FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[LindaB220]

Another FF convert.

My grandmother has chickens and she was complaining about the amount of feed they waste. She started out doing the traditional "here chick chick chick" and throwing the feed on the ground. I convinced her to at least put it in a dish of some kind and in so doing she started saving a little more feed but the darn chickens scratch most of it out of the pan. Since her chickens free range on a wooded acre she decided just to feed them once in the morning and once at night with FF. I fermented some two weeks ago and the first time I put some out they devoured it, same thing that evening. We anticipate a large cut in feed costs.

Once I get my own flock up and laying we'll be using the same method for feeding.Y

Good going. FF is terrific isn't it. By the way,

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Another FF convert.

My grandmother has chickens and she was complaining about the amount of feed they waste. She started out doing the traditional "here chick chick chick" and throwing the feed on the ground. I convinced her to at least put it in a dish of some kind and in so doing she started saving a little more feed but the darn chickens scratch most of it out of the pan. Since her chickens free range on a wooded acre she decided just to feed them once in the morning and once at night with FF. I fermented some two weeks ago and the first time I put some out they devoured it, same thing that evening. We anticipate a large cut in feed costs.

Once I get my own flock up and laying we'll be using the same method for feeding.

Oh boy, isn't that the truth.
When feeding dry feed, I find that a feeder with baffles inhibits billing out feed. I put zip ties around the openings of bulk PVC feeders. These work wonders for saving feed.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/harris-farms-hanging-feeder-for-5-15-birds-7-lb
Still, the fines and the nutrition contained therein will be lost when feeding dry.

 

[RichnSteph]

Still, the fines and the nutrition contained therein will be lost when feeding dry.

Right now grandmother is using Layer Crumbles and at first she didn't think you could ferment that stuff but a little water and some ACV and a few days later it was done. What stuns me is the amount of waste that occurs when ever a dry food is used. It gets kicked out, scratched into the dirt, etc. As easy as the FF method is I can't for the life of me figure out why someone would use any other way to feed the chickens.

 

[kpgoldstar]

No, I'm just curious. I tried making my own yeast for sourdough bread last year and was surprised at even the fact that it worked. I had just never thought about the fact that yeast are naturally occurring in the atmosphere and in the feed and/or grains themselves until I "grew" my own.
I have the organic ACV and I can use a little Greek yogurt for a starter.

I never used a starter, no ACV, no yogurt, nothing. My ff has been in the same bucket for over 6 months. It was originally just chick starter and water, now is layer feed and water. I make enough to feed out about 4 days, then refresh the bucket when it gets low with more water and feed. Starters are unnecessary.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Another FF convert.

My grandmother has chickens and she was complaining about the amount of feed they waste. She started out doing the traditional "here chick chick chick" and throwing the feed on the ground. I convinced her to at least put it in a dish of some kind and in so doing she started saving a little more feed but the darn chickens scratch most of it out of the pan. Since her chickens free range on a wooded acre she decided just to feed them once in the morning and once at night with FF. I fermented some two weeks ago and the first time I put some out they devoured it, same thing that evening. We anticipate a large cut in feed costs.

Once I get my own flock up and laying we'll be using the same method for feeding.

Way to GO! And, welcome to BYC!

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Quote: Can you use that feeder for FF--I have a brand new one but wondered how I'd get the feed in.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Can you use that feeder for FF--I have a brand new one but wondered how I'd get the feed in.

IMO it wouldn't work. It would stick to everything including the sides and the chickens wouldn't be able to retrieve it. I think an open trough works better.

 

[Tikkijane]

IMO it wouldn't work. It would stick to everything including the sides and the chickens wouldn't be able to retrieve it. I think an open trough works better.

I agree. You can, however, use the large feeder for oyster shell and grit.

 

[Tikkijane]

I agree. You can, however, use the large feeder for oyster shell and grit.

Or scratch, if you live where it gets cold enough.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Quote: That's what I thought. Did not save receipt and I will not go back to dry crumble--oh well. Thank you!