More confusion with soaked seed

[star]

The more I read the more confused iIget on what method to use for soaking seed.
Are either of these two methods correct?
1. Soak the seed for 12 hours ( i know you need to rinse a few times ). After 12 hours rinse and drain. Let drain for 12 hours, then rinse, drain and serve to the birds?

2. Soak the seed for 12 hours. After 12 hours rinse and drain. let drain 24 hours rinsing several times. Then rinse drain and serve?

How long does it take to get little tails?

Which is the best method to get the most nutrient value?

I am using birds r us white sprouting mix and I use a little bit of food grade hydrogen peroxide and a drop of grapefruit seed extract to keep away bacteria and fungus.

Also when the seed is very soft do the birds eat the hulls too? Because I was wondering about sprinkling on supplements then if they would get it all.

So am I getting any of this right? Also if I soak millet do they eat the whole thing or is there a hull they spit out?

[ac12]

I may not have it right but this is what I do for soaked seeds.
- I measure out about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of seeds (amount depends on which cage and how many birds)
- rinse the seeds a couple times
- put the seeds into a small medicine bottle w 1" of filtered water above the seeds + 2 drops of ACV
- let it sit for 9-24 hours. The time depends on when I start preping the seeds. Sometimes I wait till the end of the day so the soaking will be about 9hrs, other times I prep immediately after giving the seeds so then the soak will be 24hrs.
- rinse the seeds a couple times
- spread the seeds out on a flat dish and give to the birds.

I have also done sprouting or almost sprouting seeds.
I do it based on Tiffany's description.
- I soak the seeds for at least 2 hrs
- rinse the seeds and drain most of the water out.
- I put the seeds back into the bottle, then lay the bottle on the side so the seeds spread out.
- let it sit for 24hrs (if I let it sit for 48hrs the seeds may have sprouted too much with the root up to 1/2" long)
- rinse the seeds a couple times
- spread the seeds out on a flat dish and give to the birds.

The idea is to give it to the birds with the seed hull softened by the soaking, so you have to give it to them wet. If the seed drys out, the hull will get hard again. I read that the newly fledged chicks, their beaks are not as hard as the parents, so it is easier for them to open the soaked seeds.

The presprouting or sprouting is when the seed increases its nutritional value. I don't know the botany in how or why this works.

[L in Ontario]

I do not 'sprout' seeds but for soak seed I simply 1/2 fill a pitcher with soak seed and cover with water and about 1 tbsp ACV for 12 - 24 hours. Drain really well in a sieve and mix immediately with the processed hardboiled eggs I cooked the day before and put in the fridge to cool. Then fill sandwich ZipLok bags and freeze until I need them. Take one baggie out of the freezer, thaw and pour into a large bowl. Add dry eggfood (Orlux Tropical Finch), 1 tsp CLO, 1 tsp WGO. Mix really well and it's ready for the finches. Unused mix goes into a plastic container and into the fridge to use every morning.

[Sally]

I also just soak the seeds, anywhere from 12 to 24 hours, depending on whether I remember to set up a new batch to soak! To me, the most important thing is to work out a system that works for you and your schedule, don't get hung up on whether it is 8, 12, or 24 hours. The one thing you don't want to do is to leave it sit too long between rinses, as you want it to stay nice and fresh. I try to remember to rinse it every 12 hours. The soak seed should smell kind of nutty--if it smells the least bit sour, toss it.

I found when I was doing sprouted seed, where I was rinsing and draining and rinsing for several days, there was a bigger chance of the seed going sour. That never seems to happen now that I do soaked instead of sprouted.

[fabulousfinch]

Hi Star,

The whole point of soaking or sprouting is to get the seed to start the germination process. Here is an easy way to speed that process up...

Soak the seed for 1.5 to 2 hours using a solution of your favorite bacterial and fungal inhibitor (Apple Cider Vinegar, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Bleach, etc.), then drain but don't rinse or re-wet the seed. Stir it every now and then while it continues to drain and dry (maybe 3 or 4 times during the next 24 hours) at which time you should begin to see "chits" (the very tip of a sprout). You're done!

You don't need to wait for all the seeds to show chits, as when you've seen the first few, you'll know the rest are not far behind. By waiting for the rest, you are increasing the chance of the seed spoiling, and also losing the nutritional value in the seeds that were the first to chit, as they expend their nutritional value as they grow the sprout.

So 24 hours should do it, give or take an hour or two.

Hope that helps!

Bill
http://www.fabulousfinch.com/

[Leda]

http://www.javafinch.co.uk/soak/soakndx.html

This is a great site with pictures of how the seeds should look.

[L in Ontario]

Great pic of 'sprouted' seeds, Leda. My finches won't eat the seed if it sprouts like that. I just get some seeds with a tiny bit of the root to chit then it's "Good To Go"... to my birds' crops.

[Robin.V]

I always soak the seed long enough for it to start sprouting, this is when the seed is the most nutricious for our birdies.

Heres a copy of the method I use that was published on a Irish parrot forum.

Sprouting seed is very nutritious for our birds.
Although dry seed has all the vitamins and goodness that our birds require, once seed has started to germinate and sprout, extra vitamins and minerals are released in the transition from seed to vegetable.

There are various 'soak seed' and 'sprout seed' mixtures available on the market that are ideal for the purpose.

It is worth mentioning at this point that you have to be careful using soak/sprouted seed as moulds and bacteria can form which are harmful to our birds. However, the process is safe if you follow the instructions below, which are proven by the fact I have used it for 1000+ feeds each year and never have had a sick bird

The method we use to soak the seed is explained in the various steps.

Day 1 Soak the required amount of seed overnight in a bleach/water solution ( 2 drops of bleach : 1/2 litre of water).
Make sure that all the seed is covered.

Day 2 The next morning place the seed in a sieve and thoroughly rinse with fresh clean water. Transfer the seed from the sieve into a shallow dish or tub and place in a dark,and preferably warm, cupboard.

Day 3 The following day, again tranfer the seed into a sieve and rinse toroughly with fresh clean water. Place the seed back into the shallow dish and put back into the cupboard.

Day 4 Repeat step 3 the following day.

Usually after 3 days in the cupboard the seed should have sprouted nicely. ( this time can vary depending on the seed, temp, humidity, if the seed is not sprouted at this stage, repeat step 3 again.)

Before feeding to the birds the sprouted seed should be given a final rinse.

It is important not to mix the sprouted seed along with other foods in the cage and equally important not to leave the seed in the cage after it has completely dried out.

If you follow the above advice you should be able to provide your birds with a very nutritious food for rearing chicks, weaning onto solid foods and also as a nice treat