FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[evemfoster]

I have 4 hens and use a 2 gallon bucket. I refresh about every 4-5 days. The drier consistency is fine, but you may not be getting a full ferment with the smaller bucket. Be sure there is a good amount left in the bucket when you add new food and water so that the already fermented feed has a chance to innoculate the addition. Mine is really dry and I get a very slight white film over the top but I also live where it is very warm and I keep mine in the house with a lid that snaps on but still allows it to breathe. The first noticeable change should be much more firm, solid poos and a drastic reduction in poo smell. They will still have the cecal (black, yucky, runny) poos on occasion but far less often than when fed dry.

I also mix BOSS right into my FF and darn if those little buggers can pick every single one out before chowing down on the rest of the food!

I also use a smaller container. While it was hot i added new feed to the container every day with just a cups starter left in the container each time. But i am not seeing the white yeast on the top now that it is cooling down. I have had to start adding more feed to the mix and allowing it to ferment a extra day. I think i will have to go to a larger bucket soon so there is a day or two's worth left in the bucket every day.

I never had a lot of the bubbles they mention you should have. Just a very few right at the beginning as the feed soaks up the water. But i make my FF so it ends up cookie dough thick and i think thats too thick to bubble much. The FF container I am about to replace is transparent so i can see there are bubbles making holes in the feed even if they are not getting to the top of the container
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ReillyJ I have never fed the kind of feed you are using but it is possible that you may not be seeing all the big health changes because you chickens were healthy to begin with.

 

[enola]

With my chickens the first thing I noticed was less feed needed to make everyone happy. Next the poop didn't smell as bad. But I didn't notice anything about the feathers until they molted. The feathers are much healthier looking. And my egg yolks are darker yellow.

 

[knjinnm]

Hi All,
Slightly off subject, has anyone fed FF to a horse?
Thanks,
JAC.

 

[kpgoldstar]

I also use a smaller container. While it was hot i added new feed to the container every day with just a cups starter left in the container each time. But i am not seeing the white yeast on the top now that it is cooling down. I have had to start adding more feed to the mix and allowing it to ferment a extra day. I think i will have to go to a larger bucket soon so there is a day or two's worth left in the bucket every day.

I never had a lot of the bubbles they mention you should have. Just a very few right at the beginning as the feed soaks up the water. But i make my FF so it ends up cookie dough thick and i think thats too thick to bubble much. The FF container I am about to replace is transparent so i can see there are bubbles making holes in the feed even if they are not getting to the top of the container
.


ReillyJ I have never fed the kind of feed you are using but it is possible that you may not be seeing all the big health changes because you chickens were healthy to begin with.

This is exactly what the side view of mine looks like. I also use a transparent bucket.

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

I wanted to jump in here and share my method of making Fermented Feed for my 17 Chickens. I recently posted the full instructions along with lots of pictures on my blog. Hope it helps someone interested in a small scale version that works best for me.

My Mini-scale Version of Making Fermented Chicken Feed
http://backyardchickenlady.blogspot.com/2014/08/my-mini-scale-version-of-fermenting.html

 

[LindaB220]

Hi All,
Slightly off subject, has anyone fed FF to a horse?
Thanks,
JAC.

I don't know knjinnm. I've googled it and several different sites say if so then not too much. I'd certainly research this before getting into it. Chickens, yes.

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

Hi All,
Slightly off subject, has anyone fed FF to a horse?
Thanks,
JAC.

I don't know about that, but I do know that a horses digestive system is very different from a chickens. I would ask my equine vet before feeding fermented feed to my horse.

 

[knjinnm]

I don't know knjinnm. I've googled it and several different sites say if so then not too much. I'd certainly research this before getting into it. Chickens, yes.

Thanks

 

[ReillyJ]

Guys please weigh in but i think i'm going to start offering pellet feed in addition to FF as much as i hate too because the FF i'm giving is an organic one but i'm kind of concerned about the weight of my hens, never had chickens before 4 months ago so really don't know what to expect and i think they went through a mild molt and look a bit scrawny to me and they've been on FF about 3 wks and seem to like it ok but don't go NUTSO like y'all are seeing but i'm concerned so maybe i'll offer pellets on the side especially for one of my hens...

IDK what to choose, used Layena before but have been told it's basic crap so yea--idk what to do Kind of sick of worrying about it.

Also i free range my hens and one of them sometimes occasionally want to try to roost outside in the trees come roosting time (OLD habits) and tonight i went to shut the coop door and all were in but her and i looked in all the trees and found her in an outside nest on the ground which is really weird to me but i chased her out of there and she went immediately to the coop.

IDK, was really hoping they would flourish on the FF, i also give them BOSS (shelled) and meal worms every day. The one that was outside is the one i'm kind of concerned about eating the FF and i'm thinking of pellets

 

[enola]

If your hens are free ranging, they are probably getting a LARGE part of their diet outside of the coop. When winter arrives, their FF consumption will be very noticable. Any treats should only equal about 10% of their total diet.