Down the Beaten Path

Down the Beaten Path

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Sprouted Grains animals....

I know I know you wanted this part yesterday but I had to have you want to come back didn't I? Ok here it goes....

Sprouting for animals so far is about the same as I explained how to do it yesterday just on a much larger scale. And it tends to sour a lot faster no matter the temp and would probably mold faster to.

I use 5 gallon buckets one we have drilled holes in the bottom. Again sorry no pixs, but here are some links to where I learned what to do.

To Sing With Goats

DIY Sprouted Fodder

Sprouted Fodder System

And there are various videos on youtube I found useful. The main article that got me thinking is one from the Dairy Goat Journal the article is not online but in the magazine so sorry I can link to it.

The difference in fodder and just sprouting is the fodder is like growing grass you want to grain to grain and inch or two and the root system is thick and matty. Sprouting is soaking it for the 12 hours let it sit drained for 12 hours and either feeding it then or rinsing and draining again for another 12 hours but not letting it grow like the fodder.

Both ways are started the same your just letting the fodder get established more. Right now I soak my wheat, oats, and barley for 12 hours, let drain and sit for 12 hours and feed. I tried soaking for 24 and it soured every one ate it but didn't like it as much. Then I tried soaking 12, draining setting 12, rinse drain 12 but that too soured. Again they ate but didn't like it as much. The way we do it now works fine and it is still beneficial but I want more of a sprout on the grain but not fodder without the sour.

I know the more I do this the more I will learn and the more I will refine the way I do it. The cost is cheaper than what we were doing, the animals like it especially the cows, and the chickens have all started laying again without extra light. Usually in the winter they molt and slow down on laying since chickens need 14 hours of light a day to lay but we are finding eggs again daily.

I did try fermented grains for the chickens and guineas, they didn't like it as much as the sprouted grains which is really right now just soaked grains. So I soak enough for everyone cows, bucks, does, chickens, guineas, the puppy since he likes them too. The rabbits still get pellets are now at least.

I have also switched the goats to Real Salt instead of the livestock salt, they get baking soda free choice, kelp, ACV in their water which the cows love, probiotics sprinkled on their feed along with herbs I think they might need as well and alfalfa pellets and hay. Every one has there own bowl they eat out of so the feed to measured out for them. Everyone's coats are shiny and heathly looking and they all act the same.

One buck foundered when he was young at his previous owner's place so he gets MSM and a supplement on his feed to help keep his system in balance since founder is caused by an over acidity in the body. Though I do know there are different opinions on this from my research and what we've done with him he is not crippled and breeds and walks around just fine. He actually is the dominate male and bigger than our other buck. They too love the grain but not as much when it has soured.

Now soured and moldy are different so that is why they still eat it. If it was moldy I would toss it outside there pasture to sprout and grow since those grains will grow here in winter. Soured is more like fermented.

As we progress on this I will update you...


Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Sprouting Grains cont.

Ok, I don't have any pictures of this and it is 4am I've been up since 2 this whole can't sleep thing is a little bit of a pain. :0) But while I can't sleep I at least can update you on this little experiment.

As I posted not long ago we sprout grains for us to eat and now are doing it for the animals. For us I have sprouting jars and I sprout seeds like alfalfa to eat but also our wheat I will sprout and then dehydrate and grind for our flour. Usually I will sprout it for a couple of days this depends on the temps etc. I don't let them get as big as our alfalfa because I don't want long sprouts just enough to change the nutrition. Sometimes I will let them get sunlight the last day to build up the chlorophyll like I do the alfalfa.

 
This is the jar I use I have three of them and I like them, click on the picture to read more about the jar. There are several other ways you can do it and what works for me might not work for you. I like the ease of use on this with the wire mesh in the lid.
 
I will start in the the morning or at night fill the jar with the desired amount of grain with wheat usually 3 cups of grain is good this way the grain is loose still once it expands and none of it gets compacted. Alfalfa usually 1 tablespoon and that, once they sprout, will fill the jar.
 
I then fill the jar with water just over the grain swirl it around make sure all the wheat is loose and moving freely and then fill the jar the rest of the way, a few inches above the grain. Or just fill the jar up depending on how full it is and the grain. I let this sit for 8 to 12 hours, longer is better I have found.
 
At the end of the time I drain all the water and make all the grain is loose again. Then I set this on the counter for 8 to 12 hours sometimes like in the heat of the summer I will let the jar set upside down in the sink to let as much as possible grain out to prevent mold. At that time I fill the jar up with water to rinse the grains, drain the water off, and let sit on the counter again. I keep the jar out of direct sunlight at this point. You do this twice a day for however long you want depending again on the grain and what your using it for.
 
Wheat usually I will let it go till you barely see a sprout and then I do a final rinse and drain and put it in my dehydrator. I don't want to kill the goodness in the grain so I only set the temp at 145 and since we have so much humidty this time it takes depends on the season etc. But sometimes it takes 12 to 24 hours but no longer.
 
I prefer this over sour doughing it for things since I haven't figured out sour dough bread and my family only likes sour dough pancakes or crackers. Though my sour dough starter Herman is a very happy camper when he is awake, right now he's sleeping the fridge. the sprouted grain flour makes wonderful breads, biscuits, pizza dough, etc I use it just like any other flour.
 
Come back tomorrow for the sprouting for animals portion.
 
 

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Weddings

 
 
Weddings are always a fun affair and we recently went to a reception for one that was small but lovely. They used the season's colors as their backdrop and her love for the country and antiques for the decorations.
 
They had their reception the night before they were to be sealed in the temple and at first I thought weird but it work out so perfect. It was like a party for the last day they would be single and the next day was the start of their life together. The mood was festive and light and the food was delicious.
 
I hope they have a wonderful life together and all their dreams come true.
 
 

Monday, December 2, 2013

Meet Caeser!

 
Meet our newest addition, Caeser is our livestock guardian dog in training since he is only 15 weeks old....
 
He is a smart little booger and VERY stubborn already. But we are having fun with him and teaching him what we want and don't want, like chasing the chickens and barn cats.
 
We are hoping when it comes times this spring and summer to raise our meat chickens that his presence will deter the fox and other predators that think our place is the local fast food restaurant.