FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[kpgoldstar]

I have 4, week and a half old chicks on ff. At what age should I start restricting them to what they can clean up in half an hour? They also have the.little balls of FF stuck around their toes. They are on shavings and have a dust bath but I dont know if its necessary to soak their feet to get the balls off

I only fed my chicks enough that they could clean up in 1/2 hour from the very beginning. I fed them 3-4 times a day that way and eventually tapered off to twice a day once they were older and in the coop (about 5-6 weeks). Mine never got the balls on their feet because they didn't have a chance to stand in the feed. I fed them in little Tupperware dishes and they were happy and healthy on that schedule. I never gave them access to dry. They were a week old when I got them and are nearly 9 months now.

 

[azygous]

Thanks, Chicken Canoe for those links on anatomy. I've bookmarked them.

Bee, I geared myself up this morning to drag out the carcass and bag of innards and made myself take a second look at them. I found no sign of worms in any of the organs i sliced open. I kind of figured out what most of it was, but there was a very bumpy piece of tissue down near the tail that puzzled me. Maybe that was the sac of nascent eggs? There were no large yolks anywhere and nothing that were like the internally laid eggs you posted pics of a few days ago. Also, her intestines weren't anywhere as long as in the diagrams on Chicken Canoe's links. I think maybe her intestines were ballooned out with sand and junk.

I've felt just miserable over this. Now I wish I had tried antibiotics before I culled her. I still have no idea what made her so sick.

 

[subhanalah]

Thanks, Chicken Canoe for those links on anatomy. I've bookmarked them.

Bee, I geared myself up this morning to drag out the carcass and bag of innards and made myself take a second look at them. I found no sign of worms in any of the organs i sliced open. I kind of figured out what most of it was, but there was a very bumpy piece of tissue down near the tail that puzzled me. Maybe that was the sac of nascent eggs? There were no large yolks anywhere and nothing that were like the internally laid eggs you posted pics of a few days ago. Also, her intestines weren't anywhere as long as in the diagrams on Chicken Canoe's links. I think maybe her intestines were ballooned out with sand and junk. 

I've felt just miserable over this. Now I wish I had tried antibiotics before I culled her. I still have no idea what made her so sick.

have you gotten pictures of what you're talking about or have you discarded the remains already?

 

[chickengirl1193]

I only fed my chicks enough that they could clean up in 1/2 hour from the very beginning. I fed them 3-4 times a day that way and eventually tapered off to twice a day once they were older and in the coop (about 5-6 weeks). Mine never got the balls on their feet because they didn't have a chance to stand in the feed. I fed them in little Tupperware dishes and they were happy and healthy on that schedule. I never gave them access to dry. They were a week old when I got them and are nearly 9 months now. 

Thank you! They get into their feed dish. I keep meaning to make something up so they can't get in but it hasn't stopped raining. Tomorrow it's going to be nice and I'll hook them up! I'm also going to cut back their feed. Thanks guys!

 

[wonkyflock14]

Forgive me for not reading all 450 pages in case these questions were already asked and answered. My apologies! Anyways, is the same ff you feed to chickens alright for ducks, too? I am looking into ff and have seen a guide saying all that is needed is food, water, and a bucket. No apple cider vinegar. Can anyone tell me the purpose of the vinegar? Does it have to be organic?

So, essentially, get a bucket or other container, add chicken feed, add water, add vinegar (maybe-?), stir, cover with a towel and then stir every day or so for about 4 days and then feed?

Our ducks and chicks are young, so right now they're on starter/grower. Next we figured grower/finisher, and then layer. Will all of this work to ferment, or is a different kind of mix more ideal?

 

[LindaB220]

Forgive me for not reading all 450 pages in case these questions were already asked and answered. My apologies! Anyways, is the same ff you feed to chickens alright for ducks, too? I am looking into ff and have seen a guide saying all that is needed is food, water, and a bucket. No apple cider vinegar. Can anyone tell me the purpose of the vinegar? Does it have to be organic?

So, essentially, get a bucket or other container, add chicken feed, add water, add vinegar (maybe-?), stir, cover with a towel and then stir every day or so for about 4 days and then feed?

Our ducks and chicks are young, so right now they're on starter/grower. Next we figured grower/finisher, and then layer. Will all of this work to ferment, or is a different kind of mix more ideal?

The ACV just makes it ferment a little quicker. A good site that will answer your questions.

http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

 

[subhanalah]

I find adding acv makes it smell worse.

 

[azygous]

Sub, no, I didn't get any pics. The thought did cross my mind, and then I looked at the clock and had to wrap everything up and race off to an eye doc appointment, dropping the remains in the dumpsters on my way down the mountain. Thanks for the help and concern. I hope the rest stay healthy and I don't have to go through this anguish any time again real soon.

 

[subhanalah]

Sub, no, I didn't get any pics. The thought did cross my mind, and then I looked at the clock and had to wrap everything up and race off to an eye doc appointment, dropping the remains in the dumpsters on my way down the mountain. Thanks for the help and concern. I hope the rest stay healthy and I don't have to go through this anguish any time again real soon.

okay, if it happens again, maybe you can pm Bee the pictures. Hope it doesn't happen again though.

 

[wonkyflock14]

The ACV just makes it ferment a little quicker. A good site that will answer your questions.

http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

Thanks, Linda. The site you linked me to is actually the first site where I did reading about it! It doesn't really cover if it is ok for ducks too and I was just trying to get a little clarification on the process.