FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[LindaB220]

For those that use diatomaceous earth & FF- when do you add your DE?

I actually don't use DE. Interested to hear what others think about it.

 

[ReillyJ]

Found out my organic Scratch n Peck has a 20% soy free Layer feed so i got that and am fermenting it. (this is also a fish protein based feed instead of soy)

They're still not crazy over it, been about 5 days but that's what they're getting, they're starting to look a little ratty! Feathers everywhere so they must be molting...

 

[Tikkijane]

So eventually I want to mix my own non-GMO, soy-free feed for my chickens, and ferment it. I would like to add an animal protein to it, especially during the winter months when my birds aren't getting 'animal' protein from bugs they catch while free-ranging. I've been doing some research, and will probably use organic fish meal if I can find it around here for a halfway decent price.

My question is, can I add it to my grain/seed mix and ferment it right along with everything else, or is that not okay to do with something like fish meal? Does anyone know? Could it spoil and make my birds sick or kill them? LindaB220, you mention using catfish food, which I assume might contain fish meal. Do you know if it does?

My concern with fish anything is passing the taste on. Had a friend feed the omega-3 feed which came from fish oil and her eggs tasted so badly fishy they couldn't eat them. Gross....

 

[Tikkijane]

Thanks for that... again LindaB220. That is very helpful. I too am working on finding the right combo of ingredients to give the chicks top nutrition and no GMOs. Do you add the BOSS with shell into the fermenting feed bucket? My chicks are about 6 weeks old, from when do you think I can stop 'cracking' (in reality i pre-soak the barley and whizz it in the blender) their feed before I start fermenting it? I am a total beginner in all things chicken but spent about about 2 years on and off researching it !

Good for you! I researched and lurked on here for at least 3 years before I finally convinced my hubby to let me get some.

 

[Tikkijane]

Thanks, i work away a lot so Hubby keeps me up-to-date on their progress. I do miss them...... and him.....

Hmmmmmmm, good point re the grit. I was hoping I could avoid that with fermenting, I mean the grains will be softer once soaked/fermented. I can't seem to find any farmer here who knows what I am talking about when I mention grit....could be my horrendously poor Spanish ;-) . The feed stores don't have it, perhaps because most people around here just feed the pellets / mash.....wonderful (note sarcasm) list of ingredients : GMO maize, GMO soy, GMO wheat. The barley isn't GMO, though ! Yippeee! Hence my focus on barley grain and barley grass. Do you think builders' sand or gravel will be OK?

They need grit for everything- including bugs, which they WILL get {despite those people who clain to have "vegetaria chickens." }. Mine are eating my driveway, but I still offer a container of it because it gives me peace of mind...m

 

[Tikkijane]

You can put wire with big holes above the feed so that they cant walk in it. 

Also when it gets trampled and dry just add a little bit of water and stir.  It will hydrate right back up.

I would caution against anything deep, though. Not so much an issue for chicks {although really deep would be a problem} but keets can get stuck in there....

 

[Tikkijane]

You know, Tikkijane, I had forgotten about Bee one-bucket cooler.  I probably should be using that down here in La.  I think I will give it a try.   Sold my first ever chicken today.  New layer Delaware for $15.   Win-win  Everybody happy.  The buyer was so excited about how healthy the girls are looking.   Fermented feed from day  1.      e  

Way to go! Will the buyer continue to ferment?

I'm up to 2 68 qt coolers {or are they 62 qt?? I'd have to go look} now. I may have to get another one when this batch of keets is ready for FF full time. {I do give them dry food at night because as littles, it wasn't safe for them unsupervised....} We'll see.

 

[Tikkijane]

For those that use diatomaceous earth & FF- when do you add your DE? 

Supposedly, it's the shape of the diatom that cuts up the bugies. I don't feed it {I do sprinkle in the coop} but I would not mix it in. I would get a grated cheese shaker container and shake it evenly over the top before feeding, but not every time. They prolly only need it periodically.

 

[nevergiveup]

They need grit for everything- including bugs, which they WILL get {despite those people who clain to have "vegetaria chickens." }. Mine are eating my driveway, but I still offer a container of it because it gives me peace of mind...m

Hey Tikkijane ! Thanks for your support. Same here about my husband 'letting' me have them.... funny, he loves them almost as much as I do now we have them !
This grit thing is turning out to be quite a puzzle for me. I'm not home at the moment so I can't do any local research, but the Internet searches I am doing come up blank. Can I use builders gravel/sand do you think ? We have one here that is sand and gravel mixed called recia. You mention your Chickies are eating your driveway... it kind of indicates to me that, that builders 'recia' might be OK.....at least until I can do more research.

 

[nevergiveup]

I have read that once the diatomaceous earth is 'coated' with water it becomes ineffective, so mixing in with fermenting feed might be a waste of time. Although I have no experience is does make sense as its the prickly bits on the grains that cut into the exoskeleton s of the bugs. I also had some thoughts re the bigger bugs that I am hoping my chickens will forage......they'll be killed too if I use it as a mite preventative, for example??. And what about the helpful bugs ie bees, ladybirds. We dont have enough of them. I certainly dont want to kill them.nHaving said that, it is recommended for keeping various critters from eating your chicken food or anything dry you might be storing for yourself. Just mix it in. It is harmless to us and the chicken. And if I do get a mite nfestation I will sprinkle it on the chickens or into nooks and crannies in the chicken shed.