| After spending many hours searching the net trying to find a simpler & a not so expensive feed system I decided to build my own fodder shed. Posted below are my results along with photos, this system is ideal for those of us who don't need the larger feed sheds that are currently on the market. With a few simple store brought items you can create your own hydroponic fodder & start feeding out in 8 - 10 days |
Day 2
If you used barley, you should just be
able to see the white tip of a sprout
beginning at the tip of the grain in your
first days trays. The grain should have
swollen enough now to prevent it from
falling through the drainage holes.
Move these trays up to the shelves,
preferably in an area above the floor
shelves to maximize the use of water
and nutrients. (if any has been used)
Place another twenty trays on the floor
once they have been filled. Flood the
previous days trays water should now
be collecting in the new trays, then
make sure the new trays are flooded.
In the afternoon, give the older trays a
generous watering and flood the new
trays.
If you used barley, you should just be
able to see the white tip of a sprout
beginning at the tip of the grain in your
first days trays. The grain should have
swollen enough now to prevent it from
falling through the drainage holes.
Move these trays up to the shelves,
preferably in an area above the floor
shelves to maximize the use of water
and nutrients. (if any has been used)
Place another twenty trays on the floor
once they have been filled. Flood the
previous days trays water should now
be collecting in the new trays, then
make sure the new trays are flooded.
In the afternoon, give the older trays a
generous watering and flood the new
trays.
Day 3
Continue watering 3 x daily, repeating
the steps for day's 1 & 2
By now you should be able to see a
change in the seed shape.
Continue watering 3 x daily, repeating
the steps for day's 1 & 2
By now you should be able to see a
change in the seed shape.
Day 0
Start off by soaking the amount of
seed you want to sprout. Leave soak
for at least 12 hours I soak my seeds
overnight. For me this is about 6kg per
day this will give me around 20 trays
per day
Start off by soaking the amount of
seed you want to sprout. Leave soak
for at least 12 hours I soak my seeds
overnight. For me this is about 6kg per
day this will give me around 20 trays
per day
Day 1
Place 20 trays snug against each
other on your 'floor' shelf. The
darker this area is the better, so
choose a spot that gets the least
sun.
Cover the bottom of each tray with
approx. 1.5 centimetres of grain. (I
use 2 cups per tray)
Gently water each tray, you will
see that the grain usually evens
out over the bottom of the tray
when you do this. With the trays
sitting on the floor, not all the water
can run off which will allow the
grain to soak. If you put the trays
on shelves from their first watering,
not only will the seed wash through
the drainage holes, it will dry the
grain out to fast and germination
will be slow, if at all.
Place 20 trays snug against each
other on your 'floor' shelf. The
darker this area is the better, so
choose a spot that gets the least
sun.
Cover the bottom of each tray with
approx. 1.5 centimetres of grain. (I
use 2 cups per tray)
Gently water each tray, you will
see that the grain usually evens
out over the bottom of the tray
when you do this. With the trays
sitting on the floor, not all the water
can run off which will allow the
grain to soak. If you put the trays
on shelves from their first watering,
not only will the seed wash through
the drainage holes, it will dry the
grain out to fast and germination
will be slow, if at all.
Day 4
Continue watering 3 x daily, again
repeating steps 1 & 2 remembering to
soak the new grains over night & keep
placing the trays on the floor for the
initial first stage.
Continue watering 3 x daily, again
repeating steps 1 & 2 remembering to
soak the new grains over night & keep
placing the trays on the floor for the
initial first stage.
Day 5
Plenty of roots & the first shoots
should be appearing. The grain should
have swelled to almost 3 x its normal
size
Plenty of roots & the first shoots
should be appearing. The grain should
have swelled to almost 3 x its normal
size
Day 6
Day 7
Things you will Need To Get Started
will all work just as well as long
as the floor is cement or paved.
- A shed I'm using a disused
"walk-through" dairy I have put
up double clear hothouse
plastic along the front, which will
allow plenty of sunlight, while
keeping any draught to a
minimum
will all work just as well as long
as the floor is cement or paved.
