Sprouting seeds

[tonkatiel]

Looking to save some money while still providing a healthy diet... Going through a tough spot at the moment with my partner not being able to find full time work where we've moved to :( My Fids are still getting pellets and a chop mix, but not to the quality or quantity they are used to, and are currently eating a lot more seed than I'd like... This is only temporary, my partner is working part time and has been told it will become full time after xmas, but after all the hard work I've done to make sure my birds have a healthy diet I don't want to stuff it up now, even if it is only for a few months...

I've heard plenty about how sprouted seeds are supposed to be a lot healthier for our fids, and tastier too... Just wondering how I go about doing it? Do I need to buy a sprouting kit or is there a 'DIY' way of doing it? Do I have to buy the sprouting mixes? Or will it work with normal bird seed? I'm happy to do either, and looking at the sprouting mixes they really aren't all that expensive, but if I can do it cheaper it would definitely be a bonus ;)

[Feathers First Aviary]

I sprout beans for my birds practically daily. I've tried doing regular seed mixes but the problem with that is most seed mixes have some sort of pellet in them and they just disintegrate in the water and the cause mold to grow on the seeds before they sprout, also, different seeds take different lengths of time to sprout and some seeds, like hemp seed, are sterilized so they won't sprout at all. I just go to the health food store and buy adzuki, mung, and lentils from the bulk bins. The mung beans are the quickest and easiest, sprouting in as little as two days!

What you want to do is get a little metal hand strainer; put your beans or seeds in it and give them a good rinse. Then put them in a container with enough water just to cover the beans with a few drops of GSE(grapefruit seed extract,or apple cider vinegar. The gse/acv isn't absolutely neccesary but it will inhibit bacteria and therefore mold growth. Let the beans/seeds soak over night and then the next morning, strain and rinse, returning to the container with just a bit of water, not enough that it covers the beans/seeds but enough that they stay damp. Then, that night, before you go to bed, rinse them again, returning them to the container, once again with just enough water to keep them damp, I repeat this process until all the beans have little white tails, at which point they are ready to serve, move them to the refrigerater and they should keep for atleast three or four days. Sorry if that's confusing, I'm typing on my cell phone right now. I have some pictures I can post a little later when I'm on the computer :)

[Wulfgeist]

Thanks, Sara. I got my sprouter today from MSBS and the instructions weren't very clear that came with it. I had to go on youtube and look for a video. Now the sprout mix she sells was out of stock and I had to buy this 5# bag of mix that has stuff that doesn't sound much like it will sprout but maybe is best served dry or soaked. I put some in to soak tonight to give a go. Do birds that aren't used to sprouts take to them very easily?

[Feathers First Aviary]

I haven't really found any birds that don't like sprouts, I give it to all of our babies and they usually go right for them! I've never used a sprouter or sprouting mix though, I just use tupperware containers, a strainer and different types of beans that I buy at the health food store. :)

[spiritbird]

I got that same sprouter from MSBS and she was also out of the seed packet so I got another one from her Organic Naturals. Practilly none of the seeds sprouted. I just started a new batch from The Sprout House on line. Hope it works this time!

[Wulfgeist]

Here's to hoping it does too, Dianne. I thought I read somewhere too that the oat groats won't sprout and there's a lot of them in this mix. If nothing else they might enjoy it dry. I took out some of the soaked seeds tonight after I rinsed and drained it but not sure if they will go for it. I got home so late I think they've already had dinner.