FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[ChickenCanoe]

Do you think throwing powdered milk (like Nido brand) into our FF would help break down the lactic acid (which is what makes dairy inappropriate for all non-mammal, non-infant animals to digest) in it, making it suitable for chickens?

I really don't think dairy is necessarily inappropriate for fowl. I realize this is anecdotal but I've been feeding plain yogurt for many years for probiotics. I also mix milk and grain for the last several weeks before I butcher roosters. That technique has been used in Europe for centuries. It used to be done in the US a long time ago.

can I feed then canned clams? That's what I have "around".

Clams would be great. Any kind of seafood/fish.

 

[beverly evans]

This is what I did with my feeder. I screwed it to a 2X4 and screwed that to another board on either end. I decided to leave the top off and see what happened and of course they walked in it. I told them that was not polite but they didn't care. I may put the top back on tomorrow. I didn't want to walk back to the house and back again at that point. So, this is there first day in the coop. They are going to be in for a shock when the cold front comes through tomorrow but I guess they have each other to help keep them warm. As well as plenty of good FF.
After posting I was looking at my avatar. What a big change in 4 weeks.

Really nice looking little guys! What are they? I forget, I'm sure you told us....Plymouth Rocks or Dominiques??

 

[beverly evans]

Quote: Hi, This "milk before butchering" technique from Europe, what's it supposed to do, make the meat taste better or more tender???

 

[aatx]

Thanks for the replies. I have quite a few cats, so I have a pretty large collection of both wet and dry food. I also have some kitten chow (dry) that is 40% protein. I might try crushing that up and also seeing if they will eat any of the fish based wet kind. I'll continue to give them some boiled egg a few times a week.

I will continue to try with the yogurt and I also have some kefir.

 

[n3kms]

Really nice looking little guys!  What are they?  I forget, I'm sure you told us....Plymouth Rocks or Dominiques??

Thanks. Must be the FF. Barred Plymouth Rocks, got them from My Pet Chicken

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I really don't think dairy is necessarily inappropriate for fowl. I realize this is anecdotal but I've been feeding plain yogurt for many years for probiotics. I also mix milk and grain for the last several weeks before I butcher roosters. That technique has been used in Europe for centuries. It used to be done in the US a long time ago.

The (antique) Feeding Poultry book seems to presume that chickens have access to dairy in various forms. There were plenty of references to studies comparing how well birds do with & without it. The studies indicate that if birds are offered vegetarian proteins as their rations then they will do better if they are offered milk as their liquid (in place of water).

I think this modern worry about dairy is ... not entirely justified.

It isn't just protein percentage we are considering when we think about animal proteins. It is digestible protein percentages, lack of anti-nutrients, and higher levels of other nutrients which are present in animal proteins when compared to vegetable protein sources. A lot of that isn't entirely understood. At least not yet.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Hi, This "milk before butchering" technique from Europe, what's it supposed to do, make the meat taste better or more tender???

Not sure why it was done initially but I can only surmise that it adds flavor, fat and protein.

Thanks for the replies. I have quite a few cats, so I have a pretty large collection of both wet and dry food. I also have some kitten chow (dry) that is 40% protein. I might try crushing that up and also seeing if they will eat any of the fish based wet kind. I'll continue to give them some boiled egg a few times a week.

I will continue to try with the yogurt and I also have some kefir.

I add dry cat food to the ferment occasionally. It gets soft so isn't a problem for the chickens.

The (antique) Feeding Poultry book seems to presume that chickens have access to dairy in various forms. There were plenty of references to studies comparing how well birds do with & without it. The studies indicate that if birds are offered vegetarian proteins as their rations then they will do better if they are offered milk as their liquid (in place of water).

I think this modern worry about dairy is ... not entirely justified.

It isn't just protein percentage we are considering when we think about animal proteins. It is digestible protein percentages, lack of anti-nutrients, and higher levels of other nutrients which are present in animal proteins when compared to vegetable protein sources. A lot of that isn't entirely understood. At least not yet.

Animal protein, aside from containing complete amino acids, add a lot of vitamins and minerals.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Not sure why it was done initially but I can only surmise that it adds flavor, fat and protein.

That's what I would guess, like feeding baby cows to get the best veal.

 

[LindaB220]

True. Fish and meat is about 28 % while fish meal is between 60 and 75%.

http://www.avianaquamiser.com/posts/Protein_content_in_chicken_feed_ingredients/

Ok, this is what I found on Amazon free shipping


http://www.amazon.com/pounds-Organi...UTF8&qid=1400172158&sr=8-3&keywords=fish+meal

Edited for content: Oh, I see it is Fish bonemeal. I still bought it because it will help with calcium

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I think I my new custom feed mill and I have worked out the various details of our recipe, and I think I may be ordering our first ton of feed today! I'm so excited ... it has taken forever to do all the research and make the right contacts, etc. You'd think it would be easy, but there is a lot of weirdness out there in the livestock feed industry.