For Duck food plots, plant the Japanese millet early in the summer (June-July) depending on the start date of your duck season. Japanese millet seed heads will hold on longer than most millet varieties, even in standing water. The seed will slowly drop out of the seed head feeding the ducks over time. Japanese millet planted for Dove Fields should be planted at 5-10 lbs. Per acre spacing out the plants. By spacing the plants out it will allow the birds to locate the seed much easier after.
Here are some options for establishing Golden Millet as a food plot for your ducks: Flush field if needed. Get the water on and off in a 24 hour period If moisture is lost, It is critical that once the millet sprouts you have to flush the field after 7-14 days.
What is the best millet seed for ducks?
Brown top is more leafy than jap millet so there will be more plant material for ducks to have to sort through to find seed. Another option is proso millet that has a little longer maturity than brown top but still shorter than jap and the seed is a little larger with a shiny coating that resists deterioration better.
“When planting for ducks, the main thing to remember is timing,” said Delano. “Concentrate on planting millet, sorghum, corn and rice. Keep in mind that corn is probably the most expensive to grow, so guys on a budget should look to millet and sorghum.
How do you plant JAP millet?
To plant Jap millet, all you need to do is dig a 1-2 foot wide hole in the beaver dam. Then throw it out by hand on mud flats. After that keep the dam open enough to let the millet keep “wet feet” and you can get a decent crop. The bad news is where you are I would imagine the deer and hogs will eat most of it before the ducks get a chance.
Does millet grow in water?
Supposedly, the millet will grow in water up to 4″ deep . Wild rice is expensive and probably had to be ordered last year. Let us know if you find anything that works. I rely on natural smartweed – but in years it dries out, browntop millet will attract a LOT MORE ducks than smartweed.
How long does it take for Japanese millet to mature?
The major component is a specially selected variety of Japanese millet plus a light addition of grain sorghum and buckwheat – all plants that waterfowl relish. Under normal conditions the crop matures in about 65 days, but during dry, stressful conditions it is able to mature faster.
When is the best time to plant millet?
If you plant Jap millet in June – it is mature mid August and the dickie birds eat it for three months before duck season opens. If you plant Chiwapa mid June, it matures mid Oct and the dickie birds only eat it for a month.