Chris Applegate

I have been sprouting for my ducks and chickens for about 6 months. My mixture is (free but uncleaned) oats from a friend and my own buckwheat, corn, sunflower seeds, and beans. My goal is to raise my own feed for about a dozen birds. I use about 3 cups/day dry seed, soaked overnight and then sprouted in plastic trays. I rinse once a day and feed on the 5th day. The chickens adore these - especially in the winter. The ducks will eat them if they feel like it. I also feed cooked squash and potatoes for energy. They all seem healthy!

I have good luck w/Astralorps. The first generation (from an incubator)had a number of broody girls and one of them hatched out 7 eggs when she was less than a year old. Mamma did a great job rearing them for about a month and then let it be known she wanted no part of them. Three of that hatching were hens and all were broody this summer. In fact, all tried to sit on the same eggs in a small next box for several weeks! I chose a mamma, separated her/eggs from the rest in a protected area, and she hatched out and raised the babies much better than her mamma had. Showed them how to do everything and is still protecting them (month 3) now that they're all back w/the flock. I think each generation will be better. Crossing my fingers...