Do These Nutrition Recommendations Check Out?

[AmyJane725]

Can you give me the remedial course in fermenting?

Step one: Take feed out of bag

Step 2: Place into fermenting container of some sort (5 gallon bucket ok to make 5 gal of feed at once?)

Step 3: Add water and loose fitting lid?

Step 4: Wait 3 Days ?

Step 5: Drain off water and put into feeder?

Is fermented food ok to leave out for a long time, or does it go bad if they don't eat it all in one day? Because I have one of those 5 gallon no spill feeders, and that's supposed to last them around a week. And do you need to clean out out the feeder pretty often? I imagine there's a lot higher chance for bacterial/fungal growth feeding wet food than dry food.

 

[DobieLover]

Can you give me the remedial course in fermenting?

Step one: Take feed out of bag

Step 2: Place into fermenting container of some sort (5 gallon bucket ok to make 5 gal of feed at once?)

Step 3: Add water and loose fitting lid?

Step 4: Wait 3 Days ?

Step 5: Drain off water and put into feeder?

Is fermented food ok to leave out for a long time, or does it go bad if they don't eat it all in one day? Because I have one of those 5 gallon no spill feeders, and that's supposed to last them around a week. And do you need to clean out out the feeder pretty often? I imagine there's a lot higher chance for bacterial/fungal growth feeding wet food than dry food.

Weeeell, not quite that simple!

Did you see the trough in my post? That is how I feed my fermented mix. It will not feed in any type of gravity feeder as it will stick and make an awful mess.

I do not employ the "back slop" method of fermenting. I put as much feed as my flock will eat in one day into a single container (the old coffee container I show in the post I linked - you'll have to click to view all those attachments, that will help you understand MY method.)
I add plain clean well water to the dry feed until it is about 2 inches over the grain mix. You do not want to use chlorinated water. If you have city water, you can dechlorinate it by leaving it out on the counter for a day. Mix the first batch well then cover it. I just stab a bunch of slits in the top of the coffee can lid then snap it on.
When you are first starting to ferment feed, you will make a second batch in another container on day two and mix the first batch and add water if it needs it. The fermented feed soaks up a lot of water. Keep the batches covered.
On day three you mix up yet another batch and mix and add water to the first two batches.
On day four, you drain the very first batch you made, which should be nice a bubbly and maybe have a little yeast film on the top, into a fourth container. I just leave the draining container inverted over a strainer in the sink while I go about my morning chores.
Once it drains off, keep the liquid to start your next batch, add more water, mix it along with the other two cans you have fermenting and put it at the end of your rotation. You just keep pulling off the oldest fermenting can each morning to feed from.
If your drained mix is still too soupy, toss a handful of your dry feed into it to stiffen it up a bit then spread it into your feeder. I recommend a trough or something similar to what I have. You can google "feeders for fermented chicken feed" for more ideas.
You'll have to play around with your starting volumes so you have enough feed to last the day. If you run out, give them some dry feed. If you have extra, no biggie. Feed it the next day.
I scrape out my feeder out twice a week and wash it out once a week in the warmer months.

 

[Kiki]

These are the ages and protein requirements given by MyPetChicken. I've been researching chicken feed lately, and I've been going off this guideline. Something seems off though, because the majority of chick starter feeds are only 18% protein. I haven't been able to find one that is at least 20% protein and also medicated. Have recommendations been adjusted or something and this is out of date? Also, I've seen other places saying you should feed starter until 8 weeks old, then grower until they start laying eggs and then switch to layer. Others say do starter until 18 weeks then switch to layer (which confuses me, because I don't think they'll be laying at 18 weeks. I thought they start at like 24 weeks...)

Ideal protein for laying breeds based on age

• Chicks up to 6 weeks old: 20% - 22% protein
• 7 weeks to point of lay: 14% - 16% protein
• Once they have started laying: 15% - 18% protein
• All-purpose, over 6 weeks old: 16% protein

Also, does anyone have anything to say one way or the other about medicated feed? Seems like a reasonable precaution to take. I'm not really for giving unnecessary medicine, but as far as I know the disease is quite prevalent and the amprollium is harmless. Anyone out there who knows reasons not to give it?

Have you seen this book yet?

https://www.nap.edu/catalog/2114/nutrient-requirements-of-poultry-ninth-revised-edition-1994


Also each brand of feed is made differently.
Depending on the brand name you choose to use it will vary as far as the time line for switching types of feed with in that brand name.

