FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[pegm]

I just realized, when I made my trough feeder out of my left over PVC gutter, I attached a 2X4 on the bottom to raise it up off the floor more and added stabilizing feet. I attached these with screws which are metal. Altho they are deck screws and seem to have paint covering them. Is this enough metal to create a problem with the ff?

 

[Beekissed]

Nope...the feed doesn't stay in your feeder long enough to start corroding the screws and then allowing the metal to leach into the feed. No worries.

 

[pegm]

It is in there most of the day, but by evening it's pretty empty. I've been washing it out in the evening because of the wetness of the feed, but with the dryer feed, I'll probably just knock out whatever is in there and it will be empty all night. Thanks for the quick answer.

 

[niqueie]

I think I might be over feeding too. I don't have access to free ranging here. My birds only get what I feed them. They are young too. Ranging in age from 2-3.5 months old. I feed them 3 times a day mostly. Sometimes just twice a day. Each time I feed them they of course act starving. They get about 12-15 cups of ff a day. But they don't have access to any grass or bugs or anything else really. Is that about a right amt of food. I have 20 chicks. I have
4 bantams, 3 Cochins , 1 silkie
1 welsummer,
1 basque,
1 BLR Wyandotte
3 brahmas
1 Americana
9 Easter Egger.

Do you think I'm over feeding?

Thanks!

 

[Beekissed]

Yeah...I'd say that was overfeeding. What you have to figure is that the birds that free range are burning off a good bit of what they forage in their search for food...not all of it, mind you, but a good bit of energy is expended in the walking and scratching. A bird in a pen and run situation isn't doing that amount of exercise and so needs less feed to sustain a good body conditioning. I'd say they probably eat more out of sheer boredom in their penned life and so would definitely consume all they are given but it's not necessarily what they need.

Even in the dead of winter when nothing can be foraged because of deep snows, I only gave 10-12 c. of feed total to a flock of 30 LF adult birds when I was feeding dry and they were fully conditioned on that. For 13 adult LF I have been feeding around 5 c. of FF and they free range but the forage is much lower at this time of year so they are getting some grasses and a few bugs but not the full supplement they are used to getting. When snow is on and no forage at all is available, that feed amount may go up but I doubt it...they will be moving less and expending less energy in doing so, so it evens out.

Chicks that old can do well on one feeding a day each morning and I'd feed no more than what can be efficiently cleaned up by mid afternoon. To give them something to do with their time you could start a good deep litter system in the coop and run so that they have foraging opportunities and something to relieve the boredom of being confined...it will also supplement their diet when it's reached a good point and attracting worms and bugs.

 

[kpgoldstar]

Thanks, Beekissed! I added a bit more water and it's pretty close to the top now. Thinks I am going to find a bigger bucket. I also added about 2 tablespoon of the Bragg's and stirred. How do I know when it's ready to feed?

Whoa, that is a lot of feed! How many birds are you feeding? You definitely needed a second bucket if you were already near the top before your water got absorbed. Most dry food will expand nearly 2 1/2 times when fermented. Keep us posted on your progress and keep the pictures coming! Since I have been using fermented I feel it is the only way to go and I like helping others achieve the same results, just like Bee.

 

[Audio51]

Whoa, that is a lot of feed! How many birds are you feeding? You definitely needed a second bucket if you were already near the top before your water got absorbed. Most dry food will expand nearly 2 1/2 times when fermented. Keep us posted on your progress and keep the pictures coming! Since I have been using fermented I feel it is the only way to go and I like helping others achieve the same results, just like Bee.

I have 9 birds. I thought I was making a small batch! LOL!!! I did move about 1/3 of it to a different container. I was seeing so many people posting about using 5 gallon buckets and all I had was a 1 gallon, so I figured 1/2 full would be good for a first batch. I will post another picture later of what is going on with them this morning.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Yeah you have to leave space for it to expand and expand it will. I started out with a 3 gallon glass jar and I didn't even fill it half full and it over flowed on me big time. I mean I had me a royal mess the next morning and I had even sit the glass jar in a platter to and that was full of water. It was all over the floor and every where. So I found me another thing so ferment it in.

 

[theadvocate19]

[*] Anyone doing it? Yes. We are.

[*] How long have you been doing it? One month now. With seemingly good results.

[*] Your methods? 5 gallon bucket, started with 24% DuMor starter. Good quality well water. Purina Layena Omega 3 pellets, and Purina Scratch Grains. Nothing else.

[*] Grains/feeds used in this manner? I started with Chick Starter because that's what I had on hand. Have since been working in Layena omega 3. Later added scratch grains. Mix is approximately 65% nonmedicated Chick feed, 25% Scratch Grains, 10% Layena omega 3.

[*] Your overall review of this method of feeding? Mine doesn't matter, I'll always be a crazy chicken guy, but the flock loves it! We are still in clinical trials, so I'm sure my answer will change in the future. I will note we never used any vinegars, as I've heard there is no need for it.

I will note, I have no idea what I'm doing and I certainly hope I'm doing okay and not messing this up!

 

[Beekissed]

None of us know what we are doing here....just wingin' it and hopin' for a safe landing! So far, so good. I'm loving this method and hope you will too....I just got my first taste of old DP hens that have been eating this FF for the past year and the taste of the meat is phenomenal. I must admit that I hadn't expected that side effect and am delighted! The strong odor and flavor of the meat from the older free ranged hen is now just aromatic and mild, very flavorful and juicy...best tasting chicken I've ever eaten, bar none..and that's saying a lot. I imagine this is much what the famous Bresse chickens must taste like after being finished out on buttermilk.