Question:
I received an Easy Sprout kit. Hardly any of the seeds germinated (about 1%). There’s different time frames for different seeds according to the directions that came with the Easy Sprouter. Can someone clue me in on making small batches of sprouts (1/8 cup). Can under soaking can cause stomach problems for birds? They each tried the softened seeds & I am mixing them with brown rice. Do you always have to use sprouting seeds or can one use regular organic seeds as well?

Big Long Answer (As I’m good at giving TOO MUCH information!!):
There are different time frames for different seeds. The Parrots on the Porch Good Stuff Sprout Mixes contain a blend of grains and seeds chosen for their sprout timing and what parrots seem to like. We make a separate mix of legumes because they require longer soaking and sprouting times. It is okay to feed the grains and seeds after an overnight soak. This gets the seeds germinating. Millet and quinoa seem to be the quickest to sprout. Sometimes the coarser grains just barely start showing a white tip, and that’s okay. It is just starting to sprout and this is how my personal birds seem to enjoy them most. When the tails get too long, my birds don’t like them. There is a varying time for full sprouting, but the grains and seeds we chose seem to work pretty well together.

Let me go over what I do:
1. Rinse the seeds well, then place in a jar with the seeds covered with lukewarm water overnight. Set in a dark area.
2. In the morning, I rinse the seeds well and feed them. What I don’t feed that morning, I keep on the counter for the day to continue sprouting.
3. In the afternoon, I can see some of the seeds growing tails. I rinse them again. (Twice a day rinsing is fine, and maybe 3 times a day in the Southwest or in summer’s hot, humid weather) After I feed my evening meal, I refrigerate them to slow down the sprouting process.
4. I can feed these for 3 days, then toss (but I usually use up all of what I make).

I have not used an Easy Sprouter, since I have good luck with jars and strainers. But I know many people with Easy Sprouters love them.

Some reasons for not sprouting can be due to environment. Your room may be too chilly. I found someone who had put theirs on a windowsill and it just couldn’t get warm enough to sprout. Sprouts shouldn’t have direct light either. They like to “think” they are underground until their roots get long. You may have problems if you store your sprout mix in a freezer. Freezing can affect some sensitive grains and seeds if the temp goes too low (a deep freeze freezer that goes to zero or below can damage seeds, regular refrigerator-freezers don’t go that cold).

Older grains don’t sprout as well. Grains are just harvested once a year, so make sure you get your batch from the latest harvest. We get many of our grains straight from farms that grow them, so we know they are fresh. It’s great to create your own blend, and I will always encourage people to take the most active role in your bird’s diet and do it yourself! Just make sure to check on your store’s rate of turnover of grain supplies. I have success buying directly from grain farms. For example, I frequent a Farmers Market that has a farmer’s booth that carries sprouting and bread-making grains.

Soaking for too long (over 12 hours) can drown some smaller seeds, although I have forgotten once in a while and they have been fine. I suggest trying to sprout in lukewarm water. This mimics a good warming spring rain and that can help them along quicker.

Here’s a hint about how I teach beginners: Try sprouting raw, hulled sunflower seeds. They are the easiest seeds to sprout. You can practice on them in different temps of water and putting your Sprouter or jar in different locations. When you have luck with those, you know that the conditions are right for anything to sprout. I don’t know many birds that refuse the sprouted suns either! (And they are good on salads for people, too!)

I haven’t heard of under-soaked grains and seeds causing stomach problems in birds. They eat dry grains and seed just fine and don’t have digestive problems. Under-soaking just may not get the grains and seeds germinating. Over-soaking can “drown” them, but if rinsed well, they shouldn’t be a digestive problem, either. There just isn’t as much nutrition in dead, stale seed. I understand under-sprouting being a digestive problem with legumes (beans and lentils) — these must have a tail at least as long as the bean before feeding. But grains and seeds are okay with an overnight soak.

All my birds love sprouts and it is a staple of my quaker’s (Sparki and Kuiper) diets. They like courser grains than my tiels and lovies. They have had great checkups. Once you get the hang of sprouting, your birds will do great. Sprouts are lower in fat and carbs than regular dry grain and seed and have many of the qualities of fresh vegetables. Many seed junkies are transformed by sprouts.

Hope this helps!