Sprouts and Soaked Seed at Home
As research continues to expand in regards to avian health and nutrition, we see the rise in awareness for feeding a varied diet to your companion parrot. A parrot in captivity doesn't have the same access to the vast variety of food opportunities that they would in the wild, where they would be traveling long distances to find the food they need for the day. Therefore, it is up to us as their caretakers to attempt to bridge the gap in nutritional needs, between captivity and natural diet. Two of those avenues are sprouts and soaked seed. Not only is it easy to do at home on your kitchen counter, but parrots go crazy for them. The only difference between sprouting and soaking is the length of time, so soaked seed is a great alternative if you are short on time.
WHat are SPROUTS?
A seed, bean or grain is essentially a dormant embryo of the plant it has potential to grow into if provided with a favourable environment in which to start growing, or germinate. It is so nutrient dense, that it contains everything it needs to grow a new plant by shooting out buds and leaves, thus sprouting. When you soak and sprout seeds and beans, it improves the nutritional composition far surpassing dry, unhulled seed. Sprouting grains allows the nutrients to be converted from stored energy to a vastly increased bioavailable superfood which is higher in protein, enzymes, amino acids, fibre and B‐group vitamins. It reduces the levels of phytic acid (which inhibits digestion) and starches, and is low in calories. Feeding sprouts to your parrot provides them with a fantastic source of micronutrients, minerals and vitamins they need to maintain great feathers and nails (antioxidant, selenium, zinc, vitamin A), keep their heart healthy (omega 3 fatty acids, potassium) and maintains their immune system (antioxidants, vitamin C). They are easier to digest which means the nutrients they contain are utilised more efficiently in the body.
WHY SPROUT?
When we see how incredibly powerful these superfoods are, it's no wonder they are deemed a fantastic dietary addition for your bird (and even for humans!) Not only are they full of beneficial nutrients, they are also extremely economical and easy to grow yourself in just 10 minutes per day.
It's Cheap
Compared to dry mix, sprouts will yield up to 15 times more weight by volume, which will save you money in costly pellets and gourmet seed mixes while continuing to support their health by adding more variety.
It's Easy
Sprouts will grow most of the year here in Australia, apart from where the climate is extreme hot and cold. Optimal temperature for benchtop sprouting is between 20°C and 28°C, which most homes are cooled in warmer months and heated in cooler months. You don't need fancy equipment or tools, just regular things you would find in a kitchen!
It's Disability Friendly
Sprouts are much softer to chew than dry seed and pellets, so are a great choice for birds with beak deformities and older parrots which may have mobility issues. I also find that very picky eaters take to sprouts quite quickly, and is a great way to convert seed-only individuals to fresh and pelleted diets.
okay, but what now?
It's simple! All you will need is a bowl and a strainer with small enough holes that your smallest seeds will not fall through, or a commercially bought sprouter like one below. Next, purchase your sprout mix or the components to make up your own blend. Remember, there is no one way to grow sprouts; and it is okay to improve your technique or the mix as time goes on and you get the hang of the process.
Fresh seed and grain will sprout easier, and are less likely to have mould spores from prolonged storage. It is usually best to select grains that have a similar germination rate, so that they all sprout at roughly the same time. A great starting point is mung bean, wheat, oat, whole green lentils, grey striped sunflower, safflower.
There are a few different setups that you can use to sprout at home that you may like to consider:
Sprouting towers
Economical and easy to use. Can use one tray or multiple trays at a time, and stagger each day to provide a continuous supply.
Source: Bunnings, $21
Sprouting Jars
Economical, usually have a mesh screw on lid to easily rinse and strain. When tipped, it drains freely.
Potential downside is only one batch can be sprouted at once. Don't overfill/over crowd.
Source: Gathera, $16
Strainer container
Compact, stackable and can strain easily in the container, has a lid which can be utilised when storing in the fridge.
Downside: not dishwasher safe.
Source: Kmart, $7.50 - 1.7L
Desktop Sprouter
Great compact size for single bird homes, inbuilt strainer for easy rinsing.
Source: Temu, $10
stainless steel sieve
Most likely something you will have already in your kitchen, paired with a mixing bowl to rinse in.
Source: Kmart, $5.50
What to sprout
There is no "right" mix to sprout, as it can be dictated by availability, cost, and what your parrot likes or dislikes. If you find that your bird is consistently leaving a certain component in his bowl, try swapping it out for another type to switch things up. There's no point to sprouting an ingredient they refuse to eat as this just wastes money, but do make sure you allow enough time for it to pique their interest especially if they are new to sprouts as part of their diet. Avoid premixed products with sorghum, as sprouting sorghum produces the toxin hydrocyanic acid (HCN) in levels which can be fatal to parrots (Sources: here, here and here).
Our base sprouting mixes contain:
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Dunn peas
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Grey stripe sunflower
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Mung bean
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Safflower
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Wheat,
but you can also add:
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Adzuki beans
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Alfalfa seed*
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Amaranth
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Blue peas
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Broccoli seeds
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Buckwheat
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Canaryseed*
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Chickpeas
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Faba beans
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Hulled oats
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Lentils (green, red, french)
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Quinoa
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Red clover
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Rye berries
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White french millet*
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Whole corn
*sprout smaller seeds separately from larger grains.
SOAKING MIXES
Soaking seed mixes are often quite similar to sprouting mixes, with additional ingredients that won't sprout but provide great health benefits and variety in your birds diet. In addition to the sprouting ingredients listed above, they may include:
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Almonds
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Barley
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Borlotti beans
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Cracked corn
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Cracked lupins
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Cracked tic beans
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Faba beans
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Green split peas
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Maple peas
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Pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
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Sesame seeds
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Spanish red peanuts
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Yellow split lentils (peas)
Depending on the ingredients, the soak can be done room temperature water or boiling water. Sometimes boiling water is needed to penetrate the hard outer shell on ingredients like peanuts, almonds, chickpeas and other beans, that won't be sprouted.
