FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Ms Jellybean]

Do you use food grade plastic containers when doing FF? Or is a bucket from HD or Lowe's ok.

Does it matter what kind of water (tap or filtered/chlorine free)?

Do you need to feed dry food from time to time, or is FF ok to feed every day, along with whatever they scrape up in the yard?

 

[kpgoldstar]

Do you use food grade plastic containers when doing FF? Or is a bucket from HD or Lowe's ok.

Does it matter what kind of water (tap or filtered/chlorine free)?

Do you need to feed dry food from time to time, or is FF ok to feed every day, along with whatever they scrape up in the yard?

I use a food grade plastic bucket only because I am a chef by trade and already had one that was not in use. You can use any sort of bucket, incl those from the box stores. Or you can go to the bakery dept of the grocery and ask for a bucket, usually free or less than $1. The kind they get frosting in, etc.

Any water is OK. I use tap that is filtered through RO, but I know there is still some chlorine in it. Not enough to make me concerned about my small flock.

I have not offered dry food since I got my chicks at 2 weeks old and discovered the wonderful superior benefits of ff. I feed their main portion in the morning which they peck at throughout the day, but is usually gone within a couple hours. I feed kitchen scraps in the morning as well, almost always just garden or veggie trimmings. Hardly ever bread or meat. They get a small snack of ff in the evening when I let them out to free range for a couple hours. I don't offer grit because I live in the land of rocks and coarse sand. They have access to oyster shell.

I know lots of people still offer dry, in a gravity hopper so the birds can have it all day if they want. I feel this defeats the purpose of ff. I enjoy greater nutrition, completely dry and stink-free poos, healthier birds.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

I use a food grade plastic bucket only because I am a chef by trade and already had one that was not in use. You can use any sort of bucket, incl those from the box stores. Or you can go to the bakery dept of the grocery and ask for a bucket, usually free or less than $1. The kind they get frosting in, etc.

Any water is OK. I use tap that is filtered through RO, but I know there is still some chlorine in it. Not enough to make me concerned about my small flock.

I have not offered dry food since I got my chicks at 2 weeks old and discovered the wonderful superior benefits of ff. I feed their main portion in the morning which they peck at throughout the day, but is usually gone within a couple hours. I feed kitchen scraps in the morning as well, almost always just garden or veggie trimmings. Hardly ever bread or meat. They get a small snack of ff in the evening when I let them out to free range for a couple hours. I don't offer grit because I live in the land of rocks and coarse sand. They have access to oyster shell.

I know lots of people still offer dry, in a gravity hopper so the birds can have it all day if they want. I feel this defeats the purpose of ff. I enjoy greater nutrition, completely dry and stink-free poos, healthier birds.

Thanks for the info and the idea of getting a bucket from the grocery store.

I don't have a lot of kitchen scraps, but do get some when I cook. I will have a garden and plan on giving them fresh veggies. I also usually have a ton of bugs here in my yard. I don't spray. I'd rather nature work it out. Chickens will tip the balance in my favour.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Do you use food grade plastic containers when doing FF? Or is a bucket from HD or Lowe's ok.

Does it matter what kind of water (tap or filtered/chlorine free)?

Do you need to feed dry food from time to time, or is FF ok to feed every day, along with whatever they scrape up in the yard?

Most people say the water doesn't matter but I de-chlorinate it before I put it in.

The chemists at the chicken pro-biotic company told me to use non-chlorinated water with their product.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I don't think that feeding some un-fermented chicken feed is THAT much different than feeding un-fermented kitchen scraps, or forage. The birds get the pro/pre-biotics from the FF, so their tummies are "happy" like they would be on a GOOD probiotic supplement. That said, it does seem to be true that the process of fermentation boosts the nutrition of the feed ... so encouraging the birds to eat the ff instead of a "plain" ration seems to be scientifically proven as "better", but a 100% FF feeding procedure might not always be doable for everyone. I'm not up to a 100% FF program yet ... but we are getting closer. I don't feel bad about it ... my birds sure look healthier now ... eggs look and taste GREAT. Birds seem content.

 

[kpgoldstar]

I don't think that feeding some un-fermented chicken feed is THAT much different than feeding un-fermented kitchen scraps, or forage. The birds get the pro/pre-biotics from the FF, so their tummies are "happy" like they would be on a GOOD probiotic supplement. That said, it does seem to be true that the process of fermentation boosts the nutrition of the feed ... so encouraging the birds to eat the ff instead of a "plain" ration seems to be scientifically proven as "better", but a 100% FF feeding procedure might not always be doable for everyone. I'm not up to a 100% FF program yet ... but we are getting closer. I don't feel bad about it ... my birds sure look healthier now ... eggs look and taste GREAT. Birds seem content.

Just for clarification jellybean, LDJ's situation is MUCH different than mine. She is feeding over 100 birds which would be enormously daunting to feed 100% ff in my opinion. I only have 4 hens so my 100% ff program suits me and my girls. Whatever works for you and your lifestyle is the right way to go.

Feeding entirely ff does require more attention and we have to get babysitters if we are gone for several days since they do need to be fed., rather than having feed available at all times.

 

[Beekissed]

The only difference being that their monogastric state keeps them from digesting the grains adequately and so the unfermented grains are going through the digestive system not fully utilized and containing more undigested matter. Some is better than none, to be sure, but when some is not, you are losing the benefit of those lost nutrients and also having the smell in the coops of the undigested sugars, which attracts flies and is harder to break down into the litter.

I've seen and smelled the stools from almost 100% foraged feeds~yes, I put it right up to my nose and took a big whiff as I am constantly analyzing the life of these birds

~ and they have no bad smells..just earthy and like soil, and they also just crumble in your hands like soil...this tells me that their natural foods are much more digestible than the grain feeds we feed these birds.

I'm hoping you can finally get to fermenting all your feeds in your system, LJ!

 

[kpgoldstar]

BOSS is Black Oil Sunflower Seed - hence the acronym.
ACV = Apple cider vinegar (which should be raw to have any health benefits)

BOSS is extremely high in protein, so use caution with the amount you add. It's good to boost protein of a low protein feed or while the birds are molting.

I only add about a handful of BOSS into an 8 qt bucket of ff. It helps with expansion, boosts proteins and fats and my girls love it enough to pick it out first! Once my weather starts nearing triple digits I will eliminate the BOSS and any scratch which they only get about once a week as a special treat anyway. The scratch makes them VERY thirsty.

 

[Beekissed]

Actually BOSS is about the same protein percentage as layer ration, so not extremely high.

http://www.feedipedia.org/node/12666

 

[Ms Jellybean]

So much good info here. I'm really glad I stumbled upon this site last year before I got chickens.

I am doing things much differently (read, better) when I get chickens than I would have if I hadn't found this site.