FINCHforum

So can't you just put seeds in a pot of soil and water it to get sprouts? There are always sprouts growing under my outdoor bird feeders after it rains. It will be too cold for that soon so I thought maybe it would work inside.All this rinsing and straining stuff seems like so much work.

That way I guess you wouldn't get sprouts but greens. (At least as far as I understand it, sprouts is the entire thing, green plus root.)

I would be careful with the soil though. Most potting soil has lots of fertilizer in it. I always have trouble finding some unfertilized potting soil for my plants in the aviary.

For greens, I put some aspen shavings (which I use as bedding) in a bowl, sprinkle finch seed in, and fill the bowl with water. I let that soak for an hour or so to get the shavings all moist, then drain most of the water out. Within a few days the seeds grow and when they are about 2 inches or so I put the bowl in the aviary.

Target has organic soil, at least they did about 6 months ago. I think it is in a red and white bag.

It's not the same.

Sprout is sort of a misnomer when it comes to what most people are talking about when they say they are feeding "sprouts" to birds.

A better description is really soaked seed that has only just barely begun to sprout (also called a "chit") - where the seed head is just starting to creep out of the seed.
[Photo of my sprouts at collection] Any more than about 1/8" of growth on the seed (and even that I feel is too long) and it's pretty much a waste of energy.

When the seed is just barely beginning to "sprout" is when it is at it's most nutritious.
The longer you let it "grow," the more energy the seed puts into sending out the shoot, so the less energy is contained within the seed itself.
It is expended, if you will.

Just "chitted" seed is about 400x more nutrient dense than dry seed alone, and is a fantastic protein rich food for breeding and molting birds.

Seeds grown in a pot may be fun for the birds to eat, but do not offer the same degree of nutritional value - and the commercial seeds for wild birds do not undergo the same regulations as feed intended for the pet bird trade.
Not to mention - seed dropped under an outdoor feeder and then sprouted - the wild birds likely defecate in that area and can carry a number of diseases and parasites that you could then inadvertently pass to your flock.

The way I sprout:

1 quart mason jar
Squirt about 1/4 teaspoon of Sparkle into jar
Add water
Add 1 cup of sprout mix (I use the Birds R Us White Sprout Mix, but you can also use any fresh seed blend that does not contain any pellets or other bread/biscuit bits)
Fill to the top with water
Let soak for anywhere from 2-24 hours.. Some only suggest soaking for 2 hours, but I usually soak longer and have never had problems.
Strain & Rinse the seeds, then place back into the mason jar to set for another 24 hours (do not refill with water at this time, just place the strained seeds back into the jar).
Rinse well after 24 hours and serve!

This is pretty much what I do every day as Tiffany has described.

I do grow wheat grass seeds for my birds. That is suppose to be good for them. But only the first two inches or so. After that most nutritional value is gone, but they love playing in it.

I've also noticed that some seeds sprout quicker than others. I think it's important to get seeds that are just for sprouting. When I first started sprounting seeds, I rinsed the pet store bought seeds and dye came from the seeds turned the water red. Of course that got me to question the quality of bird seed and now only purchase either in bulk or from a reliable source like Fabulous Finch. (shameless plug, but what can I say, my birds love their food)

May I ask what Sparkle is?

Leda wrote:May I ask what Sparkle is?

Sparkle is a product manufactured by Morning Bird that is a liquid you add to drinking water, or water for sprouting, because it retards bacterial, fungal, viral, and algal growth.

See here:
http://www.gouldiansgalore.net/morningb ... arkle?i=12

The name Sparkle derived from the concept of "Sparkling" clean water

It is great to use in drinkers when you leave for a weekend to keep the pathogens away in the water, also terrific to use in bath water where the birds can defecate in order to kill micro-organisms, and is what I use when sprouting seeds to fend off bacteria and other pathogens in the water.