Sprouting Seeds and/or Millet Sprays
- wilkifam
- Weaning
- Posts: 1771
- Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2012 2:01 pm
- Location: South Central Montana
Sprouting Seeds and/or Millet Sprays
I would like to sprout seeds for my birds, I have yet to try it. What should I use in the water to keep bacteria from growing?
Any advice on the subject is appreciated
Any advice on the subject is appreciated
Lori
Gouldians
Societies
Java FInches
Bourkes
Scarlets
Myers Parrot - Murphy
African Gray - Nzinga
2 GSD's - Heidi and Chiko
1 Minpin - Ted
1 Heinz 57 - Buster Brown
Chickens
Gouldians
Societies
Java FInches
Bourkes
Scarlets
Myers Parrot - Murphy
African Gray - Nzinga
2 GSD's - Heidi and Chiko
1 Minpin - Ted
1 Heinz 57 - Buster Brown
Chickens
- Martie
- Mod Extraordinaire
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- Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2011 5:12 pm
- Location: Rochester, NY
Re: Sprouting Seeds and/or Millet Sprays
I have used both bleach and Grapefruit Seed Extract at different times and have had success with both. (GSE is much more natural!) With either, I add just a small drop or two to a quart jar 3/4 filled with water for the first soak only. I rinse and replace the water 2-3 times daily.
Martie
Mill Creek Aviary
Erythrura (Chloebia) Gouldiae (Gouldians)
Lonchura striata domestica (Societies)
Taeniopygia bichenovii (Owls)
Serinus mozambicus (Green Singers)
Lonchura punctulata (Spice)
Poephila acuticauda (Shafttails)
Split Plastic Leg Bands
http://sites.google.com/site/finchlegbands/
Mill Creek Aviary
Erythrura (Chloebia) Gouldiae (Gouldians)
Lonchura striata domestica (Societies)
Taeniopygia bichenovii (Owls)
Serinus mozambicus (Green Singers)
Lonchura punctulata (Spice)
Poephila acuticauda (Shafttails)
Split Plastic Leg Bands
http://sites.google.com/site/finchlegbands/
-
- Bird Brain
- Posts: 14789
- Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
- Location: WV
Re: Sprouting Seeds and/or Millet Sprays
I sprout the Mike Fidler way.
Here are video's explaining how if your interested, it's very easy to do
part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xdo4XkExes
part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqzo0T3V ... el&list=UL
part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gyidk_1 ... el&list=UL
Here are video's explaining how if your interested, it's very easy to do
part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xdo4XkExes
part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqzo0T3V ... el&list=UL
part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gyidk_1 ... el&list=UL
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
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- Brooding
- Posts: 1224
- Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2012 10:56 pm
- Location: Springfield, Il
Re: Sprouting Seeds and/or Millet Sprays
thanks for those links Debbie!!! I am gonna check them out. I have sprouted seeds with regular rinsing and organic ACV!
Heather finch and canary hobbyist
gouldians, canaries, zebras, societies, parrotlets, english budgie and a greencheek
gouldians, canaries, zebras, societies, parrotlets, english budgie and a greencheek
- Martie
- Mod Extraordinaire
- Posts: 1381
- Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2011 5:12 pm
- Location: Rochester, NY
Re: Sprouting Seeds and/or Millet Sprays
Thank you for those links, Debbie. I have been doing it "my way" without incident for many years - will watch the Mike Fidler videos and see if I can't get up to date! 

