how to cook lentils for birds

Here is a quick and easy guide to sprouting lentils for your backyard chickens. Simple, inexpensive, and a great source of protein and vitamins!

They are filled with excitement when we give them strawberry tops, and other scraps from fruits and veggies. The girls go absolutely bananas whenever I give them mealworms. And in the heat of the summer I even make them special frozen treats to help them cool off.

Providing fresh scraps is easiest in the spring, summer, and fall when everything is growing and fresh. We use poultry netting to move our hens onto different parts of the yard so they have access to fresh grass and the bugs hiding in the grass.

But winter can be a little trickier. During the winters here in east Tennessee there is no fresh grass to offer them. So its nice to treat them with some freshly grown green sprouts!

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Benefits of sprouted lentils:

Increased enzyme activity
Improved digestion and nutrient absorption
Higher nutrient content
Rich source of vitamins and minerals
Reduced cooking time
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

Sprouting Lentils for Added Enzymes

Adding essential enzymes to your diet and increasing the nutritional value of lentils is as easy as sprouting them. Enzymes are essential for digestion and nutrient absorption. Lentils’ nutritional profile changes when they sprout, becoming more nutrient-dense and easier to digest.

Lentils’ internal enzymes are activated during the sprouting process, resulting in the breakdown of complex carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into smaller, more palatable parts. This enhances digestion and makes nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants more readily available. Lentils that have sprouted are a great source of fiber, folate, and vitamins A, C, and K. They also provide essential minerals like iron, magnesium, and potassium.

Sprouted lentils have an improved nutritional profile as well as a host of other health advantages. Sprouts’ enzymes lower the risk of chronic illnesses like cancer and heart disease by scavenging dangerous free radicals. In addition, sprouted lentils require less time and effort to cook than unsprouted lentils. This saves both time and energy in the kitchen.

So, how do you sprout lentils? It’s a simple process that takes very little work. Start by rinsing the lentils thoroughly and removing any debris. Next, put the lentils in a sprouting tray or jar and pour water over them. Let them soak for about 8-12 hours or overnight. Once soaked, drain the lentils and rinse them again.

Now, store the lentils out of direct sunlight in a dark place. To keep them moist, rinse them with water every 8 to 12 hours. You should begin to notice little sprouts coming out of the lentils after a few days. This indicates that they are prepared for consumption. The sprouted lentils keep well in the fridge for up to a week.

Directions For Sprouting Lentils

Transfer a couple of tablespoons of lentils into the mason jar or other preferred container.

Fill the mason jar with water. It is imperative to ensure that the lentils are submerged entirely in water. They need to be fully submerged for 24 hours. During this time, the lentils will absorb a lot of water, so just be careful to make sure they stay submerged and don’t start to dry out.

Once the jar has been soaked for a full day, remove the water. The simplest method I’ve found for doing this is to punch holes in my mason jar lid. As a result, the water can drain without removing any lentils. It’s ready to go after I punched some drain holes in the lid with a hammer and nail.

You will need to rinse and drain your jar of lentils each day for the next few days. I rinse mine in the morning and in the evening.

I store my jar of sprouting lentils next to the kitchen sink because I find that it doesn’t take much to forget things there. I’ll be able to see it this way and be reminded to rinse and drain. Usually, I wash the breakfast dishes first, then the supper dishes, and then I rinse and drain the sprouting lentils.

In just a few days, the lentils will start to germinate and sprout. When I first tried this, I was astounded by how quickly it worked.

You can feed your chickens the lentils once they have sprouted and you can see some green color!

how to cook lentils for birds

FAQ

How do you feed lentils to birds?

Backyard birds can eat kitchen scraps and pantry grains that otherwise would be thrown away. Food from the pantry, such as old beans, lentils, garbanzo beans, rice, wheat, and other grains, can be crushed and fed to wild birds.

Can birds and squirrels eat uncooked lentils?

Uncooked Split Peas, Dried Beans, Rice and LentilsThese foods are extremely dry and can only be digested by larger species. However, cooked rice is a good option and will be enjoyed by many birds. Avoid poor quality bird mixes as these can feature split peas and lentils.

How should lentils be cooked?

Cook on a stovetop, using 3 cups of liquid (water, stock, etc) to 1 cup of dry lentils. Be sure to use a large enough saucepan as the lentils will double or triple in size. Bring to a boil, cover tightly, reduce heat and simmer until they are tender. For whole lentils, cook time is typically 15-20 minutes.

Why do you need to soak lentils before cooking?

Soaking naturally deactivates the harmful compounds and activates all the goodness of the seed and increases its nutritional value manifold. The process of soaking removes the gas-causing elements from the lentils. While legumes contain complex oligosaccharides, a type of complex sugar responsible for bloating and gas.