Germination
The test of your seeds or seed mixtures – Viability test
The Viability Test - Part 1
What you need:
Seed mixture
Convenient utensil (dish) with a lid (you can use PE film as well) – I use Petri dish
Sand (grit can be used) or cotton wool
Water mist sprayer
What you need:
Seed mixture
Convenient utensil (dish) with a lid (you can use PE film as well) – I use Petri dish
Sand (grit can be used) or cotton wool
Water mist sprayer
How to continue? part two.
1 – fill dish with sand evenly
2 – detach 30 seeds of red panicum (for example)
3 - detach 30 seeds of canary seed (for example)
4 – put and spread every seed to the dish with sand (do not dig the seeds in sand). Separate each sort of seeds by imaginary edge at least.
5 – use water mist sprayer and moisten seeds and sand evenly. The sand has to be moist but not wet. If you incline a dish water could not be visible at lower edge of dish.
6 – use lid or PE Film and cover closely
1 – fill dish with sand evenly
2 – detach 30 seeds of red panicum (for example)
3 - detach 30 seeds of canary seed (for example)
4 – put and spread every seed to the dish with sand (do not dig the seeds in sand). Separate each sort of seeds by imaginary edge at least.
5 – use water mist sprayer and moisten seeds and sand evenly. The sand has to be moist but not wet. If you incline a dish water could not be visible at lower edge of dish.
6 – use lid or PE Film and cover closely
The viability test - part 3
7 – Leave to sprout (room temperature is needed) – My test temperature was 23-24 degrees C.
Remark:
- Do not use oats for testing
- Time of test is depending on room temperature – the lower temperature the longer test time.
- Why 30 seeds – to be able to spread them in my Petri dish.
8 – check your samples after 24 hours. Do not touch seeds. You should see the first signs of sprouting. (I did not see anything because I have not get spectacles so far and I do not see well and I do not have magnifying glass). You can moisten seeds and sand if they are to dry.
9 - check your samples after 48 hours again (I saw something finally)
10 - check your samples after 72 hours again – now you will get final results. Now count all seeds with signs of sprouting. It is better to use magnifying glass because it is need to count seeds with small signs as well. Certainly count results for every sort of seeds separately (therefore I mentioned an imaginary edge)
Sign of sprouting - Canary seeds
Sign of sprouting - Canary seeds
Sign of sprouting - Red panicum
Sign of sprouting - Red panicum
7 – Leave to sprout (room temperature is needed) – My test temperature was 23-24 degrees C.
Remark:
- Do not use oats for testing
- Time of test is depending on room temperature – the lower temperature the longer test time.
- Why 30 seeds – to be able to spread them in my Petri dish.
8 – check your samples after 24 hours. Do not touch seeds. You should see the first signs of sprouting. (I did not see anything because I have not get spectacles so far and I do not see well and I do not have magnifying glass). You can moisten seeds and sand if they are to dry.
9 - check your samples after 48 hours again (I saw something finally)
10 - check your samples after 72 hours again – now you will get final results. Now count all seeds with signs of sprouting. It is better to use magnifying glass because it is need to count seeds with small signs as well. Certainly count results for every sort of seeds separately (therefore I mentioned an imaginary edge)
Sign of sprouting - Canary seeds
Sign of sprouting - Canary seeds
Sign of sprouting - Red panicum
Sign of sprouting - Red panicum
The Viability Test - Part 4
Results:
90-100 % (of sign of sprouting) - excellent seed viability
70-90 % - good to very good seed viability
50 – 69% - moderate seed viability
Below 50% - bed seed viability
What were my results for Trill seed mixture?
Red panicum:
21 seeds with distinct signs of sprouting
9 seeds without distinct signs of sprouting (but there were tiny signs of sprouting at some of them (4 seeds) – unfortunately I do not have magnifying glass)
It means 70% seed viability – good result
Canary seed
16 seeds with distinct signs of sprouting
14 seeds without distinct signs of sprouting (but there were tiny signs of sprouting at some of them (5 seeds) – unfortunately I do not have magnifying glass).
It means 53% seed viability – not very good result. I expected better result.
Conclusion:
Above written results did not disappoint me. Trill is good quality seed mixture and Red Panicum test proved it. I expected commonly worse result for Canary Seed but it is need to say they should be better then final result.
Nevertheless I will have to repeat the test with spectacles or magnifying glass to get more exact results. It is very good to collect result for others seed mixtures and compare them. I will make a test for Versle Laga Prestige premium seed mixture soon and I will share them with you then.
Results:
90-100 % (of sign of sprouting) - excellent seed viability
70-90 % - good to very good seed viability
50 – 69% - moderate seed viability
Below 50% - bed seed viability
What were my results for Trill seed mixture?
Red panicum:
21 seeds with distinct signs of sprouting
9 seeds without distinct signs of sprouting (but there were tiny signs of sprouting at some of them (4 seeds) – unfortunately I do not have magnifying glass)
It means 70% seed viability – good result
Canary seed
16 seeds with distinct signs of sprouting
14 seeds without distinct signs of sprouting (but there were tiny signs of sprouting at some of them (5 seeds) – unfortunately I do not have magnifying glass).
It means 53% seed viability – not very good result. I expected better result.
Conclusion:
Above written results did not disappoint me. Trill is good quality seed mixture and Red Panicum test proved it. I expected commonly worse result for Canary Seed but it is need to say they should be better then final result.
Nevertheless I will have to repeat the test with spectacles or magnifying glass to get more exact results. It is very good to collect result for others seed mixtures and compare them. I will make a test for Versle Laga Prestige premium seed mixture soon and I will share them with you then.
