Sprouting Seeds, Grain and Pulses

By Jennifer Jones

 

Sprouted seeds, grain and pulses, will add important nutrients to your birds’ diet as they contain a plentiful supply of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, chlorophyll and protein. Unfortunately, bird keepers are often discouraged from using this method of nutrition as they believe the procedure is difficult or they are concerned, as I was, about the sprouts becoming contaminated with fungal or bacteria growths, which can be fatal for our birds. Sprouting is easy – if you follow a few simple guidelines and use Birdcare ‘Aviclens’ in the water, you can prevent any bacterial and fungal growth.

 

The first stage of sprouting is to soak the dry seed in water for approximately eight hours, causing the seed, which contains both the root and the shoot of the new plant, to germinate. As the seed swells to at least twice its size, it becomes far more nutritious than other raw foods. As the sprouted seed grows, it contains high levels of vitamins, particularly A, C, E, and B, as well as trace minerals such as selenium and zinc which are vital for fertility, and abundant digestive enzymes. Good quality protein is essential for growing chicks and sprouts, as it contains a more efficient form of protein, is high in amino acids, and is easier to absorb. Enzymes are protein molecules that are necessary for digesting food and breaking down proteins, carbohydrates and fats. They are also responsible for extracting and absorbing nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Sources of digestive enzymes are raw fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and live sprouts.

 

My favourite seeds for sprouting are alfalfa, wheat (preferably organic) and mung beans, as these are very easy to sprout and readily consumed by my cockatiels. You can also try sprouting sunflower, whole oats, millet, etc. Alfalfa contains all known vitamins and minerals necessary for life, is highest in natural digestive enzymes and contains four times more vitamin C than most citrus fruit. Herbicides, insecticides and fungicides are used when wheat is grown; to avoid these, buy organic wheat from health food shops. Sprouted mung beans are delicious to eat as they taste like fresh peas and are high in protein. Millet can be more difficult to sprout, but it is an excellent source of iron and B vitamins and a rich source of digestive enzymes. The high level of starch contained in millet is transformed into glucose during germination and is readily absorbed into the digestive system.

 

Some seeds only take 24 hours to germinate, others take between three and four days, but if the sprouts are allowed to grow for too long, they can become bitter in taste. Mung beans are at their best after three days, and wheat should be allowed to sprout until the shoot appears, which should take approximately three to four days. Alfalfa needs to sprout for 5 – 6 days, when the shoot is approximately half an inch in length, and then allow them to green up by exposing the alfalfa sprouts to light, especially sunlight. At this stage, the green shoots contain chlorophyll pigments that can help inhibit the spread of bacteria, fungi and other organisms and strengthen the immune system. Alfalfa seeds are very tiny, but they grow at a tremendous rate – one rounded teaspoon of seed will fill a twelve-ounce jam jar after only five days! Prepare a fresh batch each day to provide a continuous supply of sprouts to feed your birds, particularly in the breeding season.

 

I used to sprout seeds, beans, and grain separately because of the different germination times, but recently, I found a mix of germination seeds specifically for parakeets. This mix contains millets, whole oats, wheat, mung beans, safflower, lettuce seed, buckwheat, milo and Dari. It is ready to be fed to the birds after an initial soak in water for six hours and a germination period of 48 hours at room temperature. If you buy a mix of seeds, make sure that it is a ‘germination’ mix rather than a ‘soak seed’ mixture. Soak seed mixtures supplied by seed companies are intended for soaking overnight to make the seed easier to digest but are often unsuitable for sprouting – they either contain seed that requires different germination times or groats that will not germinate. Germination seed mixtures are also available for canaries and parrots.

 

 

The basic equipment that you need for sprouting is a large jam jar, a piece of muslin or net cloth and an elastic band. Alternatively, a sprouting kit consisting of three plastic trays with a perforated base and a drainage tray that forms the bottom of the tower is available from health food shops and garden centres. The best sprouting container I have found is a microwave oven steamer. This is a round plastic container with a vented clear lid and an inner container perforated at the bottom, like a fine sieve. This inner container has small legs that sit on the bottom of the outer container which acts as a reservoir. It is so much easier to use; you simply take out the inner container with the seed, rinse it under running water and replace it in the outer container. Any excess water will then drain into the outer container. Sprouting kits come with full instructions, but if you are using a jam jar, the procedure is as follows:

 

Rinse the seeds or beans well and place them in the jar. Cover with water containing ‘Aviclens’ and leave to soak overnight in a warm, dark place.

Next morning, rinse the seeds thoroughly with fresh water, cover with the net cloth secured by the rubber band, and leave to drain. It is important to drain well, or the seeds will rot. Return to the dark. Do this twice a day until the seeds begin to sprout.

When the sprouted seeds are ready, soak them in water containing ‘Aviclens’ for ten minutes, drain and feed them to your birds.

 

Additional nutrients can be added by sprinkling a multivitamin/mineral powder over the sprouts. I use Birdcare ‘Daily Essentials 3’, which contains extra amino acids.

 

Good hygiene is essential, and containers must be thoroughly cleaned using a broad-spectrum disinfectant and cleanser that kills fungi and bacteria. Uneaten sprouts should always be removed at the end of the day, especially during hot weather. Our birds will benefit enormously if they are offered sprouted seed two or three times a week, and breeding birds can be given almost unlimited quantities for rearing their young.