Growing millet for birds is simple. Not only is growing millet for birds simple, but it’s better for them too! Millet is cultivated in different parts of the world for more than 3000 years. However, there are various parts in western countries where millet is grown for making bird food at home.
Not just that, many farmers use the crop for feeding their animals. But on the eastern side, the crop is used for human food as it’s one of the cheapest crops. Furthermore, growing millet takes very little time and there are many different variations of millet to grow.
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Why I Choose to Grow My Own Millet
I will be discussing growing millet for my indoor birds. Normally, I grow spray foxtail or finger millet. I leave them on the stalks to dry indoors on the porch. Once they are a golden color, then I offer them as a treat. They love millet.
I am not fond of the millet in the stores. I can’t be sure they are chemical-free, how old they are and I don’t like having to deal with recycling the plastic bag. Millet is high in carbohydrates and very low in fat. Birds should never only have millet in their diets. They need other grains, meats, and fruits to have a balanced diet.
On a side note, finger millet is high in calcium and potassium and is gluten-free. For people with celiac disease and suffering from gluten allergies, finger millet would be considered safe for them to consume.
Uses for Millet and Other Information
There are several uses of millet. Some people use it for feeding the birds and animals as it contains healthy nutrients which help in making them stay strong as well as healthy. However, there are lots of parts where the millet is used for human consumption too.
The crop has fiber which is good for the health and also helps in boosting eyesight. There was a time when the millet was not considered as a human diet but as time passed, and due to the rich source of various nutrients millet turned out as a healthy food staple.
Do you know how they use millet in Eastern Africa? They use millet to make beer! Other parts of the world also use millet for porridges and to make fermented drinks. In the USA mainly, millet is used for feeding farm stock and for birdseed. India is the largest producer of millet, even more than Nigeria.
Does Millet Come Back Every Year?
Millet is basically an annual plant, but it’s possible to save the seed and sow it as it will grow up again with upcoming seasons. We usually save the best two stalks and seal them off until next spring when we start the process over again.
There are huge differences between annual and perennial plants. Annual plants only live for a season, and eventually, they will end up dying. But the perennial plants can grow again and again every coming spring.
Where Can you Grow Millet?
Well, the farming of millet is a long story. However, these days the cultivation of this crop is primarily focused on areas like Asia, China, India, and Western Europe. Along with that, there are various parts in the United States such as Colorado, Nebraska, and Dakotas.
Domesticated millet is called Japanese millet or barnyard grass. There are several nutrients that the single crop has such as it contains amino acids which are more as compared to barley, wheat, oats, and rice.
However, there are lots of people who grow millet in their home whereas farmers use the land. It depends on the areas that you have for growing the crop.
Is Growing Millet Easy to Grow?
Growing millet is not hard, but needs some basic instructions to follow. If you are planning on growing millet on your own and at your home then here are a few things that you should know as shown below.
This summer I planted millet on the side bank of my house. I did not prep the soil or even water it this year. I basically just scattered some leftover half-eaten sprays from my indoor birds.
Even though I was expecting to build more raised beds (Hügelkultur raised beds) but when they weren’t started, I scattered millet seeds and they took off. Interested in how to build Hügelkultur Raised Beds, check out my informative post about them!
What Type of Millet to Grow
There are various different types of millet that you can purchase. It depends on what kind of seed you are looking for. However according to the owners who have grown the seeds which come labeled are much simpler and easy to grow and also it gives a better idea about what to expect. The local health food store has several varieties of millet, I am sure they would sprout just fine.
Prepping Soil for Planting Millet
Either you can purchase the soil directly from the market which comes prepared, or you can do it on your own too. You can simply mix the soil with the compost which should be an equal amount of the soil.
Also, do not use your garden soil as it can give less good results. Want to learn how to make your own natural soil for growing millet? Check out Making Compost Naturally into Gardening Soil. Don’t know what you can compost? Many Incredible Uses for Eggshells will help start some ideas!