Sprouted Wheat - How to prepare it?
Sprouted Wheat is very healthy for our budgies and it is good idea to serve sprouted Wheat them. I serve Sprouted Wheat much more often then sprouted seeds because Sprouted Wheat can be checked for mildew much more easily. Wheat seeds can spoil very quickly as well but it is easier to notice it.
Sprouted Wheat is very good idea especially in the winter time as we do not have another fresh grasses for our budgies.
Sprouted Wheat has one disadvantage – your budgies will eat up all Sprouted Wheat very quickly
.
If you grow up Sprouted Wheat according to this manual you do not have to afraid of any mildew.
What we need (the same what we use for sprouted seeds):
- a plastic sieve - do not use metal sieves. They can oxidize.
- the Wheat grain (seeds) – get clean seeds for pet birds (I do not recommend feeding wheat for poultry)
- a pot
- a pot lid
- a scissors
then
pour appropriate quantity of seeds to the plastic sieve and rinse out seeds carefully
Sprouted Wheat is very healthy for our budgies and it is good idea to serve sprouted Wheat them. I serve Sprouted Wheat much more often then sprouted seeds because Sprouted Wheat can be checked for mildew much more easily. Wheat seeds can spoil very quickly as well but it is easier to notice it.
Sprouted Wheat is very good idea especially in the winter time as we do not have another fresh grasses for our budgies.
Sprouted Wheat has one disadvantage – your budgies will eat up all Sprouted Wheat very quickly
. If you grow up Sprouted Wheat according to this manual you do not have to afraid of any mildew.
What we need (the same what we use for sprouted seeds):
- a plastic sieve - do not use metal sieves. They can oxidize.
- the Wheat grain (seeds) – get clean seeds for pet birds (I do not recommend feeding wheat for poultry)
- a pot
- a pot lid
- a scissors
then
pour appropriate quantity of seeds to the plastic sieve and rinse out seeds carefully
Sprouted Wheat - How to prepare it? (part 2)
Now fill convenient pot with fresh cold water and insert plastic sieve with seeds in it. (I use glass pot to minimize mildew risk).
Cover pot with lid and let seeds in water for about 8 hours. (not more because the seeds can start to ferment.)
Take out seeds from the pot after 8 hours and rinse them out very carefully again. Check their smell as well. If you have any suspicion on mildew discard the seed immediately.
Let the seeds drain away after rinsing and insert the sieve with seeds in some pot (without water). Certainly cover pot with a lid again. We have to protect seeds from dust.
Now let the seeds to sprout. The time of sprouting is depending on temperature in the room.
I rinse out the seeds every four hours again and again.
After one day you should notice small white sprouts.
Now fill convenient pot with fresh cold water and insert plastic sieve with seeds in it. (I use glass pot to minimize mildew risk).
Cover pot with lid and let seeds in water for about 8 hours. (not more because the seeds can start to ferment.)
Take out seeds from the pot after 8 hours and rinse them out very carefully again. Check their smell as well. If you have any suspicion on mildew discard the seed immediately.
Let the seeds drain away after rinsing and insert the sieve with seeds in some pot (without water). Certainly cover pot with a lid again. We have to protect seeds from dust.
Now let the seeds to sprout. The time of sprouting is depending on temperature in the room.
I rinse out the seeds every four hours again and again.
After one day you should notice small white sprouts.
Sprouted Wheat - How to prepare it? (part 3)
Let wheat to sprout and grow for about five days
After three days your Sprouted Whet will look somehow like this:
After five days your Sprouted Whet is ready for serving and it will look somehow like this:
Roots (sprouts) are good as well
Certainly you can serve it now or you can prolong the time of sprouting and growing. It depends on you and your budgies (but they love it in any in any period of growing)
Do not forget to rinse out the seeds every four hours again and again. The seeds have to be moist.
Check sprouted seeds for mildew continually. If you notice change of colour in some seed remove it immediately. Check the smell continually.
If you decided to serve Sprouted Wheat then take a scissors and cut outgrowing and sprouts (roots), rinse them in cold water and then you can serve them. This way you exclude possibility serving of rotten seeds.
Let wheat to sprout and grow for about five days
After three days your Sprouted Whet will look somehow like this:
After five days your Sprouted Whet is ready for serving and it will look somehow like this:
Roots (sprouts) are good as well
Certainly you can serve it now or you can prolong the time of sprouting and growing. It depends on you and your budgies (but they love it in any in any period of growing)
Do not forget to rinse out the seeds every four hours again and again. The seeds have to be moist.
Check sprouted seeds for mildew continually. If you notice change of colour in some seed remove it immediately. Check the smell continually.
If you decided to serve Sprouted Wheat then take a scissors and cut outgrowing and sprouts (roots), rinse them in cold water and then you can serve them. This way you exclude possibility serving of rotten seeds.
Sprouted Wheat - How to prepare it? (part 4)
Now you can serve Sprouted Wheat
And this is result of your work:
Happy budgies
All helping of Sprouted Wheat is eaten in one hour by my seven budgies.
Tip:
Use plastic sieve
Check smell of seeds continuously
If you have any suspicion (rotten seeds, mildew etc.) discard seeds.
Serve only outgrowing and sprouts.
Now you can serve Sprouted Wheat
And this is result of your work:
Happy budgies
All helping of Sprouted Wheat is eaten in one hour by my seven budgies.
Tip:
Use plastic sieve
Check smell of seeds continuously
If you have any suspicion (rotten seeds, mildew etc.) discard seeds.
Serve only outgrowing and sprouts.
Courtesy of my good friend Ales Tronicek .