Jodi's Sprout Mix
	Home
	Ingredients:  Hulled sunflower, safflower, buckwheat, whole oats, whole corn, whole peas, brown rice, barley. 5# Bag $6.50 10# Bag $12.00 Sprout Lid (fits a Mason jar) $2.00 Price of sprouts includes calcium proponate, used in the water to help prevent bacteria & mold. Shipping cost to be determined at time of sale.  Please e-mail order to Jodi@jodisexoticbirds.com
		Sprouting Directions
	Before you get started, you'll need something to sprout in.  A mason jar (found in the canning section of most grocery stores) and a plastic sprout lid (available at health food stores) work great.   Soak about 1 cup of the sprout mix in 3 cups of water & 1 tsp. calcium proponate.  Use more water if you find the sprouts absorb all of it.  Leave the seeds soaking for 8 - 12 hours.  Drain completely by laying jar on an angle.  A dish rack works well for this.  Once the seeds are drained well, leave them in the jar, in a cool location.  You should not rinse the mix after draining.  While they are sprouting, you need to turn your sprouts several times a day to airate them.  As they germinate, heat builds up, which can cause the sprouts to mold. Turning them will help solve this problem.  Once you start to see them beginning to germinate, they are ready to serve.  You should store the remaining sprouted mix in the refrigerator for up to a week.  The sprouts are at their peak nutrition when they have just begun to show a tiny "tail".  Once the sprouts get long and start to turn green or grow leaves it is not as nutritious, because most of the nutritition has been used to grow a plant. Start a new batch when you are down to about a 2 day supply.  Depending on the temperature in your home, sprouts can be germinating in as little as 24 hours, but usually 48 hours.  The warmer it is the quicker they sprout.  Always watch for mold, especially in warm weather.  If you see mold, THROW SPROUTS AWAY!  NEVER feed moldy sprouts, or you can make your bird very sick.  It would be better to serve the seeds dry, while a new batch is sprouting, than to serve moldy sprouts.  You can also serve the mix soaked, if you need to.  Soaked seed is already undergoing the biological changes and is more nutritious than dry seed.  Just keep in mind the mix will be quite wet, and should be replaced often to prevent mold.  Feed only fresh looking and smelling sprouts.  Soon you will have a routine and know how often you'll need to start another batch. Be sure to add a good quality powdered avian vitamin daily, and a calcium-D supplement 2 - 3 times a week.  You can also mix your sprouts with fresh fruit, veggies, and pellets, just before serving.