Sprouting
Bird Health Care
Sprouting seed presents the simplest method of providing your birds with fresh greens. They are a healthy food addition for all birds, but are absolute necessity for the feeding hen and for the newly weaned young.
- Don't want to go through the trouble of sprouting? Please refer to "Veggie Bites" as a convenient, yet healthful alternative or complementary food item to sprouts.
I always provide sprouts, every day without fail -- even if I don't have time to wash and cut veggies and fruits some days -- providing a spoonful of sprouts is so easy and convenient, and I know it's good for my birds. Sprouts offer an inexpensive and convenient way to feed fresh greens to your birds daily.
Little time, effort or space is needed to make sprouts.. In addition to the regular bird seeds, many seeds for sprouting are available in health food stores. If you are like me and appreciate the convenience of quality prepared mixes, then please click here.
Basics of Sprouting:
You start with a good sprouting mix. I use, and love, Simple Sprouts. Take a small portion of it and rinse it well. Then cover it with water (1 part of seeds to 5 parts of water) and put it in the fridge overnight.
The next morning, rinse well and place in a common strainer (like the one to the right) and place the strainer in a plastic or glass container that allows any rinse water to drain into the container.
Water the mix several times a day thoroughly to remove any mold / bacteria, etc. and also to keep the sprouting mix moist -- a requirement for sprouting. Your sprouts should have an agreeable / sweetish scent. If you can detect a foul smell -- an indicator of bacteria or mold growing on it -- toss it. Don't feed to your birds. There are ways to prevent your sprouts from going off prematurely, one of which is to rinse frequently and thoroughly to rinse off mold, etc. Other tips are discussed below.
What is Needed for Sprouting:
To sprout seeds, the seeds are moistened, then left at room temperature (between 15.4 degrees and 69.8 degrees Fahrenheit or 13 and 21 degrees Celsius) in a sprouting vessel. Moisture, warmth, and in most cases, indirect sunlight are necessary for sprouting.
Many different types of vessels can be used:
- A normal kitchen sieve propped up in a plastic or glass container / bowl works perfectly fine; or
- Tiered’ clear plastic sprouters are commercially available (one is featured to the right). I bought several and found the one to the right to be the easiest one to use. I also tried the "easy sprouter" but I found it cumbersome to use. The tiered sprouter is convenient because it allows me to sprout different crops at different stages. The instructions that come with the sprouter advise you not to wash it in the dishwasher, but I have been doing so without any problems. However, I place the sprouter in the top tray of the dishwasher. Alternatively:
- Automatic Sprouter (featured to the right) -- expensive, but if you don't have time to sufficiently rinse the sprouts -- it represents an option.
Sprouts are rinsed as little as twice a day, but possibly three or four times a day in hotter climates, to prevent them from souring. I keep my sprouts right on the window sill above my sink -- that way they get plenty of light and I can't forget to rinse them throughout the day. If your house isn't air conditioned and you live in a hot and humid area, I would recommend keeping the sprouts in the fridge. They take longer to sprout, but you have less to worry about fungi, mildew or bacteria.
Birds like sprouts when they just started to open up, which usually happens after one day or so of sprouting.
Common causes for sprouts to turn out inedible:
- Seeds are allowed to dry out
- Seeds are left in standing water
- Temperature is high or too low
- Insufficient rinsing
- Dirty equipment
- Insufficient air flow
These problems are easily solved by an automatic sprouter that mists and drains the sprouts at regular intervals. To control temperature, in the winter a warming blanket can be placed under the sprouter, and in the summer small fans in the lid if it's very hot and humid.
How much do I need?
For a few birds only a quarter cup of seeds should be sprouted at a time. Seeds increase in volume tremendously when sprouted. Place the seeds in a clean glass jar. Fill with tap water and let stand at room temperature for twenty-four hours. Rinse and drain completely. I keep the seeds in a sieve propped up in a plastic container and repeat the rinsing and draining completely daily until the seed has sprouted.
Keeps Sprouted Seeds fresh longer:
If a foul odor or mold develops, discard. Preparations are available to prevent spoilage; such as:
Sprouting by T. Billings - Excellent article on sprouting. If you would like to have more in-depth information on this topic, this article is likely to have it.Add 1 ounce 3% hydrogen peroxide to 1 pint of water and soak the seeds overnight. Add the same amount of hydrogen peroxide each time you rinse the seeds. (It prevents bacterial growth)
Alternatively, adding a few drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) in the soaking and rinsing water will also prevent pathogens from developing.
Rinsing and draining well is very important. Any surplus sprouts may be refrigerated up to two weeks.
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Information contained on this website is provided as general advice only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought.
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