Feed waste, to soak or not soak

[MshVT]

So my chickens have been on scratch and peck whole grain feeds since a day old and have refused pellets since the beginning. I cannot afford the massive amount of waste they are producing anymore. It’s to the point in which I am going through 50 lbs of feed for 9 birds in a month. NOT GOOD. After reading a post here I had started adding just enough hot water to the feed just before giving it to create an oatmeal consistency. And it seemed that they really liked it. Yes, anything left was discarded at the end of the day. I have dealing with a sick chicken for a few weeks. The vet had me treat her for coccidia but that didn’t help so I’ve been giving her amoxicillin. She’s finally showing signs of improvement but now I’m afraid to feed them soaked grain! I have no idea what was wrong with her and she still isn’t out of the woods. The vet was not helpful and didn’t even want to see her in person. How do you all feed whole grains and not have massive waste? Should I be fearful of soaking? Fermenting for days made me even more nervous so I would only soak overnight or with hot water in the morning. Will feed go bad being wet for 24 hours and cause illness? Thanks for your help.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Fermenting really is your solution. I have probably less than 1% waste with fermented Scratch & Peck. The company even encourages people to ferment their feed, because if you don't, all the vitamins and protein added to the feed (the powdery fines) go uneaten, and then your birds aren't getting the nutrition they need from the feed.

 

[Householder Homestead]

I accidently stumbled upon feeding my chickens that way. I started to ferment their food a few weeks ago. They barely touched it in the trough I had. I went clear out the trough after it had been in the coop overnight and accidently dropped it on the ground. A freaking fight broke out over the spilled feed. Ever since we've poured out their fermented feed on the ground and they go nuts over it. No having to strain it out. No having to worry about cleaning feeders. Just pour and go. Now if I had to be away for a few days and had a farm sitter come over, I'd probably go back to filling their feeder for the time being until I got home.

 

[Hannahnic14]

I soak my feed overnight and feed first thing the next morning. I use cold water to lessen any chance of bacteria growing if your afraid of that. I haven't had any issues at all.

I have fermented feed as well, it soaks for 3 days, stirring each day. It won't go bad in 3 days, it will smell yeasty and fermented. Perfectly good to feed them! I wouldn't use feed that had soaked for more than 3 days however.

 

[Householder Homestead]

You aren't worried about their feed mixing with their poops? Have you tried any other feeders, like a bowl instead of a trough?

I guess that's a possibility, but I feed them out in the run, not the coop, with less poop. And I tried a bowl, all they did was knock it over and went to town on the spilled feed once it hit the ground. My birds free range in a fenced in area, tilling my garden beds for me until spring, when they'll be moved to a new run area for the growing season and then back into my garden space to till and fertilize my garden beds again. I work on the permaculture conspect of putting my animals to work on my land. Yes they're mainly pets with names, thanks to my girls naming them all, but at the end of the day they're here to work for me. I do provide them a clean dry predator proof coop to sleep in, fresh water both inside and outside the coop, and tons of loves from my girls and all the kitchen scraps they could want along with whatever bugs and plants they find in their run. I'm actually planning on growing a chicken garden with plants just for them to eat, hoping to cut down on my feed costs.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

You aren't worried about their feed mixing with their poops? Have you tried any other feeders, like a bowl instead of a trough?

I feed my birds wet mash in plastic troughs. As long as the troughs are lower than anything else in the area, they don't perch on them, and they don't poop in them.

When you have a large number of birds, i assure you, no bowl smaller than a kiddie pool is big enough.

 

[saysfaa]

I feed my birds wet mash in plastic troughs. As long as the troughs are lower than anything else in the area, they don't perch on them, and they don't poop in them.

When you have a large number of birds, i assure you, no bowl smaller than a kiddie pool is big enough.

That was to feeding by dumping it straight on the ground. When the chickens wouldn't eat it from a trough.

They seem to have a small enough number of chickens in a large enough space and maybe have good enough drainage that it is working for them.

I wasn't saying bowls are better than troughs. Although I like bowls and have few enough chickens for them to work very well once I solved the tipping over issue.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Do you have a link of Mr. Rhodes' videos?

BTW, I recognize the swahili in your signature line from a song I learned decades ago.
Means "thank you very much" (loosely translated).

Did you see Lion King? Rafiki the baboon sings "Asante sana, squashed banana". Okay, ya hafta hear it!!!!!

Seriously, "thank you" is what I feel from all the valuable information shared here and the chicken camraderie. I'll be glad when I am able to contribute something useful to someone.

Soon!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Justin Rhodes? He has his own Youtube channel. Maybe more than one.

 

[Happy Novogens]

So wait! You're like me . . . in the reading stage; no flock . . . yet!!! Uww, cool, we'll be neophytes at this together. When are you looking to get some ladies? Oh, by the way, I am thinking between tomorrow and Sunday. Gonna go to TS and see what they have. We stopped by for a visit last Saturday and I was crazy gleeful. At that time they had some a week old. I would really like to get some chicks older than a day or two. I hope they either have some left or got some more.

I have this way cool playpen/brooder arriving today. It is lime green, white mesh; too cute. I will be brooding them in my sewing room OR here in my "She area/play room for me" or maybe in my living room. Lord knows I don't use it for anything other than walking through it to get to the bedroom or kitchen.

Yup! No chickens yet! I've been in the reading stage waaayy too long!

My run/coop is still being put together. Have to wrap more mesh. Waiting for hubby to trench a waterline out to the run. It's been too hot to work outside (until the sun sets), so it's slow progress. I'm hoping we'll be ready within the month (or two?).

I also would like buff orpingtons! I'm planning on starting with 2 or 3 hens only. Had a similar idea of starting slow and getting the hang of things before going bigger.

I'd actually like to start with pullets or young hens. Don't feel like doing the brooder/chick thing, lol! (Been there, done that with button quail.) There's someone I found out here that has/sells buff Orpingtons of various ages.

Be sure to post pics when you have your brooder setup and your chicks! Would love to see!