FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[MandalaMaMa]

Thanks everyone for sharing your feeding stories. I'm glad to hear I'm not alone with how they act towards FF. My girls have been on FF now for a few weeks and are looking so much better. 4 of my 6 have been giving me wonderful eggs since on FF. In fact my buff was getting really thin but is looking better since I started with the FF. I think she wasn't getting enough to eat but she loves the FF. She's smaller than the other girls. I have noticed a couple of the big girls have been watching out for her and making sure she gets her share. Being so new to chickens they are so enjoyable to watch and learn about. And BYC and all of you have been so helpful. Thank you!

 

[Cooper Farms]

Fed the 2nd batch to the chickens just know and again acted like starving children although they had dry all night. I would like to only feed them FF but it's like 0 here and it freezes

 

[lazy gardener]

Can you get them a heated dog bowl to put it in? I read of one smart person who used a Rubbermaid container for her bowl of FF to nestle into. She filled the outer container full of dried rice and microwaved it, then nestled the FF bowl in and it held the heat long enough for the birds to get their fill. I'm wondering if this idea could be expanded on by making a fabric pillow, (kind of like the bean bag chair concept) full of rice that could be nuked, then put in the outer bowl and the FF nestled in it. I should do that myself, b/c I've started the girls back on FF after being on dry through the Arctic blast, but it's still too cold for them to have it thawed all day.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Hence the rule: If you are going to pass out in the run... fall face down. Because Eyes is Shiny....

deb "back to lurkdome"

 

[Cooper Farms]

Hence the rule:  If you are going to pass out in the run...  fall face down.  Because Eyes is Shiny....

deb "back to lurkdome"

That's messed up put true we raised hogs when I was little and people said stuff like that about them and chickens r just as bad

 

[Beekissed]

Can you get them a heated dog bowl to put it in? I read of one smart person who used a Rubbermaid container for her bowl of FF to nestle into. She filled the outer container full of dried rice and microwaved it, then nestled the FF bowl in and it held the heat long enough for the birds to get their fill. I'm wondering if this idea could be expanded on by making a fabric pillow, (kind of like the bean bag chair concept) full of rice that could be nuked, then put in the outer bowl and the FF nestled in it. I should do that myself, b/c I've started the girls back on FF after being on dry through the Arctic blast, but it's still too cold for them to have it thawed all day.

Maybe just feed enough that it gets cleaned up with the first meal and then you don't have to worry about it freezing? I've had temps to 10 below in my coops this season over and over and I've not had any freezing issues with the FF. One meal, all they need for the day and it's gone before it can freeze. That's such a more simple solution than heated rice hulls, etc.

 

[Tikkijane]

Hence the rule:  If you are going to pass out in the run...  fall face down.  Because Eyes is Shiny....

deb "back to lurkdome"

Or wear eye protection and hope like heck you're not bleeding anywhere.....

 

[kpgoldstar]

So, long story short, I took out the dry feeder completely and have not been letting them have free access to food day and night to try and deter my little bandit from helping himself as well. After a week, the holes are no longer being reopened and there are no more little sneaky footprints in the snow around the run or coop. So I think he's gone elsewhere in search of dinner. But this leaves me with the question now of making sure I'm feeding them enough FF if that's going to be their only source of food from now on. Since taking out the dry feeder I've been giving them half the 5qt bucket of FF once a day. If my math is correct, there are 20cups of FF in a 5qt bucket so that's 10cups of FF I'm feeding 10 chickens once a day. (If I'm off work I'll split it into morning and evening feedings instead) So far *knocks wood* everybody seems to be doing fine. Their crops are full and they are nice and heavy. Not thick breasts on them but not really pointy and sharp either. I know they're layers so I don't expect those crazy full breasts like the fattened meat chickens from WalMart

So I guess I just keep an eye on their condition and as long as everybody's feathers are good, they're laying well and remain well filled out we should be fine.

1 cup of ff per chicken per day seems like more than enough. Mine get just over 1/2 cup each. You may want to slowly decrease the feed amount and see if they are able to tolerate the change. Their main ration gets fed in the morning then they get a small snack in the late afternooon while free-ranging before bedtime.

 

[fosterson]

Mine are like this every single time; all day long. I know I say this a lot, it it's true and I think it every single time- I am glad they are not bigger because I'd be on the menu! There is something hilarious and yet a wee bit unsettling to hear a flock of chickens stampeding toward you.

 

[Faerie]

My new chicks love their fermented feed! I am so glad I decided to try it.