How to Grow Millet Seeds
Do not bury the seeds into the soil too deep, but make sure that space should be about 1/4 inch deep. Also, put the seeds 2 or 3 apart from one another. However, if you don’t have that much space, you can plant it together too but make sure to make a thin line when the seed starts sprouting.
Millet grows approximately 2-3 feet tall and looks like grass until the sprigs grow. The millet is heavy and will start to droop, making it a pretty scene to look at.
Does Millet Need a Lot of Water?
When you scatter the seeds, you’ll need to water so the seeds can sprout and grow. Also, water the seeds when you feel like the soil is getting dry or the water level is going down. However, don’t add too much water which turns the soil damp. In most areas that have average rain, no watering will be necessary for millet to grow.
Along with that, the seed will not grow if there is too much water in the soil so make sure to drain the rest of the water quickly. I like to dampen the ground thoroughly before planting the seeds.
How Long Does Millet Take to Grow?
Most planted millet, especially in a warmer climate will be ready to harvest between 2 months and more for cooler climates. Millet is such a fast-growing crop, you may even choose to plant towards the end of the summer. Allow at least 2 months for warm temperatures.
It’s time to start harvesting millet when you notice the wild birds pecking at it. I always leave some sprays for the wild birds. I cut stalks long and make small bunches. They get tied and hung inside the covered, screened porch.
Once they start turning a golden-brown, I offer them as a treat to my sun conure and African Gray parrot. Millet is not a big part of their diet. Giving them millet is like a snack or dessert for them. I leave the eaten spray in their cages, they like to play with it once the seeds are eaten. I remove when I give them a new millet spray.
Giving Millet to Chickens
I give my chickens foxtail or finger millet but next year I will be planting Japanese millet specifically for them. Japanese millet (also known as Duck or Jap), prefers damp conditions and I have a pond that will be the ideal spot for them. The pond is next to their yard. It looks very pretty to look at when it’s grown.
In Conclusion
Growing millet is very easy, and once you start, you have enough to help you grow for the rest of life. Even though I like growing millet for my birds, that doesn’t it can’t be grown for yourself! Millet is also very healthy and most people use it in oatmeal!
If you would like to know more information about millet, or even growing millet, check out Wiki’s post on Millet for more information!
More Useful Garden Links
Interested in more gardening tips and tricks? Visit 12 Gardening Tips for Beginners to learn the basics needed to plant your own garden! Vertical Gardens for Small Spaces is also beneficial, and gives you the opportunity to plant a garden with minimal space needed!
In my own garden, I only like to use my Manure Tea Recipe in my container gardening planters (which you can find in my Guide to Container Gardening post), and even in the Oya and Ollas that get the liquid fertilizer. I do like to switch out the manure tea every other week with my Fish Emulsion Fertilizer (read more about that).
Need some ideas on what to grow this year in your garden? 11 Great Plants to Regrow From Cutting is all you need!
Now that you’ve grown your garden, a couple of key factors to make your bounty last longer that would be beneficial would be Methods of Drying Herbs and Dehydrate Food Naturally Using a Dehydrator. These methods allow you to keep what you have grown all year round for your enjoyment!
If you are new to our community you may want to follow our whole journey from the beginning, please start with this introduction to our log cabin turned farmhouse on the mountain Log Cabin Farmhouse Introduction.
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What’s interesting is you dry the Millet. By mistake a sprig of millet I threw out from my parrots ended up flourishing on the side of my house and grew a crop. 😂
I did not know it was Millet as the crop was tiny until little sparrows were swinging from it trying to eat the seeds. The millet was budding green not golden yet. I walked over and took a bite and it tasted like butter it was delicious with a hint of sweetness. That’s when I realized my parrots were eating dead seed and nutrients were higher before the Millet turned golden brown.
Millet from the store that I have seen over the years has bird feathers, Black MOLD and is infested but also tastes dead. I will be growing my own for my parrots and never bought another store bag again due to the issues above and also the Millet is not organic. I will be growing millet in doors in a sunny location near my hottest window as my backyard is packed with wild birds. Try eating the millet when it buds the difference is amazing!
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This is interesting! I like to eat millet, it never occured to me that you could grow it lol!