How to break up whole wheat seeds?

Discussion in 'Wildlife Corner' started by silu, Jan 15, 2017.

  1. silu

    silu gardening easy...hmmm

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    My husband bought an enormous bag (about 20kg!) of whole wheat seeds to feed a pheasant who appeared here a couple of years ago.He was incredibly tame and you could feed him by hand. The pheasant disappeared (think a fox was responsible:frown:) and there is a big amount of wheat left.
    I feed the wild birds but they can't manage the wheat as it is. I tried wizzing it in my very strong food processor and that didn't work. It crushes pepper corns but the wheat is just too tough. Not having a windmill complete with grinding stones! iI was wondering if there was some way I could grind the wheat so the wild birds could benefit from the seeds. I thought about soaking the seeds to soften them but that would probably just make a mess?
     
  2. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    Isn't there a local mill that would put it through a quick grind?
     
  3. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    I know where there's a cracking machine that's not being used :thumbsup:

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    :lunapic 130165696578242 5: :lunapic 130165696578242 5: :lunapic 130165696578242 5:
     
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    • Phil A

      Phil A Guest

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      I'd use Mr Snuggles, the Lump Hammer :)
       
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      • silu

        silu gardening easy...hmmm

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        Well you 2 have been very helpful NOT!:) Actually that isn't quite fair to @shiney as there is a farmer (grumpy sod) who bruises Oats for horse feed locally. Maybe with a capital M if I send daughter round with low cut top on he might be prepared to bash them, no doubt for a fee!
        I had no idea that they were quite a tough as they are. As it's my husband's "fault" maybe I could get him to jump up and down on them for a few hours which, with his girth, that might do the job!:heehee:
         
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        • Phil A

          Phil A Guest

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          So has you tried using Mr Snuggles yet? :whistle:
           
        • silu

          silu gardening easy...hmmm

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          [​IMG]
          If you mean one of these jobs, you must be joking. We have 1 (and 1 with a short handle) but my days of weilding it are long gone (never could really). Years ago an ancient old guy came to fix some fencing. He had his "big Bertha" with him to bash in the stobs. I thought he looked far too old to be doing the job so offered to help.
          The old boy gave me a withering look as said "on you go then". I picked up Bertha with a great deal of effort, the old boy didn't make it look that heavy!, and swung it up around my ears. The next thing I remember was being flat on my back. Hmm, so much for being a help, I went away to make him a cup of coffee instead.
           
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          • clueless1

            clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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            I hear of lots of fascinating behaviours of country folk.
             
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            • pete

              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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              What happens if you boil it for a short period?
              Just a thought, do a bit at a time, maybe enough for a few days.
               
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              • Jiffy

                Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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                A good coffee grinder or if there's a farmer around with a hammer mill or a roller mill
                The roller mill will break it up but the hammer mill will be like flour
                 
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                  Last edited: Jan 15, 2017
                • silu

                  silu gardening easy...hmmm

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                  Well "the proof of the pudding" and all that. I boiled up about a cup full and when it had cooled a bit I put it out for the birds and it seems to be going down well. I'll leave them in peace for the time being and then tomorrow I'll have a look to see if they've eaten most of it. Thanks @pete for the suggestion.
                   
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                  • Jiffy

                    Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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                    A coffee grinder will do it, that's what most people use when testing grain, but in labs they use proper grinder but out on farms they use coffee grinder to do the moisture test of the flour
                     
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                    • honeybunny

                      honeybunny Head Gardener

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                      If you soak or sprout the seed it will become more nutritious and beneficial to the birds :thumbsup: Its very easy to do. just pop some in a container with enough water to cover them and leave it somewhere warm for 24/48 hours. Give them a good rince through a sieve and they're ready to go. :sparrow:
                       
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