- Trays Seedling trays are best as
they have th drainage holes in
the bottom. - Shelving I use mesh cut to size
& have about 7 shelves on top
of each other with approx 30-
35cm space between each shelf. - Water I use creek water & at
present water with a garden
hose, however I will be installing
a "micro" irrigation system just to
cut back on watering time. You
can use a garden hose with
"Rose or shower head nozzle
Day 8
The end result beautiful lush green
feed now ready to feed out. Don't be
surprised if it take your stock several
days to get used to the new food & as
always when introducing something
new take several days or even a week
to get them on full feed
(This tray was the first experiment 8
days ago)
The end result beautiful lush green
feed now ready to feed out. Don't be
surprised if it take your stock several
days to get used to the new food & as
always when introducing something
new take several days or even a week
to get them on full feed
(This tray was the first experiment 8
days ago)
Work out how many trays will fit
into your greenhouse and divide
that number by eight for your
daily production. (if you are
using barley or wheat, 14 for
oats) The bottom 'shelf' of the
green house can be the floor.
There is a purpose for this so
don't forget to count those trays.
My shed is capable of producing
120 trays per day, however I will
base this page on producing 20
trays per day.
Use the best grain you can buy.
Mould effected, dark, shrunken
grain will not sprout. Judge the
grain by its smell. Bad grain
smells rancid. Good grain has a
cereal smell.
into your greenhouse and divide
that number by eight for your
daily production. (if you are
using barley or wheat, 14 for
oats) The bottom 'shelf' of the
green house can be the floor.
There is a purpose for this so
don't forget to count those trays.
My shed is capable of producing
120 trays per day, however I will
base this page on producing 20
trays per day.
Use the best grain you can buy.
Mould effected, dark, shrunken
grain will not sprout. Judge the
grain by its smell. Bad grain
smells rancid. Good grain has a
cereal smell.
What Grain Is Best ?
I have used Barley & had feed up in 8
days. I am going to try Wheat next week
& also Oats. I have read that Barley &
Wheat take 8-10 days Oats is a little
longer at 14 days. I'm also going to try
growing Tritacale & see how that grows.
If anyone has already tried these
please let me know how you went.
I have used Barley & had feed up in 8
days. I am going to try Wheat next week
& also Oats. I have read that Barley &
Wheat take 8-10 days Oats is a little
longer at 14 days. I'm also going to try
growing Tritacale & see how that grows.
If anyone has already tried these
please let me know how you went.
Pictured Grain in Trays - Day 1
As this is a "work in progress" this
page will be updated every couple
of days I will upload current
photos of the way the grains are
growing
page will be updated every couple
of days I will upload current
photos of the way the grains are
growing
What Are Some Of The Benefits ?
- Drought Proofing – The
conversion of seed grain into
beautiful green fodder by a
factor of 6:1 has much appeal
during drought or normal dry
summer periods. - Management Tool – To have
such a fodder available 365
days of the year allows farm
managers to drop lambs, calves,
etc at an optimal time to meet
market peaks, as well as having
the comfort of being able to
produce fat stock that has a
consistent quality. - Productivity in a Shed –
Owners of small properties have
the means to economically
increase their stock numbers
without having to lot feed or the
need to purchase additional
land. - The cost per kilogram is very
competitive – but also varies
depending on the current prices
of the seed grain used.
| Pictured above Barley just starting to sprout - Day 2 & 3 |
This tray of fodder was from
last week. Note the excess
grain being pushed over
the top of the tray. This is
due to having too much
grain in the tray. This lot of
fodder was started in poly
fruit boxes - not a good idea
Also not in picture "A" the
root mass coming down
through the holes in the
tray it hasn't caused any
problems as yet but it could
if left to get too long.
last week. Note the excess
grain being pushed over
the top of the tray. This is
due to having too much
grain in the tray. This lot of
fodder was started in poly
fruit boxes - not a good idea
Also not in picture "A" the
root mass coming down
through the holes in the
tray it hasn't caused any
problems as yet but it could
if left to get too long.
Tray "A"
Tray "B"
Wally having a smell
Magic's Memory "sinking" her teeth in,
she was the only 1 to eat
she was the only 1 to eat
Belle just thought it would be fun
to rub her chin in the root mass
to rub her chin in the root mass