FEEDING FISH QUESTIONS ON PROCESSING SAVING?

[dani2]

Hi,
I have read that fish can be a great source of protein and with rising feed prices we are looking for ways to keep our feed costs down as much as possible and we always have a pretty good supply of fish. I am wondering for those who do feed fish what is the best way to do it? Do you just save whole fish? cut them into pieces? how about using them during the winter? I was thinking about freezing them in bags to use during the winter as a supplement to the regular feed. I also had someone recommend just blending the whole fish bone and all in the blender and then letting that dry out like a dry fish meal? I have not tried it yet and I am not 100% sure I have the stomach to blend a whole fish but I would love to hear what has worked for others.

Also does anyone have any experience with feeding fish that we normally throw back carp, squaw fish? They are very easy to get locally and although we normally dont eat them mainly because they are boney I would assume the protein part would be about the same.

Thanks in advance Nicki

 

[1acrefarm]

I like the way you are thinking. I think too much fish would give the eggs an off taste. I do throw mine an occasional minnow or crawfish from the creek.

 

[S0rcy]

I have only tried fish tails and heads and guts, but they love them

 

[panner123]

I have not used a blender. What I use is one of those meat grinders you attach to the table and crank the handle. It does a good job and is easier to clean than a blender. I only feed them an amount of fish I know they will eat in a day. To much brings in the predators

 

[dani2]

Hi,

When you put them through the meat grinder do you put the whole fish guts, head, bones and all or just the meat part? We have 14 full grown chickens right now but we ended up with very good hatches this year and have 75 babies in the barn plus 30 turkeys so I figure every little bit will help. We are still feeding our regular chicken food plus cracked corn and hopefully garden vegtables if the weather ever warms up

Nicki

 

[panner123]

I grind up the whole fish. Some larger ones needs to be cut up to fit,
but the chickens aren't picky about what parts they get as longas they get some. If you have any predators around make sure they only get what they can eat. Any leftovers will bring in coon, cats, fox and the like.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

I feed my chickens whole minnows. I just throw them in the run or feed them by hand. They love them. We have a 3 acre pond, so when I feel like feeding fish, I'll run down to the pond with the pool skimmer and then put them in a bucket of water.

I have also started keeping minnows in all my horse's water trough. They have done really really well and have multiplied greatly. It makes it much easier than skimming them off the pond. Now they are in a controled area. I just net them out of the trough, making sure to leave enough to keep the population up, and throw them to the chooks.

I have also had people suggest I go to the local seafood/fish markets and ask for the "leftovers". Which will be a bucket of heads and guts. Good way for cheap protein. It's not free because you have to drive to the fish markets and then provide trashcans for the "leftovers".

-Kim