Fermented feed

[chattycathy4444]

What on earth is fermented feed? I'm having images of drunk chickens.

I'd like to know too!!!!

 

[Henriettamom919]

I'd like to know too!!!!

https://thefrugalchicken.com/fermented-chicken-feed/

I've been doing FF for over a week and my girls LOVE it! I find it especially great this time of year when temps are rising and chickens can become less interested in their feed!

 

[Shadrach]

I'm just wondering what benefits everyone has actually seen in their chickens while feeding FF...

So far my yolks have been bigger and my OE is consistently laying (she was an every other day layer, now it's every day). They also seem to tolerate the hot weather (90-99 degrees F) a lot better even though I have been giving them watermelon in the afternoon. My chicks are really digging FF and get really excited as soon as they hear the house door open in the morning.

I'm hoping to see more benefits as I continue this FF journey.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...o-fermented-facts-myths-and-experience.74414/

 

[chkva]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...o-fermented-facts-myths-and-experience.74414/

Thanks for that...

I stopped fermented feed, my hens refuse to eat it. People say once they starve, they'll eat it but I don't feel like starving my chickens and if I have the dry feed available then why not give them that... Right now they are more into foraging in the large area that they have than eating dry feed and I have not seen a drop in quality of their eggs. If anything their eggs are getting better the more they forage. Maybe just a coincidence

My OE has been laying massive eggs the past few days... She went from laying every other day to laying massive eggs every day. I did just switch them to flock raiser about a week and a half ago, I'm assuming it's the flock raiser that's made these changes not the short time with FF.

The other massive eggs aren't in there because they were dinner last night!

Chickens are amazing creatures that's for sure.

 

[NNYchick]

I felt the same way, I’m not going to force them to eat it. I knew it wasn’t a consistency thing or they don’t like change because they get mash every morning. I followed the directions I found on byc to the letter and it didn’t smell sour, I have fermented my own kefir and it was a similar smell. They just didn’t want anything to do with it.
@Shadrach very good article. I had a lot of the same thoughts about the science behind FF. I feed a balanced feed that is already higher protein than what is the recommendation. I moisten it for less waste. I’m not seeing health issues in my flock and they are in good condition. So if it’s not broke I’m not going to try to fix it.

 

[Henriettamom919]

I felt the same way, I’m not going to force them to eat it. I knew it wasn’t a consistency thing or they don’t like change because they get mash every morning. I followed the directions I found on byc to the letter and it didn’t smell sour, I have fermented my own kefir and it was a similar smell. They just didn’t want anything to do with it.
@Shadrach very good article. I had a lot of the same thoughts about the science behind FF. I feed a balanced feed that is already higher protein than what is the recommendation. I moisten it for less waste. I’m not seeing health issues in my flock and they are in good condition. So if it’s not broke I’m not going to try to fix it.

I think it's a "whatever works best for your flock" kind of thing. My girls love FF and I've seen some improvements in their overall health and well being but I'd never force it if they didn't fully enjoy it. They already eat a high quality feed so if it hadn't worked that would have been fine.

 

[chkva]

I felt the same way, I’m not going to force them to eat it. I knew it wasn’t a consistency thing or they don’t like change because they get mash every morning. I followed the directions I found on byc to the letter and it didn’t smell sour, I have fermented my own kefir and it was a similar smell. They just didn’t want anything to do with it.
@Shadrach very good article. I had a lot of the same thoughts about the science behind FF. I feed a balanced feed that is already higher protein than what is the recommendation. I moisten it for less waste. I’m not seeing health issues in my flock and they are in good condition. So if it’s not broke I’m not going to try to fix it.

When you moisten feed, can you leave it out overnight if they didn't finish it or toss it? I was basically tossing full bowls of FF and my wallet was crying at the same time. I think that's what I may do in these warm months because more water getting in their system isn't a bad thing. They've been eating melons like crazy because it's so hot out!

 

[Henriettamom919]

Thanks for that...

I stopped fermented feed, my hens refuse to eat it. People say once they starve, they'll eat it but I don't feel like starving my chickens and if I have the dry feed available then why not give them that... Right now they are more into foraging in the large area that they have than eating dry feed and I have not seen a drop in quality of their eggs. If anything their eggs are getting better the more they forage. Maybe just a coincidence

My OE has been laying massive eggs the past few days... She went from laying every other day to laying massive eggs every day. I did just switch them to flock raiser about a week and a half ago, I'm assuming it's the flock raiser that's made these changes not the short time with FF.

The other massive eggs aren't in there because they were dinner last night!

Chickens are amazing creatures that's for sure.

Gorgeous eggs!!!

 

[chkva]

I think it's a "whatever works best for your flock" kind of thing. My girls love FF and I've seen some improvements in their overall health and well being but I'd never force it if they didn't fully enjoy it. They already eat a high quality feed so if it hadn't worked that would have been fine.

I just got flock raiser and they seem to enjoy it a lot. I was using it to make my fermented feed, but they won't eat flock raiser fermented I believe not one flock is the same or likes the same things.

 

[chkva]

Gorgeous eggs!!!

My husband thinks the large egg is a triple yolker He's always guessing how many yolks are in the OE eggs. She's been giving us a lot of double yolker eggs. I can't wait until the rest of my flock is grown so I can have different colors. I have some white layers and more brown layers. Plus ducks should be laying green (I think)