Do you want to grow fodder for your chickens in your backyard?
If yes, this guide will help you a lot.
Growing sprouted fodder in the backyard for chickens is a sustainable feeding solution for flocks.
You just need the proper method to grow and feed fodder to your chickens.
Introduction: Understanding Fodder as a Sustainable Chicken Feed
Higher chicken feed costs and a greater need for sustainable farming have increased interest in alternative poultry feeding options.
Growing chicken feed naturally is getting more popular among these options.
Sprouted grains are a promising option for nutritious animal feed, which reduces the dependence on commercial products.
This definitive guide analyzes fodder for chickens, including its definition, nutritional advantages, economic, and environmental impact, effects on chicken health, and cultivation and feeding strategies.
Defining Fodder for Chickens and Its Growth Cycle
“Fodder” means food for farm animals. This definition includes a variety of agricultural goods, such as hay, straw, silage, and processed feeds.
People have used sprouted grains as livestock feed for centuries. Nowadays, when people talk about chicken feed, “fodder” usually means sprouted grains like barley, but others work too.
When feeding chickens, fodder usually means sprouted grains. These grains sometimes grow into short, grass-like shoots, only a few inches tall, resembling wheatgrass.
Wheat, barley, oats, millet, and other grains are suitable for this. The typical growth cycle of fodder for chickens involves several key stages. Usually, you start by soaking the seeds for 8 to 24 hours.
This soaking starts the sprouting–it’s really important for the seeds to absorb water.
Once they’ve soaked, drain the seeds and spread them evenly in shallow containers with drainage holes so they don’t get waterlogged.
Keep seeds shallow (½ – 2 inches) in the trays so they get enough air and don’t get moldy.
Maintaining proper moisture levels is critical during the growth cycle. Usually, rinse or spray the seeds with fresh, non-chlorinated water two to three times daily to achieve this.
Good drainage after rinsing keeps seeds from getting soggy and moldy. The fodder usually grows for 7-10 days; sprouts show up in a few days and turn into little green shoots.
You can usually harvest the fodder when it’s 1 to 4 inches tall. When broadleaf plants grow their second set of leaves, they are typically ready for chicken feed.
It’s a quick process from soaking to harvest, so if you plant every 3 to 7 days, you can keep getting fresh feed.
Sprouts and fodder aren’t always the same, so knowing the difference is essential.
Sprouts are short germinated seeds (less than 4 inches), and fodder is the more extended version (over 4 inches).
Although growing them is the same, fodder takes longer, so there’s a bigger chance of mold.
Sure, poultry keepers question whether the extra work of growing grains into chicken feed is worth it, given the limited nutritional gains over sprout-stage feeding.
The Nutritional Profile of Sprouted Fodder for Chickens
The nutritional content of the fodder improves, making it a better chicken feed.
Germination triggers enzymes in the seed, converting stored nutrients into usable forms for plant growth, thus leading to this improvement.
These changes improve the digestibility and bioavailability of nutrients for chickens eating the sprouted fodders.
Furthermore, sprouting can substantially increase the feed volume, with some estimates suggesting an increase of up to 600%.
Sprouting boosts vitamins A, B, and E in grains suitable for chickens. We don’t have exact numbers, but it’s better overall.
Poultry that eat fresh greens and grains have higher Vitamin A. Sprouting barley and wheat increases their Vitamin A, and forages are already an excellent source.
Also, sprouting boosts beta carotene, which your body uses to make Vitamin A..
Sprouting grains significantly boosts their B-complex vitamin levels. Thiamin (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Pantothenic Acid (B5), Pyridoxine (B6), and Folate (B9) are crucial vitamins for chicken energy metabolism and nervous system function.
Some research indicates that sprouting can double or even increase the levels of specific B vitamins, such as riboflavin, by several hundred percent.
Like vitamin A, sprouted grains, especially wheat and barley, show increased vitamin E, a key antioxidant, with forage being a natural source.
Besides vitamins, the protein in sprouted grains improves in both amount and quality, with higher levels of key amino acids such as methionine and lysine.
The germination process may even synthesize some amino acids. For example, sprouted barley boasts increased levels of methionine, lysine, and other key amino acids such as threonine, phenylalanine, leucine, and isoleucine.
Chickens need these amino acids for growth, development, and egg laying. The bioavailability of nutrients in grains is improved by sprouting.
This is because sprouting reduces anti-nutrients in whole grains, including phytic acid, tannins, and enzyme inhibitors.
Fewer of these compounds means the body better absorbs essential minerals (zinc, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium) and proteins from sprouted grains.
The higher bioavailability of sprouted grains allows chickens to obtain more nutrients from smaller portions than unsprouted grains.
