How to tell if sprouted seeds are off?

[dRAG_jUNKIE]

I'm having a bit of trouble sprouting seeds, the first 2 times i tried mike fidler's way and the seed stuck together in small clumps with 1 furry seed in the middle. Now i'm trying another one, this time there are some small clumps with a weird pale seed in the middle but there's no fur. Is this a sign the batch is no good or am i just being paranoid?

[Diane]

I spread the seed out as thinly as possible to stop it clumping up. If it smells off....sort of mouldy/damp dont give it to the birds

[gomer]

I'm having a bit of trouble sprouting seeds, the first 2 times i tried mike fidler's way and the seed stuck together in small clumps with 1 furry seed in the middle. Now i'm trying another one, this time there are some small clumps with a weird pale seed in the middle but there's no fur. Is this a sign the batch is no good or am i just being paranoid?

Are you still using vinegar ???
I do it the Mike fidler way.About 20 kgs at a time to freeze.
I use 9 litre buckets.One with little holes in it inside the other.3/4 fill with seed,put in some virkon/s.top up with water to cover the seed.soak for two hours only.discard water.leave in a warm place not hot, with bucket upside down on top.leave untill chits (starts to shoot) turning seed over a few times during that 24 to 30 hour period.And as Mike says do not wash seed with water.

You may not have enough virkon/s in it.Or perhaps the seed you are using is very contaminated.The seed should have a nice nutty smell to it.it will smell sour if off.

for those who may not have seen the mike fidler way.
http://www.birdsrus.com.au/?page=154

[GregH]

I'm another one that just uses my eyes and nose to tell if the seed has gone off. I sprout every day rather than do it in bulk and freeze. I use disks of filter paper in petri-dishes whuch ar wet with tap-water with an excess to form a thin film. I then cover the paper in a single layer of seed, replace the lid and leave it for 48h after which I water it again, drain and leave it for a further 24 h. I guess mine a more greens than sprouted grain. I usually don't get fungal problems unless I miss the second watering and I get bacterial problems if there is excess water from the start and/or the weather is cold ( and that's not too often in the tropics). So I always have 3 dishes on the go, each at different stages. It's labor intensive but I think live sprouts are better than frozen. If you want to sprout in bulk a company from Japan that promotes the benefits of sprouted rice for humans (http://en.item.rakuten.com/prema/51340/) produces a sprout incubator which uses a copper pot as the sprouting container as supposedly the copper inhibits fungal growth. I may be worth a tring a copper container - I wouldn't waste my money on the incubator.

[dRAG_jUNKIE]

Thanks for your help guys.
Gomer, I haven't been using the vinegar. I'll get another batch going this arvo, will swap for another brand of seed and up the vikron.

[dRAG_jUNKIE]

That last batch was a dud aswell but i think i may have been waiting for it to sprout instead of chucking it in the freezer after the reccomended 24-30 hours, i guess that might've been my problem. Can you leave the seed indoors where the sun gets to it to help it sprout, or will this just make it easier for germs to get going?

[miggy5290]

I agree with gomer once I started using virkon s it has all been good. Even smells clean and santised.

[SA Parrot Finch Man]

I had never heard of Virkon until i had a read of this post. I used the avi-clens stuff when i used to sprout seeds. I must be behind the times! Is this stuff (Virkon) readily available at most Bird shops or do i have to order it online?
Mick

[Mickp]

I get it from bird r us online, havent looked anywhere else

[SA Parrot Finch Man]

I get it from bird r us online, havent looked anywhere else

No worries. I have just ordered some from there. Alot easier the way its done now (sprouting seeds) than the way i was doing it with jars lining the kitchen sink everyday. lol.
Mick