BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[RedRidge]

Fermenting. .. QED (quite easily done)
The is a fermenting for meat birds thread that is great - and it isn't limited to just meat birds.
Your birds will not waste it like dry, they consume less, and fermenting increases the digestible protein by a much as 3%.
After reading the fermenting thread of you have any questions don't hesitate to pm myself or @leahsmom - I'm sure she wouldn't mind and age has a better grasp on nutrition than most.

 

[gjensen]

I inherited a flock of American Games when I bought my farm land in GA.46 years ago.They had been feral for years, and managed to survive on what they could find. I started feeding them, and the flock multiplied in a hurry.When we thinned out the flock, we tried processing some of those birds. Ever tried to chew Latex?

LOL. Any bird older and with that much exercise is tough. Those birds never stop moving. I had a couple game cockerels given to me that was quite good, and a surprisingly muscled frame. the breast meat was pretty darn good.

Games and Dorking was a meat cross at one time. Way way back then.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds/0_20 A cahtty bunch, but welcoming of new faces . . .

I did better starting in the summer for some reason. I cannot get a batch going in the winter-- I don't know why---spring is here, and time to start a batch going again.

I have noticed that the birds dn't seem to miss a bit of the whole grains, but have a different attitute toward the pellets. IDK if it is the brand . . . it is fresh, as the guy is against me filling a silo that will be 2 months old by the tie the bird finish it. SO it is all pretty fresh.

My SS have pellets at all times, and then run out to free range and fill up on what every they can find.

I'm still new to this way of thinking . . . I just keep observing what the birds are doing and when. SS are non stop.

Quote: IMO crosses are undervalued. Wonder what other crosses were used. Where is Karen--bet she could find a few sources . . .

 

[mithious]

Thank you all for the responses

I will head on over and read the thread/threads and see what I can learn.

Will definitely PM if needed thank you for offering that also. I have NEVER fermented, so all new to me. Just tired of buying food that is just going on the floor

Plus have heard some good things about it.

 

[gjensen]

Fermenting. .. QED (quite easily done)
The is a fermenting for meat birds thread that is great - and it isn't limited to just meat birds.
Your birds will not waste it like dry, they consume less, and fermenting increases the digestible protein by a much as 3%.
After reading the fermenting thread of you have any questions don't hesitate to pm myself or @leahsmom - I'm sure she wouldn't mind and age has a better grasp on nutrition than most.

When I had less time, I though the idea a little more than fascinating. I am reconsidering it. There is more labor involved, but it doesn't seam substantial.
I do not buy into the exaggerated claims, or I should say skeptical.

The benefits that I would expect to see is less feed waste (a big deal), the probiotics (which I think they pick up grazing), and that the feed has already began to be digested. I could picture a feed reduction of 20%. If for no other reason than eliminating waste. I do not buy into the other claims, because they do not account for the changes that occur in the gut anyways. Could not say that there is not some truth to some of it, but am sure it goes the other way to. The truth is usually in the middle.

The hang ups I see, is the small amount of labor that would include cleaning the feeders every day. I do not think I want to leave that up to the ants and flies in the summer.

I expect that I will experiment with a group of birds and see if the labor is worth it, considering actual results. That is all that matters to me. If the birds are in fact better for it, and I save money, and do not spend too much time doing it . . . I am all for it.

A hang up for me is the quantity of pens. In the spring, I can have as many as 20 pens to feed. Mostly I have empty pens then to, but you get my dilemma. It is not as simple as a single flock.

 

[gjensen]

Could that milk have antibiotic residues in? Would that harm the chickens in any way? I sometimes have waste milk from cows treated with antibiotics that get's dumped down the drain or fed to a bull calf.

I would imagine that it is pretty diluted by the end result, but it is a legitimate concern. I would be hesitant.

I would still figure out a way to use it. Protein is a challenge. In the right quantities they would benefit from it and the fat.

Seams that you would have access to bulk grains to, and the resources for a grinder. Or just soak them. The options are endless. Just finding what fits your scenario and your ideals the best.

 

[armorfirelady]

Fermenting. .. QED (quite easily done)

The is a fermenting for meat birds thread that is great - and it isn't limited to just meat birds.

Your birds will not waste it like dry, they consume less, and fermenting increases the digestible protein by a much as 3%.

After reading the fermenting thread of you have any questions don't hesitate to pm myself or @leahsmom - I'm sure she wouldn't mind and age has a better grasp on nutrition than most.

 When I had less time, I though the idea a little more than fascinating. I am reconsidering it. There is more labor involved, but it  doesn't seam substantial.
I do not buy into the exaggerated claims, or I should say skeptical.

 The benefits that I would expect to see is less feed waste (a big deal), the probiotics (which I think they pick up grazing), and that the feed has already began to be digested. I could picture a feed reduction of 20%. If for no other reason than eliminating waste. I do not buy into the other claims, because they do not account for the changes that occur in the gut anyways. Could not say that there is not some truth to some of it, but am sure it goes the other way to. The truth is usually in the middle.

 The hang ups I see, is the small amount of labor that would include cleaning the feeders every day. I do not think I want to leave that up to the ants and flies in the summer.

 I expect that I will experiment with a group of birds and see if the labor is worth it, considering actual results. That is all that matters to me. If the birds are in fact better for it, and I save money, and do not spend too much time doing it  . . . I am all for it. 

 A hang up for me is the quantity of pens. In the spring, I can have as many as 20 pens to feed. Mostly I have empty pens then to, but you get my dilemma. It is not as simple as a single flock.

I've been fermenting for almost 2 years now. I started with commercial feed but now use grains. It's a little more time consuming but once I get a few batches weighed out I am good for 6 months or more. Of course I only feed 8 hens and feed less when the weather warms up. I just throw the ff in one of those rubber feed bowls. I don't clean them out daily. The hens do a good job do that but I've never seen ants or flies in the bowls.

 

[hellbender]

FYI My son and I are fairly good at the art of caponizing cockerels but I failed to learn how to alter pullets many years ago when I had the opportunity. I decided that carousing and BSing around was a more reasonable thing to do in summer.

Alas, we have found someone willing to teach us how to 'poulardize' a pullet. I'm not sure how to correctly spell the act in English but folks should grasp the idea. When I was in college, caponization was taught to me by a friend/classmate who worked here for a couple summers...now we are going to have to pay a serious practitioner to come here for a weekend and teach us how...I think it might be well worth the cost and effort. Time will tell!

 

[gjensen]

I've been fermenting for almost 2 years now. I started with commercial feed but now use grains. It's a little more time consuming but once I get a few batches weighed out I am good for 6 months or more. Of course I only feed 8 hens and feed less when the weather warms up. I just throw the ff in one of those rubber feed bowls. I don't clean them out daily. The hens do a good job do that but I've never seen ants or flies in the bowls.

I intend to try it, but I do not see a big commitment in the near future. I am waiting on separating a few pens of young birds that are at the same age. Feed them side by side, and see where it takes me. I like the idea, but am concerned about what it will add.

 

[hellbender]

I intend to try it, but I do not see a big commitment in the near future. I am waiting on separating a few pens of young birds that are at the same age. Feed them side by side, and see where it takes me. I like the idea, but am concerned about what it will add.

I too was doubtful and 'experimented' on about 70 pullets. I don't feed strictly FF but you know that; it's simply a way to include grains to their diet that they otherwise wouldn't eat. I was so impressed with the process, I include a goodly amount of FF in the daily ration of all my birds. I suppose feeding fermented feed (grain only) can be considered pretty tame, all things considered.