Feeding Chickens

[mcoleman12]

Ive been reading into the fermenting food thing and this is good information, i havent seen about the energy source. I have also been reading about sprouting??

 

[Chris09]

Ive been reading into the fermenting food thing and this is good information, i havent seen about the energy source. I have also been reading about sprouting??

The natural yeasts in the feed or grain start to convert the sugars in the feed into alcohol and in turn a percentage of the energy is lost but there is a gain of protein, B vitamins, adds enzymes, probiotics and predigest the feed or grain, all of which will help digestibility but you have a loos of the much needed energy. I feed soaked/fermented oats year round but it is a percentage of there over all feed. (about 20% soaked/fermented oats)


Chris

 

[Triplell]

I feed Oats year round adn tehy get all they want. It is good energy but it wont make them fat like the corn will. What I also do in the winter is give them scratch with add oats. I use large and small tuna cans for my measurments. Three large tuna cans of whole Oats to 1 small tuna can of scratch, the scratch has the wheat and some even have barley as well as oats. I split this into two feedings for 15 chickens and they eat every bit of it. I also make a heated mash with the crumbles, whenthey have eaten all of this then they get the grains. That way I know they are getting everything they need from the layer feed and no waste. My girls lay all winter with minimal drop in egg production. I have 4 pens of chickens with my layers being the smallest of them all. I go through a 50# bag once a week, that is feeding 50 birds. I also have 35 juniors that I feed the same way with only giving them the Flock Raiser, this also feeds my geese and ducks. They all get 50% of their feed in grains and 50% in the FR. None of them are fat and they get free choice of the grains and the FR. I have to fill their feeders twice a day as they have eaten every thing includeing all the powder with no waste. Here I spend $17.00 for a 50# of Flock Raiser and $16.00 for the layer feed. My total feed bill runs around $68.00 for the juniors and water fowl and $64.00 in layer feed. My grain bill is $55.00 a month. This comes to $187.00 a month for 103 birds total in the winter. Come summer the feed bill is cut in half. My hatch rate has not been comprimized at all in feeding this way either. I will also be raising some meat birds being comfined as well and they get the FR too.

 

[aoxa]

The natural yeasts in the feed or grain start to convert the sugars in the feed into alcohol and in turn a percentage of the energy is lost but there is a gain of protein, B vitamins, adds enzymes, probiotics and predigest the feed or grain, all of which will help digestibility but you have a loos of the much needed energy. I feed soaked/fermented oats year round but it is a percentage of there over all feed. (about 20% soaked/fermented oats)


Chris

Chris, I asked about your comment here and was told:


Quote:

 

[Chris09]

Chris, I asked about your comment here and was told:


Quote: I agree with the first part of this (up to the point where this person states that the body will produce plenty of energy).

The body only produce energy from foods that contain energy. If there is "no energy" in the food the body can not make energy.

The one thing that I think this person may be forgetting is that chickens eat to fill there energy needs, if chickens are fed a low energy diet they will eat more feed to meat there energy needs and there egg production, and or growth will be less than ideal.

If you dont mind me asking where did you post my comment at?

Chris

 

[aoxa]

I agree with the first part of this (up to the point where this person states that the body will produce plenty of energy).

The body only produce energy from foods that contain energy. If there is "no energy" in the food the body can not make energy.

The one thing that I think this person may be forgetting is that chickens eat to fill there energy needs, if chickens are fed a low energy diet they will eat more feed to meat there energy needs and there egg production, and or growth will be less than ideal.

If you dont mind me asking where did you post my comment at?

Chris

Chris,

Just asked fellow fermenting feed friends on the Natural Chicken Keeping thread. Was going to ask it in the FF thread, but the other one is very active, and I got a response right away.

It concerned me, as the only feed my birds have been eating is fermented for 48 hours. They get scratch in their bedding. That's about all the extra they have right now. Sometimes leftovers - though not for a while. I toss the scratch in the bedding to get them to keep it stirred up.

I am noticing less consumption VS more consumption. They all seem to have tons of energy. Hope I'm not doing anything wrong.

 

[Chris09]

I don't think I would ever feed 100% fermented feed. I know guy's that swear by fermented grain/ oats but they never feed a 100% fermented feed.
Other than a loss of some of the energy, you are "predigesting" the feed and in turn your are making it more easily digested but by making the feed more easily digested the fibrous foods do less in providing some warmth in the winter wile being digested in the body.

Note--
A high fiber food/feed will take longer to digest (in the body) and in turn helps keep your chicken "warm".

Chris

 

[ChickensRDinos]

So, if I were considering a combination of fermented feed, grower feed, and a whole wheat or barley fodder what is the best way to go about calculating the right ratio? Or is doing all three silly? I feel like I may be over thinking things and going in circles.

Is there a best sort of feed to ferment?

 

[Chris09]

So, if I were considering a combination of fermented feed, grower feed, and a whole wheat or barley fodder what is the best way to go about calculating the right ratio? Or is doing all three silly? I feel like I may be over thinking things and going in circles.

Is there a best sort of feed to ferment?

I only "ferment"/ soak grains and I feed only about 20% soaked grain to 80% of there regular feed (I might push 30% soaked grain in the hot summer) As far as the fodder go's, it's nice to feed when there are no other form of greens around. I myself feed a little extra Alfalfa Meal in the winter to supplement the loss of greens.

I try to feed 80 or 70 percent regular unfermented feed.

Chris

 

[aoxa]

I don't think I would ever feed 100% fermented feed. I know guy's that swear by fermented grain/ oats but they never feed a 100% fermented feed.
Other than a loss of some of the energy, you are "predigesting" the feed and in turn your are making it more easily digested but by making the feed more easily digested the fibrous foods do less in providing some warmth in the winter wile being digested in the body.

Note--
A high fiber food/feed will take longer to digest (in the body) and in turn helps keep your chicken "warm".

Chris

My feed is not highly fermented. Like I said, it sits for about 48 hours total. Maybe 72 at the very most.

I have been feeding the chicks 100% fermented and I've never seen such a fast feathering rate. Also haven't lost a single chick, and I usually do lose one or two in batches. Just my experience with it. My chickens have been dealing with the cold no problem. Here in Canada, we have lots of cold weather.

If I noticed odd behaviour (acting cold) I'll consider adding back dry feed. As of now - every thing I've seen is positive. They are more active, better feathering, eat less, drink less, lay stronger eggs with bigger yolks, have higher hatch rates from said eggs. Only negative I've noticed is with silkies getting it all in their beards.

Not saying you are wrong in your assumptions. Maybe I'm not noticing any of the negatives because the feed isn't highly fermented?