 

[AmyJane725]

Weeeell, not quite that simple!

Did you see the trough in my post? That is how I feed my fermented mix. It will not feed in any type of gravity feeder as it will stick and make an awful mess.

I do not employ the "back slop" method of fermenting. I put as much feed as my flock will eat in one day into a single container (the old coffee container I show in the post I linked - you'll have to click to view all those attachments, that will help you understand MY method.)
I add plain clean well water to the dry feed until it is about 2 inches over the grain mix. You do not want to use chlorinated water. If you have city water, you can dechlorinate it by leaving it out on the counter for a day. Mix the first batch well then cover it. I just stab a bunch of slits in the top of the coffee can lid then snap it on.
When you are first starting to ferment feed, you will make a second batch in another container on day two and mix the first batch and add water if it needs it. The fermented feed soaks up a lot of water. Keep the batches covered.
On day three you mix up yet another batch and mix and add water to the first two batches.
On day four, you drain the very first batch you made, which should be nice a bubbly and maybe have a little yeast film on the top, into a fourth container. I just leave the draining container inverted over a strainer in the sink while I go about my morning chores.
Once it drains off, keep the liquid to start your next batch, add more water, mix it along with the other two cans you have fermenting and put it at the end of your rotation. You just keep pulling off the oldest fermenting can each morning to feed from.
If your drained mix is still too soupy, toss a handful of your dry feed into it to stiffen it up a bit then spread it into your feeder. I recommend a trough or something similar to what I have. You can google "feeders for fermented chicken feed" for more ideas.
You'll have to play around with your starting volumes so you have enough feed to last the day. If you run out, give them some dry feed. If you have extra, no biggie. Feed it the next day.
I scrape out my feeder out twice a week and wash it out once a week in the warmer months.

Those are great instructions. Thank you for that

This is a dumb question, but I'll ask it anyway. What sort of dish or feeder do you use to offer your grit and oyster shell? Do they fling it everywhere like food that's left in open dishes?

Got to go for about an hour. Be back later if I don't fall asleep.

 

[DobieLover]

Those are great instructions. Thank you for that

This is a dumb question, but I'll ask it anyway. What sort of dish or feeder do you use to offer your grit and oyster shell? Do they fling it everywhere like food that's left in open dishes?

Got to go for about an hour. Be back later if I don't fall asleep.

There are no dumb questions! No one is born knowing everything they want or need to know. You learn by asking questions, reading, observing and critically thinking. You are doing a great job.

Dishes left on the ground around chickens will always end up pooped it, walked through and tipped over. Period.

I have the simple hanging style 7# feeders for my OS and grit. Two of these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ZJHDO6/?tag=backy-20

 

[AmyJane725]

There are no dumb questions! No one is born knowing everything they want or need to know. You learn by asking questions, reading, observing and critically thinking. You are doing a great job.

Dishes left on the ground around chickens will always end up pooped it, walked through and tipped over. Period.

I have the simple hanging style 7# feeders for my OS and grit. Two of these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ZJHDO6/?tag=backy-20

Do you have them hanging inside the coop? I suppose rocks and seashells don't really get hurt by water so I could have them outside if I want?

 

[rjohns39]

The primary reason that feed recommendations are so confusing is that there are so many different husbandry techniques and different breeds. Most formulations are derived for max production with minimum cost in mind but not all. And almost all the recommendations come from research with test flocks. I seek formulations that match up to my husbandry techniques and breeds.

 

[AmyJane725]

Have you seen this book yet?

https://www.nap.edu/catalog/2114/nutrient-requirements-of-poultry-ninth-revised-edition-1994


Also each brand of feed is made differently.
Depending on the brand name you choose to use it will vary as far as the time line for switching types of feed with in that brand name.

I had not seen that book yet. Thanks for the link. I love a scientifically backed source.

 

[Kiki]

I had not seen that book yet. Thanks for the link. I love a scientifically backed source.

it is the book feed makers use as a guideline.

 

[AmyJane725]

it is the book feed makers use as a guideline.

Wow, that's pretty darn neat. I wonder if the writers intended to show what was necessary for "optimum" chicken health, vs. the bare minimum manufacturers can get away with without killing the animals. I really hope it's the former.