How to germinate wheat for chickens - step by step instructions, features and recommendations

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

For a long time, poultry farmers have germinated wheat, which was later used as feed for chickens to increase egg production. In addition, this product improves the quality of eggs. Germination is mainly carried out in winter, because in the cold season, chickens spend more energy on hatching and laying eggs than in autumn, spring or summer. Let's take a closer look at how to germinate wheat for chickens.

Important moment

Before we begin to consider the main issue, you should pay attention to the fact that if you feed your chickens only germinated wheat, then this will not bring any benefit. Any animals and birds, especially "productive" ones, must receive different nutrients from a large list of foods, just like a person. That is why you should think about compiling a complete right diet for yourfeathered. All the substances that birds get from food must completely fill the need for laying hens, otherwise, instead of large eggs, you will get tiny ones.

Benefits of sprouted wheat

Before you germinate wheat for chickens, you should also familiarize yourself with the benefits of this product. It should be noted that even some people include he althy sprouted wheat in their daily diet. Such grain helps birds to accumulate energy potential. This is explained by the fact that at a certain time of development, wheat accumulates many useful things and elements, thereby bringing the greatest benefit to animals. Sprouted grains, as a medicine, are able to cope with the following problems in chickens:

1. Digestive problems.
2. Small eggs.
3. Low immunity.
4. Weak muscular and skeletal system.
5. Slow metabolism.
6. Bird obesity.

Possible harm

Before germinating wheat for chickens, special attention should also be paid to the possible harm that comes from this product. However, this only happens if you overfeed the birds. The danger will be that sprouted wheat accumulates a large amount of iron. Given the small mass of birds, an excess of this substance can provoke a deterioration in a variety of he alth indicators in birds. It is necessary to observe the measure while feeding chickens. It is believed that the maximum wheat in the dailydiet should be no more than 30% of all products.

How to germinate wheat for chickens?

The good news for beginners is that sprouting seeds does not require any special skills or special tools. Absolutely anyone can get an incredibly useful product from simple grain. If you do not know how to germinate wheat for laying hens, then you should read the instructions below.

Select grains

Sprouted grains must necessarily be of high quality, because the properties of the resulting sprouts from the grains will directly depend on this. You can buy wheat in the market, in a store, in a country farm. By purchasing this product, you need to check it for quality. Make sure that the grain is free of impurities, has a golden dark brown or light brown hue. Don't skimp on your birds. Be sure that the increase in egg production in the near future will pay off all the money spent, while you will be calm about the he alth of your wards.

Soaking grain

So, how to germinate wheat for chickens when you have already bought? To do this, it is necessary to soak the grains in a deep container. However, water must not overflow from the container. As a container, you can use a basin, a bucket, a plastic bottle from plain water with a cut-out top, a plastic bath and much more. However, experts do not recommend soaking in a metalcontainers, since the metal draws out all the useful substances.

How to germinate wheat at home for chickens next? Water must be poured into the container. If the grain was stored in a warm place, then the water temperature should be from 40 to 45 degrees. But if the wheat has been in the cold for a long time, then all of it must be poured with hot water. Thanks to this, the grains will wake up from the cold. Please note that the final temperature of the mixture after adding hot water to cold wheat should be about 45 degrees.

Holding

We continue to consider how to germinate wheat for chickens in winter. The mixture, which is obtained after mixing water and grain, must be removed in a dark and warm room. The container is covered with a lid, left for 15 hours. At this stage of germination, nothing needs to be done.

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What to do next? How to germinate wheat for chickens in winter? When 15 hours have passed, the wheat must be pulled out of the container, put on a tray. If excess water has formed on the tray, then it must be drained. Then take a clean, new tray, or spread an oilcloth on a surface that is protected from drafts and cold.

The grains are laid out in such a way on the surface that the layer is not too thick, otherwise the wheat will begin to rot. Next, they take a piece of fabric made from natural fibers, moisten it in warm non-chlorinated water, put it on top of the grains. Please note that the fabric must be moistened periodically to keep it from drying out.

Final stage

So, we almost learned how to quickly germinate wheat for chickens. At the last stage, after 2 days of wheat being under a damp cloth, it should sprout new shoots. Some firms recommend to endure one more day so that they grow strong and long. However, this is not required. Here is a ready-made nutritional product that can be used to feed chickens.

However, pay attention to the fact that when the sprouts are 6 mm long, the farmer will improve the diet of birds due to the content of vitamin A.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that it is not recommended to soak a large amount of grain. The fact is that the germinated product can be stored for a long time. So that these precious and useful sprouts do not deteriorate, ready-made grains are used for 2-3 bird feedings.

When to give wheat to chickens?

If you are a caring owner, you can prepare such delicious and he althy food for your feathered stock throughout the year. But if you don’t have the strength and time to harvest germinated grains throughout the year, then you can add wheat to the diet only in winter and autumn.

There are several recommendations for feeding chickens with such a useful product. Experienced farmers advise giving sprouted wheat to birds in the evenings, when they go to sleep. In this case, the grains must be poured onto a deep bedding in the chicken coop.

There are many arguments in favor of daytime and nighttime feeding of sprouted wheat birds. Some farmers argue that during the day it is also necessary to feed the chickens with germinated wheat. After all, it is at this time of day that chickens eat grain most actively, as they are constantly on the move, quickly work up an appetite.

In addition, it is recommended to feed chickens during the day if they are overweight. This way they won't overeat at night. Consider this indicator if you grow these birds for slaughter.

Increase in useful properties during germination

What will change in case of germination of a green shoot in wheat? Dry grains contain starch and complex fats, which the body of chickens breaks down on its own, turning them into fatty acids and simple carbohydrates. The body spends a lot of energy on this process, while not all substances will be absorbed.

In the case of grain germination on its own at home, wheat produces within itself those processes that should be carried out by the bird's body. Thanks to this, the process of processing and obtaining nutrients by the chicken body is much faster and easier.

In addition to such transformations, wheat contains a large amount of amino acids that are necessary for the proper functioning of the bird's body. These amino acids strengthen the immune system, accelerate the metabolic process that occurs in the body of chickens. A large amount of minerals will provide support for the development of bone and muscle tissue, also affecting the size and size of the eggs. Vitamins in wheat related toto various groups, will protect laying hens from any diseases, regulate hormonal levels, and at the same time contribute to the acquisition or maintenance of stable oviposition.