Economic Advantages of Fodder in Chicken Feed
Using fodder in chicken feed offers economic advantages, mainly by reducing costs compared to commercial feeds.
Using fodder can lower chicken feed costs by supplementing purchased feed.
These potential savings are mainly due to transforming a small grain into a significantly larger quantity of fodder.
The potential for substantial cost savings has been shown in case studies and trials.
According to research, feeding broiler chickens hydroponic barley fodder may cut production costs by 9%.
A separate study found that hydroponic barley fodder reduced egg production costs by 62-64% compared to concentrate feed alone.
Furthermore, a trial involving a mix of sprouted seeds in laying hen diets found the hens required 25% less overall feed.
Barley sprout supplementation in fodder systems for beef cattle reduced feeding costs by 27% per pound of weight gain.
However, remember that establishing and running a fodder system involves significant initial and recurring expenses.
Fodder cultivation needs time and space, and it depends on affordable, accessible grains for profitability.
Some large-scale commercial fodder systems require a lot of manual labor, such as daily tray cleaning.
DIY systems may cost as little as $25, but you’ll need to factor in the initial expense of trays, shelving, and a water source.
Lower-than-expected yields, perhaps caused by mold, could make the whole thing less cost-effective.
To accurately assess the economic advantages for a particular scenario, a full analysis of grain, energy, labor, and fodder system costs is essential.
Environmental Benefits of Fodder Production
Producing chicken feed offers several environmental benefits over traditional methods, mainly in water and land use.
Compared to traditional methods, sprouted grains and hydroponic fodder use significantly less water. This is a major advantage, particularly in water-stressed areas.
Using the land for fodder also has upsides. This can be done in small, indoor spaces, often without soil.
Vertical fodder growing systems further enhance space efficiency. This saves space, which is great if you have little land.
Plus, you can grow feed all year round indoors, so you always have fresh food for your animals, even in winter.
Since the feed is available year-round, we reduce the environmental impact of shipping it long distances.
Positive Impacts of Fodder on Chicken Well-being
Giving chickens the right feed improves their behavior and gut health. Providing fresh greens year-round, especially in winter when natural food is scarce, keeps them happy and active.
Giving chickens fresh sprouts lets them peck and forage naturally. This keeps them happier and less likely to misbehave from boredom.
Also, sprouted grains are easier to digest for chickens because germination simplifies the complex compounds.
Sprouting grains may increase beneficial gut bacteria in chickens. Good gut bacteria are key for absorbing nutrients and feeling great.
Also, the extra nutrients in sprouted grains could give those chickens a stronger immune system.
Adding this stuff to their feed seems to help chickens’ guts, nutrient use, and immunity.
Exploring Common Grains for Chicken Fodder
Chickens eat many different grains, each of which grows and provides different nutrients.
Table: Growth Time and Nutritional Comparison of Common Fodder Grains
| Grain Type | Typical Growth Time (to a few inches) | Key Nutritional Benefits (post-sprouting) | Key Considerations |
| Barley | 6-7 days | Increased protein (up to 13.5%), fiber, methionine, lysine, arginine, threonine, phenylalanine, leucine, and isoleucine. | Contains beta-glucans, which can be an antinutritional factor. |
| Wheat | 7-10 days | Increased protein (up to 50%), vitamins B, C, E, and minerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus). Higher folate, niacin, and B6. | Widely available and sprouts readily. |
| Oats | Longer, may vary | Higher protein, fat, lysine, methionine, cystine, magnesium, GABA. | Higher fiber content can reduce energy availability, making it prone to mold. |
| Millet | 7-10 days | Almost double the protein, increased vitamins, minerals, and more bioavailable nutrients. | Contains anti-nutritional factors that are reduced by sprouting. |
| Alfalfa | Varies | High protein (15-24%), vitamins A, C, K, calcium, and magnesium. | Legume offers a different nutritional profile; it is often used in mixes. |
Barley is often cited as one of the simplest grains to sprout, typically taking 6–7 days.
Sprouting barley boosts protein and fiber; sprouted barley has the most methionine among common fodder grains.
Also, germination increases lysine, arginine, and other essential amino acids.
While potentially anti-nutritional for poultry, Barley’s beta-glucan can be reduced through sprouting.
Wheat, a readily available and fast-sprouting grain, is another popular option, often reaching a few inches in 7–10 days.
Sprouting increases wheat’s nutrients, including protein and vitamins. Sprouted wheat boasts significantly greater niacin, vitamin B6, and folate levels than unsprouted wheat.
Oats are usually the cheapest fodder option, but they’re prone to mold and more challenging to cultivate.
