steve49
156 posts
Aug 10, 2009
5:52 PM
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when i raised tricolor parrot finches, obesity was a real problem, since a dry seed diet was high in carbs, and these particular birds did not often eat dry seed in the wild. so, by soaking their seed overnight, (with bleach to kill fungi) and rinsing and soaking again, the seed would start to 'sprout', which really increased the protein content, and dropped the carbs. i was one of only a handful of people who were able to breed these finches, and i'm confident that the sprouted diet was a big reason. So, i'm thinking of trying some sprouted seed/grain with my rollers, what do you think? an increased protein content, readily and easily digestible might be a very good thing for rollers. i might just try it on a trial basis as a treat. they might not even want to eat it after it sprouts. the sprouted seed would need to just poke its stem out when it has the highest protein available. plus, it will look essentially like regular seed, so the birds might go for it.
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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Tony Chavarria
Site Publisher
3543 posts
Aug 10, 2009
7:50 PM
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Steve, I have a couple of acres of land here and I always thought if I could grow my own bird food, it could save allot of money on feed. The protein content is the most expensive part of the feed content. So if what you are going to try, would work, it could save some of us with larger quantities of birds some good money every month! Keep us posted with your findings!
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FLY ON! Tony Chavarria
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BA Rollers
274 posts
Aug 10, 2009
8:06 PM
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I don't see why they wouldn't like it. I raise all sorts of hookbills and finches and they love greens of just about any kind. They particularly love sprouts of just about any kind of greens with a few exceptions. I don't give greens to my pigeons, but I know of several who do and they say they love them. While giving some calliflower leafs I plucked from the garden to my aviary birds, I decided to throw a large leaf in with a breeding pair of rollers. It was a large leaf. The next morning I noticed it was completely gone. I put another one in a few days later and watched them go right to it, eating away. I suspect a person could sprout wheat in small containers and place the containers in the lofts and let the birds pick at the new sprouts. I've noticed none of my birds of any kind, including the chickens, will pick at the pea sprouts. Not sure why that is.
Last Edited by on Aug 10, 2009 8:07 PM
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Ballrollers
GOLD MEMBER
2000 posts
Aug 11, 2009
7:16 AM
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Steve,
Sprouts are definitely more nutritious than grains. The increase in vitamins and protein in the germ, necessary for the sprouting process is enormous, so I don't doubt that it would be good for our birds. The only problem that I see is the logistics of sprouting and handling such large quanitities as would be necessary. But it makes good sense.
Cliff
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steve49
157 posts
Aug 11, 2009
12:05 PM
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i'm glad all of you who responded had positive things to say about sprouted seed. now, to be accurate, i'm not talking about sprouting seed in a pot of soil, i'm referring to soaking seed in a wire seive (like you've got in your kitchen, probably) and suspending it in a bowl of water overnite. i always added a few drops of bleach to kill off any pathogens. the next day the seed is rinsed thoroughly, removing any trace of bleach and cleaning it further. another day with the same process is usually sufficient. what i'm looking for is for the seeds to just swell up and begin to grow, pushing out their first stem/root just a bit, and then its fed to the birds. refrigerate any unused portion for feeding the next day. even if you didn't want to feed all your birds all the time with sprouted seed, its certainly something to add to the mix.
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1312 posts
Aug 11, 2009
12:11 PM
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Steve, I knew you were worth your daily ration of salt! I am going to get up from this key board and sprout some seeds! Nice job.
Thom
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Ballrollers
GOLD MEMBER
2002 posts
Aug 11, 2009
12:12 PM
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Steve,
I used to sprout seed in a sprouter for my own consumption. The biggest problem was mold, of course, and storage. It sounds like you have had some degree of success in dealing with that problem. Lentils, alfalfa, and beans were the most common ones that I used. I think our birds might work on the alfalfa sprouts and lentils. I have never tried to sprout wheat, milo, or Austrian Peas. Why don't you give it a go and let us know how it works out!
Cliff
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steve49
159 posts
Aug 11, 2009
7:26 PM
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i'll give it a try, but i don't think the pellets will sprout. ;0
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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pana
3 posts
Aug 11, 2009
8:24 PM
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The benefits of sprouted seeds is well known to canary breeders, so I know the preparation of this seed as Steve describes it, the only thing with pigeons, they don't peel the seed hull and swallow the sprout, pigeons swallow the seed whole. It's my experience that seed that is not hard and firm isn't palatable for swallowing and perhaps be rejected by pigeons?
On the subject of supplying extra protein to our rollers, how much is enough. I've kept homers and on their return from a race their muscle is so depleted they need the protein boost to build up muscle waisted in flight. Flying rollers might deplete energy but certainly not muscle mass after a just a half hour flight, so why are we bulking up on protein in their feed, is it necessary?
Thom, yes we have more than rollers in common, I work for the Fire Department.
Regards
Steve
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1322 posts
Aug 13, 2009
11:53 AM
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pana, Steve, There are several firefighters on the list. All are great guys. If you have time and would like feel free to email me.
Be safe!
Thom
Last Edited by on Aug 13, 2009 11:54 AM
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steve49
173 posts
Aug 13, 2009
4:02 PM
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thom, maybe they need your fire hose to put out the UK thing! LOL i'm going to start a small amount to sprout, as i am not going to buy separate varieties of grain and sprout each one separately. come to think of it, that may not be such a bad idea. what would be a good grain to sprout that the birds would go after? hmmm....
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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Pinwheel
237 posts
May 06, 2010
7:24 PM
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bumping
So did anyone try this? Have any results to share?
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Flying in someone else's backyard: Portable Kits
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