SPROUTING FOR BIRDS
by Crystal Renee Bush
I could go on and on about the benefits of sprouting for your birds, but I will try to capture the importance in a condensed form. Avian nutrition is one of those subjects that tend to get me going, and I tend to be long winded on the subject.
First, when we're speaking of avian nutrition, people usually revert to native diet, and wild diet to support their claims. When you speak to an expert on pellets, for instance, they will tell you that pellets contain everything a bird needs, without having to guess by feeding a varied diet, and they have researched wild diet to develop their pellet. Seed experts will tell you that seed is the cockatiel's natural food. I'm going to make them both a little angry here and say they're both wrong. Not completely, they both have very valid points, but neither have hit on a perfect diet for a cockatiel, nor have they completely explored a wild diet.
Cockatiels DO eat various grass seed, grains, eucalyptus and insects as their preferred wild diet. However, the seed they're eating is on the ground, getting wet, and yes....sprouting. They are primarily eating germinating and sprouting seed. You're not going to find a dry seed mix, or a pellet in a wild cockatiel diet.
Now that we have that out of the way, I would like to explain WHY sprouted seed, grains, and beans are so very important to your cockatiel, and it's immune system. Here is a quote from an article written by Carolyn Swicegood: Sprouts have been described as "a chemical vitamin factory in high gear, cranking out antioxidants and chlorophyll, and repackaging minerals and trace elements in a more bio-available form. All of the stored food and enzymes needed for the growth of an entirely new plant are mobilized as the seed sprouts. Protein, carbohydrates and fats are broken down (predigested) to free up amino acids, simple sugars, and soluble compounds. Essential minerals such as calcium and magnesium are supplied by sprouts in chelated form for better assimilation." I couldn't have said it better myself!
What this means, is that the bird can conserve a lot of energy by eating sprouts, simply because all enzymes are present to digest the sprouts. So if you have a sick bird, this would be a fantastic addition to the diet to aid with freeing the body up to fight the illness instead of digesting a pellet. The nutrition is readily available, and their bodies don't have to work for it. A little sprout contains, in concentrated form, the entire nutrition needed for the plant. In a study done by John's Hopkins, they discovered that a three day old broccoli sprout contained the same inducer activity as a hundred adult vegetables of the same plant.
Sprouted seed is also a great way to convert a seed junkie. I use actual seed when I have this issue, but this article is going to show you how to sprout beans and grains. Seed are a little different in how you sprout.
I have personally noticed a vast improvement in my bird's health after starting to add sprouts to their diets. They are healthier, feather quality is amazing, and they just seem happier. If you're afraid to sprout, don't be. I have been sprouting for over 5 years and have never had an issue with bacterial growth. I'm going to share with you my very simple method to get you started.
This is what you'll need:
by Crystal Renee Bush
I could go on and on about the benefits of sprouting for your birds, but I will try to capture the importance in a condensed form. Avian nutrition is one of those subjects that tend to get me going, and I tend to be long winded on the subject.
First, when we're speaking of avian nutrition, people usually revert to native diet, and wild diet to support their claims. When you speak to an expert on pellets, for instance, they will tell you that pellets contain everything a bird needs, without having to guess by feeding a varied diet, and they have researched wild diet to develop their pellet. Seed experts will tell you that seed is the cockatiel's natural food. I'm going to make them both a little angry here and say they're both wrong. Not completely, they both have very valid points, but neither have hit on a perfect diet for a cockatiel, nor have they completely explored a wild diet.
Cockatiels DO eat various grass seed, grains, eucalyptus and insects as their preferred wild diet. However, the seed they're eating is on the ground, getting wet, and yes....sprouting. They are primarily eating germinating and sprouting seed. You're not going to find a dry seed mix, or a pellet in a wild cockatiel diet.
Now that we have that out of the way, I would like to explain WHY sprouted seed, grains, and beans are so very important to your cockatiel, and it's immune system. Here is a quote from an article written by Carolyn Swicegood: Sprouts have been described as "a chemical vitamin factory in high gear, cranking out antioxidants and chlorophyll, and repackaging minerals and trace elements in a more bio-available form. All of the stored food and enzymes needed for the growth of an entirely new plant are mobilized as the seed sprouts. Protein, carbohydrates and fats are broken down (predigested) to free up amino acids, simple sugars, and soluble compounds. Essential minerals such as calcium and magnesium are supplied by sprouts in chelated form for better assimilation." I couldn't have said it better myself!