Other grains have shorter growing seasons compared to oats. Oats have higher protein, fat, and essential amino acids such as lysine, methionine, and cystine than other cereals.
Sprouting enhances the nutritional value of oats by increasing protein, free amino acids, magnesium, and GABA. However, high-fiber whole oats may limit the energy chickens get from their diet.
Chicken feed can successfully use millet, a grain that grows as quickly as wheat (7-10 days). Sprouting millet makes it way more nutritious—almost twice the protein!
This boosts vitamin and mineral levels and makes nutrients easier to absorb. Millet has some things that aren’t good for you, but soaking them fixes that.
Alfalfa is a legume, not a grain. It makes excellent chicken feed, especially when mixed with other ingredients.
It’s high in protein (15-24%), and has lots of vitamins and minerals. Sprouting alfalfa seeds further enhances their nutritional value, making them a good source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as calcium and magnesium.
Practical Guide to Growing Fodder for Chickens
Several key steps are vital for successful chicken fodder cultivation. Proper seed preparation and soaking start the process.
Choosing high-quality, untreated seeds ideal for sprouting is essential. To avoid pesticide and chemical harm, organic seeds are frequently suggested.
Some growers opt to disinfect seeds, mainly when using bulk livestock feed, to curtail mold growth, though it’s not required.
Seeds can be treated by soaking them briefly in diluted hydrogen peroxide (3%), household vinegar (rinse well), or diluted bleach.
Now soak the seeds in non-chlorinated water; this crucial step takes 8–24 hours.
Seeds need to be covered by roughly two inches of water, and you should only soak seeds for immediate planting.
After rinsing thoroughly, seeds from the soaking phase are evenly spread across prepared, shallow trays with drainage.
For optimal results, use trays with drainage holes spaced about 5 cm apart to avoid waterlogging and mold.
Position a second, hole-free tray below to collect drips and safeguard surfaces. Spread the soaked seeds in a layer only 2 inches thick; an ideal depth is around half an inch to minimize mold risk.
To retain moisture during sprouting, use a thin layer of soil or coco coir in trays for smaller seeds.
Proper growth depends mainly on sufficient moisture and air circulation. Keep the seeds damp by rinsing or spraying them two to three times daily with non-chlorinated water.
Always drain the trays thoroughly after rinsing to prevent water from becoming stagnant. Proper air circulation around the trays is also vital to prevent mold.
A typical room temperature, between 50 and 70°F, is ideal for growing fodder. Germination doesn’t require direct sunlight, which should be avoided, although indirect light can help sprouts green.
The harvest of chicken fodder takes place about 5–10 days after planting. You’ll know broadleaf plants are ready when their second set of leaves opens up.
To harvest, simply cut the mat of fodder close to the roots. Sufficient seed density yields a single fodder piece from the tray.
Keep your chickens in fresh fodder by using succession planting, sowing new seeds every 3–7 days.
Effective Methods for Feeding Fodder to Chickens
Gradually introduce new feed to your chickens’ diet to avoid digestive problems. Begin by supplementing their usual food with small quantities of fodder.
Fodder’s a good supplement, helping reduce commercial feed, but don’t use it instead of proper feed, especially in the beginning.
If you’re feeding your chickens a lot of fodder, make sure you get the amounts right. Chickens eat 2-3% of their weight in food daily if that’s their major food.
If you’re only feeding one kind of fodder, keep it to about 30% of their total food.
To guarantee complete nutrition, ensure chickens have access to grit, mineral, and vitamin supplements, particularly if fodder comprises a significant portion of their diet.
There are lots of ways to feed chickens. If you’re using those heavy-duty trays, just plop the whole tray of food in their pen.
Otherwise, just dump the food from the tray onto the ground or into their feeder. You can cut the root mat into smaller pieces if you like.
Chickens love pecking at the leaves and seeds in their food, and will usually eat the whole thing, roots and all.
Conclusion: Integrating Fodder into a Holistic and Sustainable Chicken Feeding Strategy
Raising chicken feed ourselves is a great way to save money and be more sustainable.
This process improves the bioavailability of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids in grains, thus enhancing their nutritional value for birds.
Economically, using fodder can significantly reduce feed costs by producing more feed from less grain.
Environmentally, it’s better because it uses water more efficiently than traditional crops and can produce feed in small spaces all year.
Chicken owners should consider flock size, space, time, and resources before using fodder.better gut health.
Chicken owners should consider flock size, space, time, and resources before using fodder.
Supplementing with fodder is good, but don’t cut out commercial feed entirely. Proper grain selection and supplementation improves chicken health and sustainability.
