How do I do sprouted seed?

[joofler]

I was wondering how to do sprouted seed? I tried it once before but it wouldn't sprout, supposedly it was too cold. How do i do it in a colder climate?

Thanks Jack

[gomer]

Heres a good link. We have Vikon s available aswell.Or others use bleach etc.... But the way below is far easiest.

http://www.birdsrus.com.au/Articles.html?page=154

[TomDeGraaff]

If you ask 100 bird breeders how they sprout their seed, you'll probably get 111 answers!

If it works for you when you try one, stick to it but do the routine religiously. Deviation may produce bacterial or fungal infections. I know of some breeders who have stopped using sprouted seed due to the risk. I reckon that's a bit overboard.

To counter these infections, you can use bleach, which basically breaks down to a salt, or Mike Fidler pioneered (to me, anyway!) the use of Virkon s as the "steriliser".

I wonder a bit about using an antiviral/bacterial/fungal agent too regularly. Could it lead to resistance problems???

Anyway, I take some mixed seed, soak it in water (with a good "splosh" of plain bleach (plain brand is ok) overnight. In the morning, I rinse it in a strainer 2-3 times then leave it to sit in the strainer draining during the day. I then put it into a container to sprout. This can take several hours or a day depending on the temperature. When it is swelling and has the little white tips to it, I freeze it in daily portions. There is also a lovely earthy smell to the right stuff which you will notice when it is sprouting.

Well, my way is good for me but I would bet there are better recipes around. Good Luck! The birds love it!!!

Tom

[SamDavis]

Here's what I do....
I use Virkon S for the soak and I let it soak overnight. I then just drain out most of the liquid through a kitchen sieve. I use the lid on an angle to stop most of the seed coming out so the sieve just picks up the seed that gets through. I then just leave it with lid just resting on top to sprout. It usually takes 2 or even 3 days to sprout at my place but in hot weather it can be faster and in winter I put it in a warm place (on the fly box or on the old fridge works for me). I'll give it a stir and a rinse once a day. When sprouted I store it in the fridge for a few days and then any not used needs to be frozen. Many people say the birds prefer it fresh rather than having been frozen and they maybe right. Currently I'm adding handrearing formula as the softfood to my sprouts but there's other options. It's best to add the softfood before freezing at it seems to soak up any excess remaining moisture which helps to prevent you ending up with a frozen lump of ice.
I agree with Tom about the smell - it's a sort of earthy yet sweet smell. If it's gone off then it smells urky!

[willy]

Mike Fidler's method is on YouTube.

[Diane]

Here is a link to the Youtube video mentioned.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xdo4XkExes

[USAFinch]

I have good luck using GSE , grapefruit seed extract, purchased from a local vitamin/ health food shop. I have fantastic results w/it, especially soaking millet on the stalk- birds love it!

[Tiaris]

I use the Virkon method without rinsing (just strain off water then stir occasionally until sprouted). I do a large quantity once a month & freeze for daily use. This year for the first time in recent years, I've stopped feeding frozen green millet altogether & just offered sprouted finch mix as the sole daily soft seed to breeding aviaries. Its been the best Gouldian breeding season I've had for many years so the sprouted seed has served them at least as well as frozen "milk" seed nutritionally. I won't be spending hundreds of dollars per year on frozen millet any more.

[joofler]

Thanks for that, ill be sure to give it a go.

Thanks

[Cacoonkitty]

So you add bleach !!!! Wow that's poisonous is it !!! :-/
I wonder if I have done it in correctly...I soaked it for 12 hours changing the water regularly and they drained it and rinsed well and drained and then fed it...is this a bad way of doing it ?? Have on,y down this once... Should I remove the soaked seed after a certain amount of time,,,like a few hours if un eaten in this time ?