WHERE TO BUY PREMIXES
There are a few premixed sprouting and soaking products available, such as Raw for Birds, Elite Pet Products, Enfield Produce, Chipper Parrots, Get Flocked.
SPROUTED PRODUCTS
There are also already-sprouted options at the grocery store, but these are mostly long sprouts with leaves which have used up most of the energy in the grain to grow to that length. However, these are great cut up in a vegetable chop as microgreens. Be sure to rinse any prepacked sprout mix thoroughly before feeding to your flock, as there in increased risk of Salmonella.
how to sprout
WASH
First, measure out a small amount of sprout mix (for a few days' worth for one bird, try 1/2 a cup) and place into a bowl or your chosen sprouting receptacle. Rinse well with cool, clean water once or twice to remove any residual dust. Make sure that you soak only the amount that will not overcrowd your sprouter, as they will need plenty of breathing room to ensure they have good aeration. Sprouting too much at once can make it spoil quicker during sprouting. Pick out any small stones or twigs or husk pieces, but you don't need to get every piece; they do still chew them up after they've soaked.
SOAK
Then, fill with more than enough water to cover the seeds plus some headroom. As the grains rehydrate, they will absorb a lot of the moisture. You might also like to try adding probiotics to the water to be absorbed also. Soak overnight, or up to 24 hours if the weather is cooler (not recommended in summer). If you opt for a longer soak, rinse after 12 hours.
WASH
First, measure out a small amount of sprout mix (for a few days' worth for one bird, try 1/2 a cup) and place into a bowl or your chosen sprouting receptacle. Rinse well with cool, clean water once or twice to remove any residual dust. Make sure that you soak only the amount that will not overcrowd your sprouter, as they will need plenty of breathing room to ensure they have good aeration. Sprouting too much at once can make it spoil quicker during sprouting. Pick out any small stones or twigs or husk pieces, but you don't need to get every piece; they do still chew them up after they've soaked.
SOAK
Then, fill with more than enough water to cover the seeds plus some headroom. As the grains rehydrate, they will absorb a lot of the moisture. You might also like to try adding probiotics to the water to be absorbed also. Soak overnight, or up to 24 hours if the weather is cooler (not recommended in summer). If you opt for a longer soak, rinse after 12 hours.
RINSE
After 12 hours, drain out the water with a sieve (or strain your jar) and rinse well with clean water. You may need to do this twice or even three times if the water is still not clear. The water will likely be a brown colour but don't worry, that is just the tannins leaching out of the seed hulls. You may also see little bubbles on top of the water, that is also fine as long as it has been around the 12 hour mark for soaking.
At this stage, you have soaked seed mix, which is totally fine to feed to your birds. It won't quite have the level of nutrition compared to once it is sprouted, but it is still more bioavailable and easier to digest than it is dry. To sprout, place your soaked mix into your sprouting tray/jar/strainer and allow to drain excess water out. You may also like to cover with a tea towel to prevent bugs from getting into it if using the bowl/strainer method.
While sprouting, rinse thoroughly with clean water every 10-12 hours (twice a day) or three times a day in summer. If the room temperature is warmer, it will sprout faster (1-2 days) but in cooler months it may take an extra day (2-3 days). Thorough rinsing is imperative for successful sprouting, as it flushes away waste products and re-oxygenates the seed. Try not to shake or wash your sprouts too vigorously, as that will kill them. Ensure you drain them well after each rinse, as poor drainage in your sprouter will cause them to rot.
FEED
When the sprouts have small tails forming a few millimetres long, you can go ahead and offer them to your birds. Sprouts will last 2 days in the fridge with daily rinsing, and will slow the growth to ensure freshness. You can even pop your sprouting container into the fridge if you know you won't be home to rinse them that day, then rinse and place back on the bench to continue once you are back home. However, I wouldn't recommend doing this for more than 2 days in a row.
If at any point your sprouts begin to smell, become slimy or grow visible mould (small grey spidery puffs), throw it out immediately. Do not risk feeding this to your birds, if there is any doubt. They should smell fresh similar to lettuce or salad greens.
cautions and troubleshooting
As easy as sprouting may be, it is not a "set-and-forget process"; it has many variables that need to be carefully balanced and managed. Keep in mind, sprouting is a moist, warm environment for multiple days at room temperature; which can invite the growth of bacteria and other pathogens too.
Some issues that may hinder your success are:
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Not rinsing enough
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Poor quality seed
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Unclean equipment
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Poor water quality: Chlorinated water or dirty tap water can make it quite difficult to sprout seeds successfully, inviting bacteria and disease to grow.
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Lack of drainage and ventilation: Seeds will become waterlogged if buried too deeply and not spread out enough to ensure adequate air flow. They need access to oxygen to sustain growth, and a lack can lead to bacteria and mould growth.
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Poor temperature control: Some seeds will do poorly when exposed to higher or lower temperatures. Optimum range is room temperature 20-28°C
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Bacteria, mould and yeast: Often introduced by poor water quality, unclean equipment or is airborne. Causes a foul, 'off' smelling odour and can make the seed mix slimy and gluggy. Do not feed to your birds.
My sprouts are shrivelled up
Dehydrated seeds will start to shrivel and die if under rinsed or left in hot, direct sunlight. Soak them briefly (15-30 min) and drain well.
I keep getting slime and mould build up
You may want to consider adding a water cleanser like Rob Marshall's KD Water Cleanser or Vetafarm Aviclens to your first soak.