In the wild, a budgies diet consists of a large amount of fresh germinating millet and various other seeds. If you do not have the circumstances to grow your own fresh seeds, sprouting is the next best option.
While dried seed has little nutritional value when compared to germinating seed, during the sprouting process all of the dormant nutrients and vitamins come |
One of the most important things to remember when sprouting seed is to wash, wash and when you are done, wash again! Any seed needs to be cleaned very well before soaking. If the seed is dirty, the water will be dirty and can easily spoil the seed before it even gets a chance to sprout..
If you are using quinoa this especially important, as it has a natural coating of saponin which while easy to wash off, is toxic to budgies if not removed. Even if |
you buy pre-washed quinoa, a quick wash or two is still a very good idea to be 100% safe.
During the rinsing process is the perfect time to look over them well to remove any debris that could potentially spoil the sprouts. We like to use a pasta strainer like the one pictured above for washing because it is easy sort and to drain any dirty water away, and unlike a bowl it keeps the seeds from falling out when draining. You will need a jar or container of some sort to soak the seeds in once they have |
Aside from having fresh and clean seed, another key to sprouting successfully is making sure the seeds stay moist without drowning them.
You can easily sprout seeds in a number of things you probably already have at home with the product mentioned above. Just about any shallow dish or container can work. Here for example we are using a |
glass 9x13 pyrex container as you can see pictured above. With this kind of sprouting method we like to use a high grade natural paper towels to line the bottom of the container to absorb extra water and keep the seeds moist, but at the same time avoid their sitting in a puddle of water. Here is an example of the towels we use:
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After spreading the soaked seeds out, lightly mist them again until the towels are nice and moist. Then place another layer of towels over top of the soaked seed mix.
Depending on the temperature in your home, you can also place a light weight towel over the top to help hold the moisture in, and provide a nice dark space for your sprouts. |
Each seed and grain has its own unique development time. For example, a grain of quinoa will begin to germinate just a few hours after it begins to soak. On the other hand, some barley can take 48 hours or more to sprout and be ready to eat.
Make sure to look up information on the specific variety you are working with, and sprout/offer accordingly. |
The most nutrients are usually found right after the seed begins to sprout. Live growing seeds and grains of any age still have a great amount of nutritional value though, and have their own benefits
Whether offering seeds that have been soaked, just begin to sprout or are well on their way to being little plants, your flock will no doubt love having these amazingly nutritious little powerhouses added to their diet! |