When you are ready to embark on your sprouting adventure, start with sunflower seeds, mung beans, lentils and wheat berries. Buy the seeds from a health food store and follow these easy directions for sprouting in a colander, a wide pan, or a glass jar with a mesh lid held in place by a rubber band. You may sprout one type of seed per container in order to become familiar with the amount of time that each requires to sprout, or you may sprout them all together. Measuring will become unnecessary once you become accustomed to sprouting. Water level should be well above the top of the seeds to allow for swelling.
Houseplants can benefit from the nutrients in the soak water.
Dry sprouts will continue to grow in your birds' dishes during the day instead of spoiling as wet or cooked foods often do. Sprouts need moisture, proper temperature and adequate air circulation. As they grow, sprouts release carbon dioxide and other gasses and create waste that must be removed by rinsing. If sprouts ever have an objectionable odor or look moldy, discard them, sterilize the equipment, and begin again. Never feed questionable or spoiled sprouts to your birds.