Martie
Mill Creek Aviary
Erythrura (Chloebia) Gouldiae (Gouldians)
Lonchura striata domestica (Societies)
Taeniopygia bichenovii (Owls)
Serinus mozambicus (Green Singers)
Lonchura punctulata (Spice)
Poephila acuticauda (Shafttails)
Split Plastic Leg Bands
http://sites.google.com/site/finchlegbands/
Mill Creek Aviary
Erythrura (Chloebia) Gouldiae (Gouldians)
Lonchura striata domestica (Societies)
Taeniopygia bichenovii (Owls)
Serinus mozambicus (Green Singers)
Lonchura punctulata (Spice)
Poephila acuticauda (Shafttails)
Split Plastic Leg Bands
http://sites.google.com/site/finchlegbands/
- 30 Seconds to Bob
- Weaning
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- Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:12 pm
- Location: west central florida
Re: Sprouting Seeds and/or Millet Sprays
I've always used a drop or two of bleach in about a half gallon of water and changed the water twice daily. Make sure you use seed especially made for sprouting or at least make sure it is 100% seed - no nutritional additives. Once the seeds begin to sprout, you can leave them sit in a strainer for another day (again rinsing them twice daily). Then the sprouted seeds will keep in the fridge for about another five days. Bob
3 canaries
2 orange cheeked waxbill finches
2 java finches, 1 split to normal, 1 white
2 bourke parakeets
1 american staffordshire/american pit bull terrier
1 boston/jack russel terrier mix
6 adopted stray cats
2 adult, 1 young leopard gecko
4 fish tanks and 4 fish bowls
3 turtles
2 teenage kids and 1 wife
2 orange cheeked waxbill finches
2 java finches, 1 split to normal, 1 white
2 bourke parakeets
1 american staffordshire/american pit bull terrier
1 boston/jack russel terrier mix
6 adopted stray cats
2 adult, 1 young leopard gecko
4 fish tanks and 4 fish bowls
3 turtles
2 teenage kids and 1 wife
- L in Ontario
- Mod Emeritus
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Re: Sprouting Seeds and/or Millet Sprays
I use about 1 tablespoon of ACV to a pitcher of water and do not do any water changes. Just rinse well at the end.
Last edited by L in Ontario on Fri Aug 10, 2012 6:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: correct # of tbsp from 2 to 1
Reason: correct # of tbsp from 2 to 1
Liz
- Sally
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Re: Sprouting Seeds and/or Millet Sprays
I've also been doing the Mike Fidler way, and then I freeze the chitted seed. That way, I don't have to constantly have sprouting going on. I used to have multiple jars going on my kitchen counter.
- cindy
- Bird Brain
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- Location: west central Florida
Re: Sprouting Seeds and/or Millet Sprays
Sally, when you take it out of the freezer do you thaw it in the fridge or set it in warm water?
Zebra, Gouldians, Java, CBM Shaft tail & Grasskeets
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- Bird Brain
- Posts: 14789
- Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:30 am
- Location: WV
Re: Sprouting Seeds and/or Millet Sprays
There is no reason to defrost the sprouts they are not a solid block so you can just put them right into the dish.
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)
GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56
- cindy
- Bird Brain
- Posts: 18754
- Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:33 pm
- Location: west central Florida
Re: Sprouting Seeds and/or Millet Sprays
Thank you Debbie.
Zebra, Gouldians, Java, CBM Shaft tail & Grasskeets
~ My Facebook groups ~
*Finchaholics ~ finches, hookbills, softbills & canaries are welcome here!
discussions regarding species, housing, breeding, preventatives, treatments
*Birdaholics ~ Avian Classified Ads Only
- Sally
- Mod Extraordinaire
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- Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:55 pm
- Location: DFW, Texas
Re: Sprouting Seeds and/or Millet Sprays
Exactly. For the most part, they stay nice and loose in the freezer container, I just scoop out what I need at the time. You may get a few lumps, but they are easily broken up.debbie276 wrote:There is no reason to defrost the sprouts they are not a solid block so you can just put them right into the dish.
- cindy
- Bird Brain
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- Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:33 pm
- Location: west central Florida
Re: Sprouting Seeds and/or Millet Sprays
With a large amount of birds that sounds quick and easy....a good thing!!!
Zebra, Gouldians, Java, CBM Shaft tail & Grasskeets
~ My Facebook groups ~
*Finchaholics ~ finches, hookbills, softbills & canaries are welcome here!
discussions regarding species, housing, breeding, preventatives, treatments
*Birdaholics ~ Avian Classified Ads Only