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Hello! If you're reading this you're like us and you're fed up with feed costs. They've gotten real crazy especially these last couple years! Well luckily we've found a load lightener called hydroponic fodder. With a couple bucks and 5 minutes a day you can easily produce 20lbs of fresh grass for your livestock every week. Caught your interest now? Well lets break down how to do it.
Step #1 Containers
Any bin will do. You're gonna want 1 bin or jar to let your seeds soak for 24 hours. Then you'll need at least one bin with holes in the bottom for water to drain. I recommend 10 or so of these to make sure you have fresh grass ready daily. These can be tub o ware, 5 gallon buckets, anything! You don't need any fancy "fodder" trays, they're just so expensive!
Step #2 Seed
Now you want seed and honestly this is the trickiest part. Get solid seed. I can not stress this enough. The number one reason for seed not growing is that it's not meant to be grown. Check and make sure it hasn't been washed in water too hot, it'll kill the seed. But please don't go buying seed that's advertised as for growin either. Just trust me it's overpriced. We buy non-gmo seed from Sunrise farms. They've got pick up spots in several states on the East Coast. It's got a high germination rate and it's super cheap. I highly recommend barely seed, it's $13 for a 50lb bag.
Step #3
Put about a 1/3 of the amount of seed it takes to cover the bottom in your jar and let it sit in water for 24 hours. This encourages germination. The seeds will swell and after 24 hours, no more, pour into one of your trays with holes. It might not cover the bottom just yet but it will when it's sprouting.
Step #4
Water your seeds in your tray 2x a day every day until they've grown to the height you want. *Make sure ALL water is drained from your trays within a few minutes after watering.* Your seeds will be damp but there shouldn't be any pooling water, or they'll mold. Sometimes mine don't drain enough from the holes so I have to pour water out or make a cut on the bottom and push on it when I'm draining the water.
Step #5
Cut and feed to your animals!!
You can feed it when it's sprouts to your chickens and ducks or you can grow foot tall grass for your rabbits, pigs, and goats.