Aussie Finch Forum

Sime wrote:

gomer wrote:Use virkon s and freeze it if wanting to do it bulk and not every day or two.

Ya lost me sorry?

Yep gomer through a little too much in there Sime,keep reading the sprouted seed topics regarding bacteria and fermenting issues and ways to avoid it. Craig

I watched that video Finchy made, I'm home nearly 24/7, so I might give that method a go. I'm only feeding 6 birds, so that's a no brainer.

Update.

Using the method on finch info.com (placing seed on paper towels) I just had a look at what I started yesterday, and most of the millet I used sprouted, but the seed smelt a bit musty and am now paranoid of all this bacteria talk.

So in conclusion, the seed is good for the sprouten, and as posted above, will buy a tea strainer and use finchys method.

We have good clean water in Canberra and I can make a batch of sprouted seed like in the video easily and regularly.

Sime wrote:Update.

Using the method on finch info.com (placing seed on paper towels) I just had a look at what I started yesterday, and most of the millet I used sprouted, but the seed smelt a bit musty and am now paranoid of all this bacteria talk.

So in conclusion, the seed is good for the sprouten, and as posted above, will buy a tea strainer and use finchys method.

We have good clean water in Canberra and I can make a batch of sprouted seed like in the video easily and regularly.

If i remember from that video,there was a number of comments regarding mould in the center of that tea strainer.After soaking the seed for a maximum time of 8hrs it should be rinsed and dried as much as possible and not kept wet but moist on an open flat surface so the air can get to it,as it dries on the top turn it over to get the moist seed on the top. Good luck.
Others on here just use soaked seed and don't bother about sprouting,soak for 4hrs,rinse and feed out.The idea is the seed is soft and easily digested by the young. Craig

Hang on, should I only be sprouting seeds if my birds have youngins?

I've only got adults, no babies, so is it in vein to be sprouting just for adults, or still good for them non the less?

And yes, I'll keep an eye of the mold in the middle of the strainer, but as I've mentioned, I'm home most of the time, and have the time to do these kind of things.

Sprouted seed has a lot of good nutrients for both adults and young and can be fed at anytime whether they have young or not but it has more value to the growing young. Craig

Rodger that

While the consensus is sprouted seed at the very early stage is superior just plain soaked seed is nearly as good.
We only feed soaked seed but the birds are kept in outside aviaries as well.
These days we soak large amounts, drain it very very well and freeze it, ironically in old green seed plastic containers.
If you don't drain it well it will freeze into an ice/seed block.
Today we use Vircon S (sanitiser) but if you are only soaking a small amount, a splash of plain household bleach is fine. Just rinse the
seed well once it has been soaked. You only need to soak it for 3 hours, drain it well and into a container and into the freezer.
If you are only feeding out to under say 10 birds a couple of Table Spoons full into a glazed/plastic bowl is fine per day.
No need to thaw it out. If your birds are feeding chicks up the quantity. Simple but effective.
At a rough guess I would estimate that the Gouldians would feed up to 80% soaked seed to their chicks.

Too easy, being that I only have 6 birds, I'll try the tea strainer method, making sure that the seed inside is mixed around during the time and will make a 5% bleach water mix and give it a clean after it's sprouted to be sure.

I will even do this daily, or every other day, the opposite days just normal seed.