Soaked seed smelling "sweet/fermented"?
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- Fledgeling
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Soaked seed smelling "sweet/fermented"?
I've always had this issue. It's nothing a good wash can't fix but I haven't come across anything that can cure this issue. Obviously the seed isn't supposed to smell. I've even been using Sparkle, but even then it doesn't stop the seeds from smelling after 10 hours or so. How long am I supposed to soak, exactly?
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- Bird Brain
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Re: Soaked seed smelling "sweet/fermented"?
I sprout my seeds the Mike Fidler way. Here's video of Mike showing you how:
http://www.fabulousfinch.com/cart/pages ... ideos.html
http://www.fabulousfinch.com/cart/pages ... ideos.html
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
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Re: Soaked seed smelling "sweet/fermented"?
what type of seed are you soaking...Brown top has a smell to it when wet.
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- Fledgeling
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Re: Soaked seed smelling "sweet/fermented"?
Browntop Millet, Japanese Millet, Dove Proso Millet, German Foxtail Millet, White Proso Millet & Red Proso Milletcindy wrote: what type of seed are you soaking...Brown top has a smell to it when wet.
Maybe that's it.
- cindy
- Bird Brain
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Re: Soaked seed smelling "sweet/fermented"?
Brown top has a odd order if it gets wet...sort of what you are describing.
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- 30 Seconds to Bob
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Re: Soaked seed smelling "sweet/fermented"?
I always put a couple of drops of bleach in the water and change it twice a day. I soak for 36 to 48 hours, then either refrigerate it right away or let it sit in a strainer for another day, rinsing it twice daily. Some of it will begin to sprout. Bob
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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
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Re: Soaked seed smelling "sweet/fermented"?
Brown top millet smells. I add grapefruit seed extract to the water to preserve the seed I soak. It smells nutty if its good.
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- Amateur Architect
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Re: Soaked seed smelling "sweet/fermented"?
I soak the seed in a mix of bleach and water for 8 hrs, rinse with clean often until it just starts to sprout. In the fridge it goes. use as needed
lou
lou
- cindy
- Bird Brain
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Re: Soaked seed smelling "sweet/fermented"?
Jon, the mix you are using has the same brown top in it....I have noticed if it gets wet even from a bath, even right after it is first gets wet it has a little ordor to it. Some soak it in water with a few drops of apple cider vinegar. some use graefruit seed extract.
you can try boiling it as well. Since you are in Florida try growing it in a pot on your back porch.
you can try boiling it as well. Since you are in Florida try growing it in a pot on your back porch.
Zebra, Gouldians, Java, CBM Shaft tail & Grasskeets
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*Finchaholics ~ finches, hookbills, softbills & canaries are welcome here!
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- cindy
- Bird Brain
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Re: Soaked seed smelling "sweet/fermented"?
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
- Foosa101
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Re: Soaked seed smelling "sweet/fermented"?
What??????????? You all just think the browntop smells?
It all smells to me, whether it be millets, grass seed, you name it.
It's plant matter in water and will decay if it is completely saturated and the longer it sits the worse it gets. Yack!! I can smell it now...like dead animal almost - GOO! But Cindy is right on, applying an acidic solution, should kill the bacteria that are causing the stench.
Either my snifffer is extraordinary or ya'll have worse sinus problems than I do.






Either my snifffer is extraordinary or ya'll have worse sinus problems than I do.


- Foosa101
- CocoFiber Craftsman
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Re: Soaked seed smelling "sweet/fermented"?
Smells like swamp or dirty lake or pond multiplied by 1,000 but, then again, I don't go around swampy areas with my face that close to the ground.cindy wrote: Jon, the mix you are using has the same brown top in it....I have noticed if it gets wet even from a bath, even right after it is first gets wet it has a little ordor to it. Some soak it in water with a few drops of apple cider vinegar. some use graefruit seed extract.
you can try boiling it as well. Since you are in Florida try growing it in a pot on your back porch.


- monotwine
- Proven
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Re: Soaked seed smelling "sweet/fermented"?
LOL
Try washing the seed first in a strainer to get off any loose bits of stuff that would start decomposing sooner.
I then soak my seed in good fresh water for 6-8 hours only. You don't need to soak it for days on end. The seed can absorb all it needs in this time. I don't add anything to the water then, as I don't want any of it absorbed into the seed.
After the initial soak, I then rinse the seed in fresh water, place this in a mix of water and F10SC (safe disinfectant) for 5min,
Strain off and then I leave mine in a sealed container in a dark, cool place to sprout.
I don't know brown top millet, but I've never had my seed smelling like a swamp.
Try washing the seed first in a strainer to get off any loose bits of stuff that would start decomposing sooner.
I then soak my seed in good fresh water for 6-8 hours only. You don't need to soak it for days on end. The seed can absorb all it needs in this time. I don't add anything to the water then, as I don't want any of it absorbed into the seed.
After the initial soak, I then rinse the seed in fresh water, place this in a mix of water and F10SC (safe disinfectant) for 5min,
Strain off and then I leave mine in a sealed container in a dark, cool place to sprout.
I don't know brown top millet, but I've never had my seed smelling like a swamp.

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- Fledgeling
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Re: Soaked seed smelling "sweet/fermented"?
I've been using a higher dose of sparkle and a touch of apple cider vinegar and the smell has seemed to dissapear.
Thanks guys!
