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. Sprouts smell earthy and should not have an objectionable odor. Leftover sprouts will keep for several days if refrigerated. Rinse and drain them daily until they are used.
Sprouts can be bitter.
Hulls are tough but parrots do not mind. Soak for one half hour only. Very hard corn and slow to germinate, but a favorite of most parrots. Popcorn sprouts are very sweet. The use of popcorn saves washing several times as required to clean most field corn.