FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Beekissed]

Had a ?- I've been doing FF for about 9 months now and Im getting the gardening bug. Most of what I've been reading talks about the chicken poo being too hot, but I'm guessing that is info that isn't based on FF poo. Are any of you gardeners ,and is the FF poo less "hot" to use as fertilizer ?

I've not really tried it on the garden yet, except some of the CX litter from the batch I raised two years ago...it was definitely too hot but then, that's from CX...they have a higher metabolism and process their feeds a little quicker and I'm thinking not as fully as regular chickens. And it was not aged even a little bit, so it gave me too much nitrogen in the garden soil...my mistake and I knew better but still tried it anyway.

From what I'm seeing of this FF poop in the coop litter, it breaks down so very quickly that I'll turn it under one day and cannot find the feces I turned under even two days later. I think in it's more digested form it may be easier for the bugs and worms to consume...it's sort of predigested for them, as the feed is for the chickens. I'll be using some of the bottom layers of this deep litter in some of my seedling starter soils this year and will let you know how it goes.

I'd say the chicken manure will still be considered a hot manure but maybe this stuff is just not quite so hot as normal chicken manure would be.

 

[22qZoo]

Thanks ,BK. That's kind of what I was thinking, in general the poo seems a lot milder than the un-FF poo . I guess I'll have to do a little experimenting too. It would be interesting to see a side-by-side comparison of the two different types of manure,the ammonia has to be a lot lower.
I wonder what other types of nutrients/elements are different. hmm.....

 

[Beekissed]

The meaties will be 2 wks old tomorrow and today was the first day their brooder was opened up so they could explore the coop. They didn't make it outside but I'm thinking that tomorrow I will run them out so I can add some winter stored leaves there and rearrange their brooder space. They are big and healthy chicks and seem to be growing well. I'll be building them a bigger trough soon and feeding them separately than the laying flock because they tend to swarm the feeder and don't mind if they get pecked.

Not much good forage out yet so they will still get twice a day feedings until the grass greens up and the bug life are moving a bit more.

Oops! Maybe not tomorrow...supposed to get 100% chance of rain tomorrow and the next day, so the brooder revamp may have to wait and they can just play around in the coop until then.

They don't seem to be accessing the heated brooder pad any at all during the day, though I'm sure they snuggle on it or under it at night. The other night it was in the 40s and the heating pad was off and they did fine, so I think they are relying on each other's body heat more than anything right now.

They are loving the FF...they are eating a mix of chick starter and layer mash.

 

[niqueie]

Let's see pictures of this heating pad and babies.

 

[Beekissed]

This was the first day when they got home....






These were taken last week when they were a week old....also the video.

 

[chickengirl1193]

Bee... what percentage of layer mash are your CX getting? I have 4 month old chicks living with my layers and im not sure how much layer mash is to much for them (I am going to switch to all grower when this bag is gone)

 

[Beekissed]

Bee... what percentage of layer mash are your CX getting? I have 4 month old chicks living with my layers and im not sure how much layer mash is to much for them (I am going to switch to all grower when this bag is gone)

30-50% and that was from their first day here.

 

[LindaB220]

Bee, your babies are looking so good. With the wretched rainy weather last night somehow by storehouse door came open. Lots of humidity I'm sure but they didn't get wet. But another Del bit the dust this morning. One of the healthier of the puny bunch. Then I heard loud chirping then quiet. I looked and the smallest one (del) was on her side eyes closed. I brought her in the house and bathed her in warm water and blow dried her. Put her in a secluded corner with the feather dusters. An hour later shes up and eating. Still might lose her 3 out of 7 down on the dels. Sounds like TSC and silkies. Hmmm.

 

[Beekissed]

Bee, your babies are looking so good. With the wretched rainy weather last night somehow by storehouse door came open. Lots of humidity I'm sure but they didn't get wet. But another Del bit the dust this morning. One of the healthier of the puny bunch. Then I heard loud chirping then quiet. I looked and the smallest one (del) was on her side eyes closed. I brought her in the house and bathed her in warm water and blow dried her. Put her in a secluded corner with the feather dusters. An hour later shes up and eating. Still might lose her 3 out of 7 down on the dels. Sounds like TSC and silkies. Hmmm.

I've never had hatchery Dels but these heritage Dels were as hardy as CX meat chicks and ate nearly as much! Wonder what is going on with your bunch? If the FF don't help them, I don't think anything can.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

How does everyone keep their chicks from stomping the FF down into a "crust". Mine don't want to eat it once they've mashed it down and they all seem to think the only way to eat it is to stand on it. Currently we're using a round serving tray because we couldn't find any of the trough-style with the lid. I imagine the lid would help? Otherwise I think I should start baking cheesecakes on top of all these wonderful crusts.

LOL. love it--"cheesecake crusts". I put mine in there for the chicks quite moist and then every few hours break up the pancake they made!

Kathy