FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Beekissed]

Post that photo of Momma on the nest ... it literally looks like she's been fattened up for foie gras. I'd swear you were tamping food down her throat with a funnel or fire hose. On 1/2 cup of budget-conscious FF per day. It would probably be pure cruelty to try to force more "nutrition" on your flock.

I KNOW! I really have to be careful with this FF as just an adjustment of the feed half a scoop either way and they are nice and trim.....or waddling like...well....like ME!

I added chick starter to their FF bucket to accommodate these meat chicks and have had to cut down on total feed fed to these layers because they were getting too obese...and that's just 2% more protein than their layer ration.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I KNOW! I really have to be careful with this FF as just an adjustment of the feed half a scoop either way and they are nice and trim.....or waddling like...well....like ME!

I added chick starter to their FF bucket to accommodate these meat chicks and have had to cut down on total feed fed to these layers because they were getting too obese...and that's just 2% more protein than their layer ration.

If only the people feeding US was so contentious about our portions & nutrition.

 

[LindaB220]

Post that photo of Momma on the nest ... it literally looks like she's been fattened up for foie gras. I'd swear you were tamping food down her throat with a funnel or fire hose. On 1/2 cup of budget-conscious FF per day. It would probably be pure cruelty to try to force more "nutrition" on your flock.

Bahahahaha

 

[Beekissed]

If only the people feeding US was so contentious about our portions & nutrition.

That's what I always say!!!

I'll be talking to Jake and saying, "You only get a level scoop today, ol' boy, because you are getting chunky!" and then I add voice commentary from the dog's point of view, "Yer one to talk! Whose cutting your scoop amounts because they sure ain't workin'!"

 

[pdirt]

Hmmmmm. 

Interesting question. And I bet answers will depend on different perspectives.

For me the point of fermenting the feed is to make the food more nutritious for the bird so the bird is healthier. It isn't exclusively about saving time or saving money or saving effort. 

Yes, it's important for me to find efficient ways to do things ... otherwise they don't get done. But my motivation is to provide the best for the birds as well as my capabilities, and my common sense , allows.

I believe all commercially prepared poultry feeds already have supplements mixed into them ... look at the long list of ingredients. Some people choose to mix their own rations, or add extra vitamin supplements to the feed. If they do that, and also ferment the feeds, then it seems to make some scientific sense to add the vitamin supplements AFTER fermenting. Mineral supplements could probably be added at any time. And if the supplements are proteins, then my personal opinion is to add vegetable proteins prior to fermenting, but add animal-based proteins AFTER fermenting.

SO ... if the supplement combines both vitamins and minerals and also probiotics and stuff, I'd add that after fermenting, like the Fertrell company has advised the poster above ...

Just my two-cents based on my current understanding of the situation ... I'm still digging.   

Well said. What I am talking about is NOT adding something extra. Most any commercially produced feed will have supplements mixed in, like Leslie said. What I am thinking of doing is to mix my own feed for reasons of superior nutrition and reduced feed costs. If I want it to be similar to commercial feed, I would need to add a vitamin/mineral supplement. Since I could control when the supplement is mixed in, I'd prefer to put it in at the time of feeding, not before the feed is fermented. A small extra step. I suppose there are folks who a fermenting simply bulk whole grains and legumes, not a premixed commercial feed. Perhaps with the right mix of fermented grains/legumes and the right kind of forage, they would thrive and get all the nutrition they need. But I don't know enough about chicken nutrition to know that yet.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

That's what I always say!!!

I'll be talking to Jake and saying, "You only get a level scoop today, ol' boy, because you are getting chunky!" and then I add voice commentary from the dog's point of view, "Yer one to talk! Whose cutting your scoop amounts because they sure ain't workin'!"

When Gust's bum makes clapping noises when he scratches an ear, he gets a little less feed.

In a few days he has a quiet bum. But nobody has to force him to run around until he's panting, either.

A procedural note: I read a few pages back your recommendation about when you're refreshing the FF bucket and "backslopping" to add all the water to the bucket FIRST and give the bucket a good stir, then add the feed and give it another stir. I've been doing that for a few days now, and BOY does it ferment faster! Great tip!

 

[Aacre]

When Gust's bum makes clapping noises when he scratches an ear, he gets a little less feed.

In a few days he has a quiet bum. But nobody has to force him to run around until he's panting, either.

A procedural note: I read a few pages back your recommendation about when you're refreshing the FF bucket and "backslopping" to add all the water to the bucket FIRST and give the bucket a good stir, then add the feed and give it another stir. I've been doing that for a few days now, and BOY does it ferment faster! Great tip!

I keep trying to remember to add that water first before adding the new feed.. I have remembered a couple of times so far, but a lot of times I forget.. But boy, does it make a huge difference!

 

[Beekissed]

When Gust's bum makes clapping noises when he scratches an ear, he gets a little less feed.

In a few days he has a quiet bum. But nobody has to force him to run around until he's panting, either.

A procedural note: I read a few pages back your recommendation about when you're refreshing the FF bucket and "backslopping" to add all the water to the bucket FIRST and give the bucket a good stir, then add the feed and give it another stir. I've been doing that for a few days now, and BOY does it ferment faster! Great tip!

I just started doing that here awhile back because I found it much easier to stir in the feed and then discovered it made for a quicker jump start on the fermenting of the new batch also...it's a win/win. So, I've changed to water then feed. Just an accidental, but pleasant, discovery of a side effect.

 

[kpgoldstar]

I just started doing that here awhile back because I found it much easier to stir in the feed and then discovered it made for a quicker jump start on the fermenting of the new batch also...it's a win/win. So, I've changed to water then feed. Just an accidental, but pleasant, discovery of a side effect.

Hmmm, I always add feed to my close to empty bucket first then add water to the right proportion. Next time I will try to remember to slop water in first and see if it makes a difference. I already feel that my new refreshed bucket ferments really quickly since I live where it is always warm. In fact I have been dealing with a little bit of a fruit fly problem with my ff lately. I have to keep my lid on all the way, not cocked. It still gets air, just doesn't let the little buggers in.

 

[subhanalah]

Hmmm, I always add feed to my close to empty bucket first then add water to the right proportion. Next time I will try to remember to slop water in first and see if it makes a difference. I already feel that my new refreshed bucket ferments really quickly since I live where it is always warm. In fact I have been dealing with a little bit of a fruit fly problem with my ff lately. I have to keep my lid on all the way, not cocked. It still gets air, just doesn't let the little buggers in.

I've been using pantyhose to cover mine, do you think fruit flies can fit through that? If so, I'm gonna have some problems in a few weeks when it gets warmer.