time I try this, is it safe to crush the tablets and use that as a powder like he does?

Here's the link to his steps

http://www.fabulousfinch.com/how-to-spr ... birds.html

[Sally]

It looks like these seeds are just starting to chit, just breaking through the hull. Personally, I'd let them go a little longer, though they could be used at this stage (soaked seed).

I have the powder, so I haven't had to use the tablets. I think you would be OK just dissolving the tablets, though you could crush them to make them dissolve quicker.

[dunker817]

I use the Virkon S tablets and would recommend crushing them into a powder first. Using the tablets takes hours for them to dissolve. Like the better part of a day.

[debbie276]

I use the tablets and they dissolve quite quickly in warm water. Warm water also speeds up sprouting for me.

[slwatson]

Thanks for the input everyone...I was surprised at how quickly my seeds dried out. We don't have a lot of humidity in the house though right now with the heaters on. I took two pills and dissolved them in a pitcher of water first, but didn't use warm water so it took a little longer than I thought it would. I ended up having to crush the part of the pills that didn't dissolve with a long spoon at the bottom of the pitcher and then poured the mixture on the seeds. I did this on Friday, and this is as far as the seeds have sprouted so far. Maybe they dried out too quickly? I only let the seeds soak for an hour and 45 minutes like Fidler suggested. Should I do two hours next time?

[debbie276]

I always do 2 hours, the fresher the seed the better they sprout. Sprouting seed is a good test of the freshness of your seed supplier.

[lovezebs]

slwatson

I don't use any tablets or powders.
I just put some seeds in a strainer thingie, wash them well under running water, sit the strainer in a container of water (so that the seeds are submerged), and keep rinsing them and changing the water (until the seeds start popping open and showing the white/green begining of sprouting). It happens in an amazingly short period of time with some seeds, while others take a bit longer.

[MariusStegmann]

lovezebs If I do what Elana does, I get mold in my sprouted seed. I soak my seed in a 500 ml plastic container, add 2 drops of plain detergent to the water, soak the seeds for a day, drain it and the next the day, I will have chits.

[lovezebs]

MariusStegmann

I've never had any problems with mold, Marius. But then I rinse the seeds very often under running water. No mold, no bad smell, no problems whatsoever.

I've also boiled seeds occasionally, and my birdlings have enjoyed that as well.

[Spreckles]

Elana
How often do all of you sprout seeds for your birds? Do you use regular finch bird seed mix? This is new information to me.

thanks Karen

[debbie276]

I sprout large batches the Mike Filer way and freeze it.depending on the number of boots you have, it could last a very long time. I sprout their regular seed, I don't get seed with those small colored pellets or thistle (thistle is sterile and will not sprout)

[slwatson]

I had originally purchased this sprouting seed mix from Glamorous Gouldians or Lady Gouldian Finch, and then it sat in my pantry for a couple of month because I was scared to try it out. My mix did sprout a little more than the pic I posted, so I gave some to my birds and put the rest in the freezer. They seemed to like it

[lovezebs]

Spreckles

Hi Karen

Yes, just the regular seed mix. As Debbie mentioned, it's the seeds without any coloured bits in it.

[MariusStegmann]

Spreckles Since you don't know about sprouted seeds. A sprouted seed contains many times the nutritional value of normal seeds. Sprouted seeds are also easier to digest. It does not matter what kind of seed you use, I prefer the larger seeds like white millet, because they don't go through the sieve, when I drain the water.

In an earlier post I said that I use detergent with my sprouted seeds, but I meant to say bleach.

[Sally]

Sprouted seeds are also excellent food when parents are feeding babies, and as the first real food for fledglings to try out. Sprouted seeds stay good for quite a long time in the freezer, so you don't have to sprout constantly. I do large quantities and keep the excess in the freezer, then offer it with my egg food and veggies, my birds love it.