Alfalfa cubes soaked with crumble overnight

[paneubert]

Thought I would see what the ladies thought of some Alfalfa cubes soaked with crumble overnight.

Recipe so far.

2 cubes Alfalfa.
Roughly 2 cups of crumbles.
2 cups of warm water. (I already have added a third cup of water. First 2 cups soaked up super fast).

Observations so far. This stuff expands way more than I remember from when I used to ferment my feed. I wanted to make a small bowl for them to try out and I already have a ton of feed in the bowl. Yikes. Smells a lot more like alfalfa than crumbles.

Planning to let it soak overnight and then drain any excess liquid.

 

[cavemanrich]

I have alfalfa pellets that I just throw in with their feed. Those pellets are intended as rabbit feed at the feed store. They work just fine for chickens. I have no desire to ferment feed, or soak items. I think that the chickens were created with a crop and a gizzard to do those things naturally. I know many peeps ferment feed and would not have it any other way. I support their decisions likewise.

 

[RoosterML]

Like @cavemanrich i too have rabbit pellets I toss in the pen from time to time. More so in the winter when they don’t have any grass to eat. Is it necessary? Likely not but I sleep better at night.

 

[paneubert]

Yeah, I should have gone with pellets instead of cubes. But now I have a 40 pound bag of cubes and no horses. Haha.

Drained the excess liquid this morning and put the bowl in the coop. They circled it repeatedly. Like literally paraded around the bowl in a circle. Haha. Every so often someone would take a smell or a tiny peck. But then the pop door opened and they ran outside.

Headed to work. Will see what I see when I get home. They don't have green grass access in the run, so I'm hoping the alfalfa keeps them a little happier.

 

[paneubert]

Once one of them steps in the bowl and scratches the mush around (and adds some chicken poop to the mix), they all know it is safe.


Can't even see the bowl.

 

[cavemanrich]

Yeah, I should have gone with pellets instead of cubes. But now I have a 40 pound bag of cubes and no horses. Haha.

I hope you don't take offense.. I will delete if so

 

[CindyinSD]

Yeah, I should have gone with pellets instead of cubes. But now I have a 40 pound bag of cubes and no horses. Haha

That’s okay. You can feed them to your cows. Cows love ‘em.

 

[paneubert]

That’s okay. You can feed them to your cows. Cows love ‘em.

I am in a suburban neighborhood! Quarter acre lot! Although there are still some farms around that are holding out. City hall has a riding arena next to it that is public use. Neighbor wants to do a shared goat. Like joint custody with visitation weekends.

But more and more subdivision and million dollar houses are being built all around us.

 

[CindyinSD]

I was just teasing because my cows love alfalfa treats.

Goats, like chickens, need a buddy, and a chicken won’t do. But if you’re gonna have milk, you’re gonna have kids so you can keep one of them...

If I were trying to produce food on a suburban neighborhood, I’d go for rabbits and quail (and hens, of course.) You can put a lot of food on the table with the “smalls.” They grow so fast, reproduce so freely, are so accessible to home processing. I’m planning to get some this year—very excited about it.

 

[paneubert]

Bowl was almost completely clean when I got home. Even with two other feeders full of crumble. Looks like I found a way to medicate my flock if I ever need to!