FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Ariel188]

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 bought a 5 gallon BPA free bucket online.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Yes ... bird digestion is such that enough feed passes clean through the chicken so chicken manure is "nutritious" enough to be gathered and fed to other livestock ...

I'm pretty sure fermentation boosts feed utilization/digestion/absorbtion so the droppings contain less nutritious "feed." I'd love to see some studies on that. All those starving piggies.

But ... inasmuch as chicken food is formulated to be "adequate" nutritionally for the chicken in the un-fermented state, it isn't "bad" for the bird to eat un-fermented chicken feed. It's normal.

The side benefits of 100% FF are super cool ... would be worth it even if the nutritional boosts didn't exist.

Some and some is "good." I don't think anyone should be pressed to feel bad about some and some if that's what works for them.

 

[Beekissed]

Yes ... bird digestion is such that enough feed passes clean through the chicken so chicken manure is "nutritious" enough to be gathered and fed to other livestock ...

I'm pretty sure fermentation boosts feed utilization/digestion/absorbtion so the droppings contain less nutritious "feed." I'd love to see some studies on that. All those starving piggies.

But ... inasmuch as chicken food is formulated to be "adequate" nutritionally for the chicken in the un-fermented state, it isn't "bad" for the bird to eat un-fermented chicken feed. It's normal.

The side benefits of 100% FF are super cool ... would be worth it even if the nutritional boosts didn't exist.

Some and some is "good." I don't think anyone should be pressed to feel bad about some and some if that's what works for them.

In my own lab studies...my Lab showed me the difference.

I used to free range flocks of 30-50 on an acre and my two dogs made it such that I never had to step in a pile of chicken poop. They were all hoovered as soon as they got dried. When I would clean out the coop the dogs would stand out in the garden and search out all the "fertilizer". I had the cleanest chicken yard of anyone, so flies and stink were nonexistent.

Now, Jake won't touch their poop and we have to wait for the rains to disperse it into the grass and soils. It's not because it has fermented things in it....he LOVES their fermented feed. I can only conclude it's because there isn't any undigested sugars left in those feces enough to interest the dog that will most anything...truly...this dog ate half a bag of paintballs once and pooped florescent green for a week.

That's my study tested in...er..um...not in..a Lab.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Gust LOVES the FF. Every time I stir it he comes and drools into my shoe, and he has to lick the spoon. And if I don't put a tad in his bowl he pouts.

He also loves chicken poo. Dad says that's "gross," and warns me to not kiss the dog if he's gotten into some poo. I tell Dad if it's good enough for pigs and cows it's okay for me & Gust.

Gust once got into a bucket of alfalfa pellets. Then he got thirsty. I've never seen a dog puke so much. Pretty & great smelling. For puke.

Paintball pellets would be ... hysterical. But I'd be so worried I'd make myself sick about it.

 

[ak rain]

Feeding scraps and feeding dry food on the side of FF is different due to scraps are leftovers from kitchen and garden. Dry food is purchased for chickens. Do what's best for your routine and for the birds.
Ak rain

 

[Beekissed]

Yep...everyone is just trying to find their own way and only they can determine what is right in their own flock. I sure wouldn't like folks telling me how or what to feed either.

 

[LindaB220]

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.

I can't tell you how much I agree with you. My first babies are coming Mar 27. I've had six months to research.

 

[birdlady79]

Hi, Im new to chicken raising...Ive read through some of this thread but not all.... Ive been feeding chick starter of course but supplementing with fruits,veggies,garlic,ACV, ec...I just started my first batch of ff....I have a small flock so Im not doing a whole lot....We are going out of town this weekend and no one is available to feed our chicks.... I know a lot of people on here feed primarily ff, but its still ok to do ff and dried correct, along with the scraps... I would like to do ff in mornings and dried through out the day bc I work late a few nights a week... They will also be free ranging quite a bit....

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Quote:

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The side benefits of 100% FF are super cool ... would be worth it even if the nutritional boosts didn't exist.

Some and some is "good." I don't think anyone should be pressed to feel bad about some and some if that's what works for them.

The main side benefits for me are using much less feed and that all the fines get bound up in it. IMO many of the additives(amino acids, vitamins, minerals) that make chicken feed a complete ration, end up in those fines. That in itself would make FF more nutritious without the benefits of fermenting.

Yep...everyone is just trying to find their own way and only they can determine what is right in their own flock. I sure wouldn't like folks telling me how or what to feed either.

X2
Some people come here for advice and others try to give their best advice based on their experience and education.

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.

X2
I've still been keeping dry food in bulk feeders and I may do so in perpetuity. Sometimes I can't give FF at all. This winter the temperature hit negative 19 F. at my house. It will be in the mid teens by the time I go out to water this morning. More days that never got above freezing this winter than I can ever remember before. One or two never got above zero. My chickens don't have ice saws. The dry feed works in all temperatures. Distributing FF to as many as 10 different groups is often unrealistic.
Also, for some reason, I have a group of roosters that have never embraced FF. I have no idea why. They get the exact same feed in the same type containers.

Feeding, just like breed selection and many of one's housing and management techniques are dictated in part by climate and location.
Primary feed ingredients in the US is normally corn and soy. That's not true in many parts of the world. They use feedstuffs that are more indigenous.

Hi, Im new to chicken raising...Ive read through some of this thread but not all.... Ive been feeding chick starter of course but supplementing with fruits,veggies,garlic,ACV, ec...I just started my first batch of ff....I have a small flock so Im not doing a whole lot....We are going out of town this weekend and no one is available to feed our chicks.... I know a lot of people on here feed primarily ff, but its still ok to do ff and dried correct, along with the scraps... I would like to do ff in mornings and dried through out the day bc I work late a few nights a week... They will also be free ranging quite a bit....

I think you have a good plan there. Just try it and see how it works for you. Eventually you'll have a routine, but it will change over the years as you gain experience.

I know a lot of people love to give treats. It's personal preference but I don't give anything but starter/grower till they're at least 2 months old, except what they get foraging.
Right now I have a flock of 20 pullets and another of 15 cockerels that are 11 weeks old and so far they've only gotten my blend of organic grower and fishmeal. The pullets go outside but there's nothing growing yet and no bugs. The cockerels have been chicken so far and I have to force them to go outside just so I can change bedding. They're content to mill around inside and wait for their FF.
If I only had a few birds they would be getting table scraps but there aren't usually enough of those for all the adults to each get a single bite.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Hi, Im new to chicken raising...Ive read through some of this thread but not all.... Ive been feeding chick starter of course but supplementing with fruits,veggies,garlic,ACV, ec...I just started my first batch of ff....I have a small flock so Im not doing a whole lot....We are going out of town this weekend and no one is available to feed our chicks.... I know a lot of people on here feed primarily ff, but its still ok to do ff and dried correct, along with the scraps... I would like to do ff in mornings and dried through out the day bc I work late a few nights a week... They will also be free ranging quite a bit....

Do what works best for you.

The chicks only need to be fed twice a day. Feed what they can eat in a couple of hours.

You could put a clump of grass (with the dirt) in with them to snack on during the day if you are concerned about them getting food, but twice a day is good. I'm sure Bee, or someone else will chime in with more for you.