Place to buy sprouting seeds in Canberra.

[E Orix]

In my opinion, if you are going to feed soaked seed you do it every day.
I feel you should do the same each day with regard to a feeding program.
Through out the breeding season the same, then if you wish you can change it to a non breeding
winter program etc. and you may consider a pre breeding season program.

[SamDavis]

Here's how I sprout seed...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XguZ8drhNIM
In the video I'm being a bit excessive in terms of rinsing with Virkon S as it was hot and dry, plus better to be safe than sorry. At the moment I don't rinse at all, just straight in the fridge once sprouted.

[Sime]

Ahh ok, I'll go out and get the strainer today and see how the birds take to it.

[Sime]

Here's how I sprout seed...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XguZ8drhNIM
In the video I'm being a bit excessive in terms of rinsing with Virkon S as it was hot and dry, plus better to be safe than sorry. At the moment I don't rinse at all, just straight in the fridge once sprouted.

Thanks for that, so the virkon s has no ill effects on the birds. Interesting. I wonder if I can buy any virkon s in Canberra anywhere.

[Tiaris]

You can buy it through AFF. Check with Gomer for availability.

[Tiaris]

As Sam said, you don't need to do the later virkon rinses. I don't rinse mine at all, just soak it in the solution, drain off water, then stir twice/day until sprouted evenly then freeze it. I sometimes stir in some breeding aid or pentavite just prior to freezing. By not rinsing it later it is dry enough by sprouting stage to stay loose when frozen so it can easily be spooned out for feeding. Doing larger batches like this saves daily chores - just scoop it out each day & give to the birds.

[Sime]

A few questions, if I use a 5% bleach solution to clean the seed ( and yes, it will be well rinsed with plain water after) how long do I have to soak the seed in the bleach for to be fully effective? (already sprouted, just cleaning before feeding)

And I've got the details from Gomer to buy Virkon s, but I can get Aviclens from the pet store, is this an ok substitute for virkon s?

Cheers.

[Craig52]

A few questions, if I use a 5% bleach solution to clean the seed ( and yes, it will be well rinsed with plain water after) how long do I have to soak the seed in the bleach for to be fully effective? (already sprouted, just cleaning before feeding)

And I've got the details from Gomer to buy Virkon s, but I can get Aviclens from the pet store, is this an ok substitute for virkon s?

Cheers.

Simon,just soak it in the bleach/Virkon s or Aviclens solution for no less than 8hrs then rinse and drain for as long as it takes to sprout,One soak and one rinse,if you use virkon s there is no need to rinse but as i use Virkon s i still rinse the soaked seed,habit i suppose. Craig

[Sime]

I've been sprouting the seed using a tea strainer, and the seed has never been submerged in water, just kept wet every few hours, the same way as shown in Finchys video. She doesn't use chemicals in the way she does it, but I want to just to be sure, so I just need to know what the amount of time the seed needs to be in the bleach solution to do its job.

FYI, the bleach solution I made has 25mls of bleach in 500mls of water.

[Craig52]

I've been sprouting the seed using a tea strainer, and the seed has never been submerged in water,

FYI, the bleach solution I made has 25mls of bleach in 500mls of water.

As you said above.
This makes the perfect breeding ground for bacteria/mould in a wet tea strainer.You seem to be making the whole situation very hard for yourself.

Get a 2ltr icecream bucket,half fill with seed and pour in your bleach solution,enough to more than cover the seed.Soak for 8hrs,the seed will soak up at least half of the water,the chlorine will evaporate and just leave salt water.After the 8hrs,rinse and drain in a large sieve over another 2ltr container to get as much water out as possible.Raise and lower the sieve in a fast up/down motion to get out as much water as possible and leave to sprout,depending on the temperature,2-3 days and no more rinsing.Feed out the required amount to your birds and place the remainder in the fridge or freeze it. Don't make a simple thing hard,it will drive you nuts if you do.
Hope that helps. Craig