FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Tikkijane]

Does anyone make fermented food WITHOUT layer feed? I am looking int going non GMO and I think easiest way would to just buy organic, non GMO grains and ferment it. Would this be enough? would i need to add nay vitamins? My chickens do free range. Although right now they refuse to as we have snow but I am hoping within the next few weeks we start seeing some grass.

I ferment for my chicks, and that's not layer.
They do make non-GMO organic feed, fwiw.

There was a link out there somewhere to calculate nutrion, but I don't remember where, off hand. I would not mix my own for fear of missing something critical.

 

[kada6305]

as of right now we are making 5 gallon buckets which lasts 3-4 days. we make two a week. each FF bucket consists of 8 cups feed, 4 cups cracked corn, 8 cups sunflower seeds and 8 cups whole oats. I plan on getting rid of corn and going for a better feed once i figure how long a bag of feed lasts this way. I figured it out that we are using about 2 cups of actual feed a day.

 

[Juniper148]

Chick newbie here.... I apologize if this has already been stated, I skimmed the thread but didn't have time to read all 574 pages

Is fermentation still advised when using medicated chick starter? If not, which is the better option medicated dry crumble or fermented unmedicated crumble?

 

[kada6305]

Chick newbie here.... I apologize if this has already been stated, I skimmed the thread but didn't have time to read all 574 pages

Is fermentation still advised when using medicated chick starter? If not, which is the better option medicated dry crumble or fermented unmedicated crumble?

I ferment my chick starter that is medicated. I do this for the first 6 weeks then start adding other grains to it.

 

[kada6305]

I ferment my older chickens (2 yrs old) and pullets (20weeks) their fermented food consists of layer crumbles,cracked corn,whole oats, and BOSS. I started fermented my 1 week old babies as,well. Anything I can add to it besides chick starter?

 

[Tikkijane]

Chick newbie here.... I apologize if this has already been stated, I skimmed the thread but didn't have time to read all 574 pages

Is fermentation still advised when using medicated chick starter?  If not, which is the better option medicated dry crumble or fermented unmedicated crumble?

You can; however; the water dilutes the amprolium, which renders it inert. It's not harmful; but not worth the extra $$$, imo. Feeding fermented changes the gut ph, which helps with the overgrowth of cocci, fwiw.

 

[Juniper148]

You can; however; the water dilutes the amprolium, which renders it inert. It's not harmful; but not worth the extra $$$, imo. Feeding fermented changes the gut ph, which helps with the overgrowth of cocci, fwiw.

Is amprolium available separately then? Is that the only medication in medicated chick feed? I make milk kefir regularly, could I use that to jump start the first fermentation?

 

[aart]

Quote: But would just the water dilute the med? They probably take in as much liquid by just drinking as they would if you wet the feed.
Now the ferment might render the med inert.

 

[KristinKH]

I just gave my 2 week old chicks a small dish of fermented feed as a test. They just looked at it like they didn't know what it was. To entice them to try eating it I put a few dehydrated black soldier fly larvae on it. They love those. One or two chicks pecked at it then didn't like the wet stuff on their beaks, apparently, wiped it off, and didn't go back. Any suggestions? This is the only thing I've offered them that they didn't eat. It's also the only thing that's been wet/liquid (other than their water).

Thanks,
K

 

[lazy gardener]

Take away the dry. they'll eat it, and once they do, they'll never look back. You'll be amazed at how much less their poo stinks.