FINCHforum

Just wondering how people sprout seeds - what kind of seeds do you use - and what is the benefit of sprouting seeds as opposed to just feeding them their seed.

Also I understand that you should sanitize the water - what is that about?

Vera

A good article about sprouted seeds and how to go about it :

http://www.finchroom.com/articles/seeds.html

Here is another article on sprouting seed, though lovezebs link is a bit simpler process:

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

Soaked or sprouted seed is one of the best things you can offer your birds, espoecially when breeding.

Thanks for the information
I dont get the part about adding bleach though that doesnt sound very safe even if it is rinsed off?

Vera

There's a whole thread on this in Diet and Nutrition section under the topic "Sprouting Seeds?" Hope it helps!!
I love to sprout my own seeds! I always have a jar going at some stage of sprouting. My guys love it.
Here's the link:
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=36787

Bleach is deactivated quickly when it comes in contact with organic matter. Seeds and the dust on them qualifies as 'organic matter'.

Bleach is a good disinfectant if the surface is cleaned first, so no organic matter remains prior to using it. That usually means a metal or glass or plastic surface, but certainly not food.

Sprouted seeds can go off quickly, one of the big problems for commercial sprouters that grow sprouts for human food. Rinse the seed and rinse it often, and only keep it actually in water for a day or less. If you have to be gone for a 1/2 day during the sprouting, put the whole thing into the fridge.

I use virkon s when sprouting/chitting seeds. They are at their most nutritional value when the little tail of the root is just starting to show, if the root/sprout gets too long the nutritional value is less...


this is a wonderful guide to sprouting also.... http://www.gouldiansgalore.com/sprouting.html

also check out Sprout People.... they give guides to sprouting for different seeds, even have a section on sprouts, grasses for pets..... also try growing wheat grass.... you can snip it off as it grows and feed it to the birds.

Below is a picture of chitted brown top seed.

thanks everyone!

I now/also use the Mike Fidler way.... and virkon s (virkon if in Canada.)

very easy no extra rinsing and no risk of fungal or bacteria

https://www.youtube.com/embed/8Xdo4XkExes

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nqzo0T3VBPk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gyidk_1Swk

glamgouldians.com sells Naturally For Birds as discussed in video 3.

I'm very much using soak seed on a regular basis for all of me Waxbills and Asiatic finches,

Over the years I've tried various ways but have now decided to stick with the Mike Fidler way for best results

Stuart whiting wrote: I'm very much using soak seed on a regular basis for all of me Waxbills and Asiatic finches,

Over the years I've tried various ways but have now decided to stick with the Mike Fidler way for best results

I use chitted/sprouted seed more than finely chopped veggies. The bird like finely chopped kale, finely shredded carrot, shaved broccoli... I toss the sprouted seed in with those or serve the chitted seed alone or mix it with the Naturally for Birds as mentioned in the video.

http://www.naturallyforbirds.com.au/

The seeds I chit/sprout are brown top millet, Japanese millet, white proso and I do millet strands from time to time. I feel safer chitting/sprouting seed using virkon, seed are bought in bulk and fresh.

cindy

Totally agree Cindy

I also use Vicron S, I also feel it's a much safer way to produce soaked & sprouted seeds,

A few years back I really couldn't get me head around the thought of using such a chemical mixed with bird food but now fully understand the science behind it,

I prefer to feed the seed separate and mix blended / finely grated carrots and broccoli into me egg food recipe

Stuart whiting wrote: cindy

Totally agree Cindy

I also use Vicron S, I also feel it's a much safer way to produce soaked & sprouted seeds,

A few years back I really couldn't get me head around the thought of using such a chemical mixed with bird food but now fully understand the science behind it,

I prefer to feed the seed separate and mix blended / finely grated carrots and broccoli into me egg food recipe

I do that also... I just use egg food primarily for birds molting and feeding young. I also use Roudybush pellets which are all natural... now include alfalfa and herbs too as well as a protein calcium and D3.
The birds do eat them including my gouldians, pellets are blended into a seed mix... grasskeets get a larger ratio of pellets to seed than the finches...javas get what the grasskeets get.