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Sprouting seed
Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 8:10 am
by Transit123
Can anybody please explain to me in plain English how I get sprouted seed, as when I soak it for 24 hours and then place it in a light room on damp kitchen towel is seem to go mildew.
Many Thanks
Re: Sprouting seed
Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 9:42 am
by wellingtoncdm
Hello, I add grapefruit seed extract (GSE) to the soaking water after the seed has been rinsed well and this prevents the seed from going bad. The seed should smell clean and nutty not sour or spoiled. I buy plain bulk parakeet seed and soak that. Some of the other finch or canary seed has a lot added it like colored oats, minerals or pellets. Hope that helps.
Charlie
Re: Sprouting seed
Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 10:40 am
by ac12
I soak mine for about 4-8 hours in a bottle. 1 level teaspoon seeds + 1 oz water + 2 drops ACV.
After the soak, I drain the water, still leaving the seeds in the bottle.
I let it stand for about 12 hours.
Rinse and feed to the birds.
Re: Sprouting seed
Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 10:52 am
by Transit123
Hi What is ACV
Regards
Re: Sprouting seed
Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 10:56 am
by L in Ontario
Transit123 wrote:Hi What is ACV
Regards
Apple Cider Vinegar - I add it to my soaking seeds too and rinse seeds well before giving to birds.
Re: Sprouting seed
Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 1:57 pm
by Transit123
Hi
What does the Apple Cider Vinegar do to the soak seed??????
Regards
Re: Sprouting seed
Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 2:22 pm
by ac12
ACV is supposed to help keep bacteria from growing in the soaking seeds.
Re: Sprouting seed
Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 5:52 pm
by MLaRue
Where are you located? Your temps alone might be causing the seed to mold so quickly.
I would use a product called Virkon S to soak the seed in and then drain. Another product people use to soak the seed in is KD Powder. Both of these products will keep the seed from growing bacteria and molds on them while waiting for them to chit.
Re: Sprouting seed
Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 4:36 am
by Transit123
MLaRue wrote:Where are you located? Your temps alone might be causing the seed to mold so quickly.
I would use a product called Virkon S to soak the seed in and then drain. Another product people use to soak the seed in is KD Powder. Both of these products will keep the seed from growing bacteria and molds on them while waiting for them to chit.
Re: Sprouting seed
Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 5:31 am
by poohbear
Still don't know where you're from...
DON'T feed birds any seed with mould on...it WILL kill your birds.
Re: Sprouting seed
Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 10:03 am
by thegoldfincher
Re: Sprouting seed
Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2010 5:06 am
by Transit123
I am located in the UK
Re: Sprouting seed
Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 4:09 pm
by soloisok
This topic/thread was very helpful, thanks to all who contributed!
Re: Sprouting seed
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 10:07 pm
by diinin
I'm having a problem with this too. I just got my Fidler sprouting seed, and the white seed sprouts in less than a day. It's really amazing. The problem is, a couple of the seeds mold in that time.
Here is my method: soak the seeds at room temp for 6 to 8 hours in filtered water + a couple drops of ACV. Drain, let sit at room temp for 16 to 18 hours. At this point it hasn't been rinsed yet, so I thought the ACV left in the remaining water would keep it from molding. But it is right at this point that I see mold. Normally I would rinse it now in tap water and put it in the frig, but I keep throwing it out because of the mold.
Should I use tap water to soak, which has some chlorine in it? Should I put it in the frig after the 8 hour soak, at the point when I normally drain the water? I'm afraid in the cold, it won't sprout.
Does it need to go from the soak to paper towels to actually dry? Will it sprout if it's dried off? Or should I just drain it and then maybe rinse it with new water/ACV, and drain it again before it sits for awhile? My house is air conditioned, but it's still slightly humid unless we really crank it and freeze everybody out.
Is it okay to pick out the seeds that have molded and use the rest? It always seems to be just a couple, and always the same kind. My birdies have been without sprouted seed now for several days because I can't get rid of the mold! My Abba sprout seed didn't mold this fast, but I think it also had preservative in it, so that's not good either. I'd like to figure out the Fidler seed because I really like this stuff!
Re: Sprouting seed
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 10:15 pm
by wellingtoncdm
I add GSE (grapefruit seed extract) to the water and never have mold.
http://www.pureliquidgold.com/#grapefruit-seed-extract