Another Fermented Feed Question

[416bigbore]

A while back I started feeding our small flock of sixteen, ( 12 Ducks, 4 Chickens ) fermented milled whole grains twice a day, over dry feed 24-7. One thing I have noticed and don't like about feeding twice a day is how they all attack the food dishes when I put them out. They act as if they have been purposely starved and then will gorge themselves as quickly as they can. I am thinking this cant be very healthy for them, I feed them like clockwork, 8am and then again at 6pm, plus they are able to free range and forage in between feedings.

I went back to having dry feed available for them 24-7 and then feeding a smaller amount of FF in the morning when I let them out, this has stopped the feeding frenzy. I have done a lot of reading on FF and all the benefits of feeding it etc. and I am sold on the idea. I have been looking for documentation if it exists ? On substituting FF with their dry feed and if they still get all the benefits of eating a smaller amount in their daily diet over all FF ?

Maybe someone can post the link for me if they have seen this documented someplace, thank you.

 

[igorsMistress]

The studies that I have seen seem to be all or nothing, no in between. I do the same though, dry feed available 24/7 except I feed the FF twice daily.

 

[chicken3fly]

They just REALLY love the feed

 

[PioneerChicks]

I've been doing some thinking on this, and taking a class too, and have come to a conclusion. Aren't pickles and sauerkraut and sourdough good for us (humans), even though we don't live solely off them? So I think your chickens will still get the benefits of FF even if you feed them dry feed on the side.

 

[416bigbore]

I've been doing some thinking on this, and taking a class too, and have come to a conclusion. Aren't pickles and sauerkraut and sourdough good for us (humans), even though we don't live solely off them? So I think your chickens will still get the benefits of FF even if you feed them dry feed on the side.

True and with a little apple cider vinegar in their drinking water that also helps.

 

[kerbotx]

My chickens love fermented feed, up until they don't anymore, so it's kind of a seasonal thing for us. Here are my go-to reads when I want to refresh my memory on things:
https://scratchcradle.wordpress.com/2012/09/22/science-of-fermented-feed/
and https://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

 

[Ratchnick]

Why don't you just give them more food?

 

[3xhhheather]

They just REALLY love the feed

Agreed! I've switched off doing fermented for the moment, just to give them something a bit warm to eat in the mornings and while everyone is still eating the same amount, it definitely takes them all day to chow down now whereas the FF would be gone in a blink.