Sprouting grain made easy..

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Fri Aug 19, 2016 10:01 pm

Last year when we ran out of the good stuff, we purchased some straw from our local feed store.
It wasn't really good enough to use as bedding the stems were stiff and thick and it appeared as if the grain was never threshed in the first place, used it for outside as needed to cover ground, plenty of entertainment value and grain to pick at.
After the last rain there appeared to be an extra bonus, the grain has sprouted, as I hoped it would :)

Maximus · Post by **Maximus** » Fri Aug 19, 2016 10:42 pm

that's very interesting. Hmmm.

I have some hay that I keep dry under the deck. For experimental sake I think I'll water it.

goatgal35 · Post by **goatgal35** » Sat Aug 20, 2016 7:16 am

Hay won't sprout like straw will.

argosgirl · Post by **argosgirl** » Sat Aug 20, 2016 7:27 am

Last year I had a bunch of grain sprout in the dust bathing area (I had straw dumped there for the winter). The chickens absolutely loved hanging out there, having a bath and eating and the grains :)

ross · Post by **ross** » Sat Aug 20, 2016 7:29 am

Straw bale gardens . Never did get mine planted . Luck

Maximus · Post by **Maximus** » Sat Aug 20, 2016 8:45 am

goatgal35 wrote:QR_BBPOST Hay won't sprout like straw will.

Meant straw :)

Mind you I've had mine in with the raised beds and it hadn't sprouted. Hmmmm.

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Sat Aug 20, 2016 9:49 am

It might have lost in my original post, but this "straw" hasn't been threshed, so the grain is still in it.
Its the actual grain thats sprouting.
Most straw will have few grains left, but not this much.
The bails are now starting to look like giant hedge hogs. :)

Flat Rock Farm · Post by **Flat Rock Farm** » Sat Aug 20, 2016 2:50 pm

More like giant Giapets!! LOL

Nice tasty, tender treats for the chickens :lunch:

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Mon Aug 22, 2016 10:46 pm

Chia pet, haven't thought of that, perfect description FRF
This stuff just keeps on giving, 3 days later a bit of rain and wait..there is more :)
another unexpected bonus, I tip it ocasionally so it doesn't go moldy on the bottom and there are worms hanging out of the other side, perfect protein and veg combo

There was some excitement in the corner of the run so went to look, prety brazen chipmunk was checking out the chicken goodies until one of the large cockerels spotted him and tried to get a closer look and the chase was on, pretty funny to watch

windwalkingwolf · Post by **windwalkingwolf** » Tue Aug 23, 2016 1:15 am

About 3 years ago we bought a bunch of small square bales of hay for the pigs. When we were unloading, it was obvious that it had been sitting somewhere wet for a little too long as every bale had black and/or white mold on the bottom, so we stacked it half out in the elements to make straw bale gardens the following year and bought better stuff for feed. The moldy bales sagged and melted and grew mushrooms appropriately to rotting hay, so we built our bale gardens and dutifully watered and planted. And damned if they didn't sprout various grasses all over the place. and I had to weed my bale gardens. But anyway, I was wondering, what is the official distinction between 'hay' and 'straw'? I always thought straw was simply old infertile hay, and/or threshed stalks from grain crops. Meaning it shouldn't sprout, or at least not much, especially if old.