What this means, is that the bird can conserve a lot of energy by eating sprouts, simply because all enzymes are present to digest the sprouts. So if you have a sick bird, this would be a fantastic addition to the diet to aid with freeing the body up to fight the illness instead of digesting a pellet. The nutrition is readily available, and their bodies don't have to work for it. A little sprout contains, in concentrated form, the entire nutrition needed for the plant. In a study done by John's Hopkins, they discovered that a three day old broccoli sprout contained the same inducer activity as a hundred adult vegetables of the same plant.
Sprouted seed is also a great way to convert a seed junkie. I use actual seed when I have this issue, but this article is going to show you how to sprout beans and grains. Seed are a little different in how you sprout.
I have personally noticed a vast improvement in my bird's health after starting to add sprouts to their diets. They are healthier, feather quality is amazing, and they just seem happier. If you're afraid to sprout, don't be. I have been sprouting for over 5 years and have never had an issue with bacterial growth. I'm going to share with you my very simple method to get you started.
This is what you'll need:
1...Large stainless steel or glass bowl (something that won't trap and grow bacteria)
2...Large colander (if plastic, soak in bleach and water solution and let air dry before using, or use only for sprouts)
3...Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) with Mother (kills bacteria and adds trace minerals)
4...Water
5...Sprouts (this mix is adzuki, mung, spelt, and barley)
2...Large colander (if plastic, soak in bleach and water solution and let air dry before using, or use only for sprouts)
3...Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) with Mother (kills bacteria and adds trace minerals)
4...Water
5...Sprouts (this mix is adzuki, mung, spelt, and barley)
Pour desired amount of sprout mix in the colander, or bowl. This is how much I sprout for 17 birds, with enough left over to freeze and have for 2 to 3 weeks. Rinse until the water runs clear in warm water.
You can either use just the bowl or colander and bowl for this step. I use both, so that I don't have to dump the sprouts into the colander later. Fill with water double the depth of the sprouts. They will absorb the water and double in size.
Now is the time to add about a tsp. of the Apple Cider Vinegar. Let soak overnight, or 8-12 hours.
I took this the next morning to show you how much the beans double in size. Pull the colander out of the bowl, and rinse the sprouts with WARM water. Rinse throughout the day several times with WARM water. You should notice sprouts forming about halfway through the day.
This is what they look like by the end of the day. I have pulled and froze them at this point, or I have let them sprout another day. It's up to you and your time constraints. What I like about this mix, is that the sprouts are in various stages of sprouting. You have the initial germination, all the way through 1/4 inch sprouts.
This picture shows the varying lengths.
With this batch, I had plenty leftovers to freeze for later. This batch will last at least 2 weeks. I simply remove about a cup of sprouts from the freezer and rinse under warm water. They thaw instantly. In the summer months, I have fed frozen, they seem to appreciate the treat.
You can experiment with all sorts of sprouts. Go to your local health food store, and get them from the bulk bins. No need to spend the extra money on the sprouting mixes. I spend less than a dollar a week to feed all of my birds sprouts, and it helps offset seed and pellet costs. Not to mention, if for some reason their seed or pellets become contaminated, I have sprouts on hand to give them that's healthy and inexpensive until the other food can be replaced, so no more running to a department store to buy substandard food.
©1993-2019 Crystal Renee Bush all rights reserved. Anything copied or printed from this site is for personal use ONLY. No portion of this site may be reproduced or distributed without the permission of Crystal Renee Bush and Susanne Russo
With this batch, I had plenty leftovers to freeze for later. This batch will last at least 2 weeks. I simply remove about a cup of sprouts from the freezer and rinse under warm water. They thaw instantly. In the summer months, I have fed frozen, they seem to appreciate the treat.
You can experiment with all sorts of sprouts. Go to your local health food store, and get them from the bulk bins. No need to spend the extra money on the sprouting mixes. I spend less than a dollar a week to feed all of my birds sprouts, and it helps offset seed and pellet costs. Not to mention, if for some reason their seed or pellets become contaminated, I have sprouts on hand to give them that's healthy and inexpensive until the other food can be replaced, so no more running to a department store to buy substandard food.
©1993-2019 Crystal Renee Bush all rights reserved. Anything copied or printed from this site is for personal use ONLY. No portion of this site may be reproduced or distributed without the permission of Crystal Renee Bush and Susanne Russo
