Sprouting Made Easy

[JerseyWendy]

We often receive questions on how to sprout, and if it's difficult to do.

Short answer: It's super easy, and HIGHLY nutritious.

I used a super cheap seed mix for the photos below. You can buy seed mixes at your local pet shop, or online. Let your imagination run wild and have some fun with it.

Here are a few online places:
https://sproutpeople.org/just-for-pets/bird-seed-mixes/
A-HIG32272 Higgins Sunburst Soak and Sprout 3 oz - HIGGINS
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0055ZB0KO?keywords=sprout%20mix&qid=1443967522&ref_=sr_1_4&sr=8-4"]The Sprout House Certified Organic Non-gmo Sprouting Seeds Holly's Mix - Mung, Adzuki, Green Pea, Red Lentil, French Lentil, Green Lentil 1 Pound: Amazon.com: Grocery & Gourmet Food[/ame]


I start off with pouring the desired amount of seeds/sprouting mix into a SS strainer that will fit into a bowl filled with water, and add a few drops of pure lemon juice. (Some people use GSE GSE01000 Grapefruit Seed Extract Liquid Concentrate 2 oz. - VITAMINS/HEALTH AIDS instead)

(I use the empty Blueberry Container to keep my sprouts in once they have sprouted, and place them in the vegetable section in my fridge).

Soak the seeds/sprout mix overnight at room temperature. The entire sprouting process is done at room temperature.

The next morning simply lift the strainer with the seed mix out of the water and rinse gently but thoroughly.

Do NOT submerge them in water again.

Rinse several times throughout the day. The important thing is not to let them dry out.

After only a couple of days you will see the seeds have plumped, and some may have began sprouting already.

Continue rinsing, until all (or most...because not all will) have sprouted.

Sprouts WILL continue to grow very slowly, even once they've been refrigerated. And they don't keep very long either. I make enough so that my fids can enjoy them for 3 days at the most. If you detect an unpleasant odor, discard them.

 

[Allee]

Thank you for posting the links, photos and easy to follow instructions, Wendy, and a very special Thank You to Hunter for demonstrating how irrisistable a fresh bowl of sprouts are to a parrot.

 

[Anansi]

Great thread, Wendy!!! Easy to follow instructions, great pics and extremely helpful links.

 

[ChrisWink]

Never thought of using a seed mix from the pet store. My next adventure will be doing so thanks!

 

[Aquila]

I actually finally had some luck sprouting after reading this. I chose grains and seeds and had luck the next day. Going to just do some pumpkin seeds separately since they seem to take a bit longer but I was surprised that it worked!

I used a mason jar with cheesecloth under the ring instead of the top since my strainer wasn't fine enough for the quinoa, though it still got kind of stuck in the cheesecloth.

 

[WilliamKenyon]

Thanks. I never realized how simple it could be.

 

[The_Jungle_Nest]

We often receive questions on how to sprout, and if it's difficult to do.

Short answer: It's super easy, and HIGHLY nutritious.

I used a super cheap seed mix for the photos below. You can buy seed mixes at your local pet shop, or online. Let your imagination run wild and have some fun with it.

Here are a few online places:
https://sproutpeople.org/just-for-pets/bird-seed-mixes/
A-HIG32272 Higgins Sunburst Soak and Sprout 3 oz - HIGGINS
The Sprout House Certified Organic Non-gmo Sprouting Seeds Holly's Mix - Mung, Adzuki, Green Pea, Red Lentil, French Lentil, Green Lentil 1 Pound: Amazon.com: Grocery & Gourmet Food


I start off with pouring the desired amount of seeds/sprouting mix into a SS strainer that will fit into a bowl filled with water, and add a few drops of pure lemon juice. (Some people use GSE GSE01000 Grapefruit Seed Extract Liquid Concentrate 2 oz. - VITAMINS/HEALTH AIDS instead)

(I use the empty Blueberry Container to keep my sprouts in once they have sprouted, and place them in the vegetable section in my fridge).

Soak the seeds/sprout mix overnight at room temperature. The entire sprouting process is done at room temperature.

The next morning simply lift the strainer with the seed mix out of the water and rinse gently but thoroughly.

Do NOT submerge them in water again.

Rinse several times throughout the day. The important thing is not to let them dry out.

After only a couple of days you will see the seeds have plumped, and some may have began sprouting already.

Continue rinsing, until all (or most...because not all will) have sprouted.

Sprouts WILL continue to grow very slowly, even once they've been refrigerated. And they don't keep very long either. I make enough so that my fids can enjoy them for 3 days at the most. If you detect an unpleasant odor, discard them.

I'm curious, as I'm looking through all of "Sprout House" sprouting mixes on Amazon. com... would all of them be OKAY for the fids? I'd like to purchase a variety but want to make sure I do not unintentionally get something they're not supposed to have! Thanks in advance!

 

[ChristaNL]

Never thought of using a seed mix from the pet store. My next adventure will be doing so thanks!

LOL- the "will it sprout-test" is THE go-to test to see if the seeds in your batch are fresh or old (some seeds can be 5 years old when finally sold).
If after soaking (at least 6 hours) and 3 days nothing is sprouting (at a comfortable roomtemperature) that batch belongs in the garbage- too old, so no health benefits (vitamins deteriorate, oils get rancid) for the parrots at all.

 

[itzjbean]

Never thought of using a seed mix from the pet store. My next adventure will be doing so thanks!

LOL- the "will it sprout-test" is THE go-to test to see if the seeds in your batch are fresh or old (some seeds can be 5 years old when finally sold).
If after soaking (at least 6 hours) and 3 days nothing is sprouting (at a comfortable roomtemperature) that batch belongs in the garbage- too old, so no health benefits (vitamins deteriorate, oils get rancid) for the parrots at all.

I'll agree with you here. It's important to find a quality mix... I use Volkman's seed mix for cockatiels and it's something I cannot find at my pet store. Most of the pet store seed mixes are not going to be quality mixes.

 

[PenClem]

I just started sprouting some Top's seed and have been rinsing 3 x day x 2 days. Today is the 3rd day. Some have sprouted. Most have not.

What does the lemon juice do for the sprouts? Is it necessary? When do I use it?

What do I do now? When do I start feeding the sprouted seed? How do I serve it?

I'm learning so much about sprouting seeds that all of the conflicting info is a bit overwhelming.

 

[Flboy]

I just started sprouting some Top's seed and have been rinsing 3 x day x 2 days. Today is the 3rd day. Some have sprouted. Most have not.
I also use TOPS, both Napoleon, and all in one! That is the way they sprout! Some do, some don’t!

What does the lemon juice do for the sprouts? Is it necessary? When do I use it?
The lemon juice is to keep baddies, mold, bacteria out, you use during the rise times. You can do a final rinse now!
What do I do now? When do I start feeding the sprouted seed? How do I serve it?

You can serve now, make very sure there is no funky odor, old sock, sour, etc!
I dry out my sprouts to stabilize them, and make it a bit easier on myself! I just place them in a food bowl, if serving wet, fresh, never more than a couple hours!
.......
I'm learning so much about sprouting seeds that all of the conflicting info is a bit overwhelming.

 

[Doffy]

I have 2 of these that I use https://www.australianwheatgrass.com.au/product/glass-sprouter/

And it is really easy, I just rinse while kettle is boiling etc (so several times through the day)

I've just started, need to tweak the mix I am sprouting. Not much love for mung beans, but they might come around