FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[lazy gardener]

Prior to my last flock reduction: I was feeding out 50# fermented every 8 days to a flock of 21 hens/pullets and their roo + 10 cockrels that were pretty much ready to process. Gave them some scratch almost daily: about 1#. Unfortunately, free range options limited for my flock due to heavy hawk predation. Selling about 5 dozen eggs/week, plus collecting eggs for my own use. So, most if not all of my feed bill covered by egg production.

 

[Tikkijane]

Prior to my last flock reduction:  I was feeding out 50# fermented every 8 days to a flock of 21 hens/pullets and their roo + 10 cockrels that were pretty much ready to process.  Gave them some scratch almost daily:  about 1#.  Unfortunately, free range options limited for my flock due to heavy hawk predation.  Selling about 5 dozen eggs/week, plus collecting eggs for my own use.  So, most if not all of my feed bill covered by egg production.

That one bag- lasts me about a month. And I'm feeding over 150.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Prior to my last flock reduction: I was feeding out 50# fermented every 8 days to a flock of 21 hens/pullets and their roo + 10 cockrels that were pretty much ready to process. Gave them some scratch almost daily: about 1#. Unfortunately, free range options limited for my flock due to heavy hawk predation. Selling about 5 dozen eggs/week, plus collecting eggs for my own use. So, most if not all of my feed bill covered by egg production.

Thanks for the info. How much is your bag of feed? I pay $19/50#. I hope selling eggs will cover my feed cost.... since there are only 3 of us and 48 chickens. A few are headed for the menu. So if I can sell enough eggs to cover my feed then it will be like getting chicken meat for free instead of thinking it cost me $20 to raise it for 6 months. My layers better get busy....

That one bag- lasts me about a month. And I'm feeding over 150.

Do tell!!! I wanna know the secret.

 

[lazy gardener]

That one bag- lasts me about a month. And I'm feeding over 150.

Thanks for the info. How much is your bag of feed? I pay $19/50#. I hope selling eggs will cover my feed cost.... since there are only 3 of us and 48 chickens. A few are headed for the menu. So if I can sell enough eggs to cover my feed then it will be like getting chicken meat for free instead of thinking it cost me $20 to raise it for 6 months. My layers better get busy....

Do tell!!! I wanna know the secret.

I'm guessing TJ does a lot of free range. I would be feeding a hawk every day if I let them out to free range unsupervised. Today is the first day I've allowed my flock out to range for more than an hour at a time. I buy layer for $13.50. Can usually get a better deal with a 20% off coupon or $10 discount on $50 purchase.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I'm guessing TJ does a lot of free range. I would be feeding a hawk every day if I let them out to free range unsupervised. Today is the first day I've allowed my flock out to range for more than an hour at a time. I buy layer for $13.50. Can usually get a better deal with a 20% off coupon or $10 discount on $50 purchase.

Wow, that's a deal. I'm gonna have to shop around out of town stores (2 hours each way) since we have to go there for Costco trips anyways. Gas is usually cheaper there so if we fill up the savings covers our fuel cost as well. Wouldn't trade my small town life for all the savings on Earth though. Made that decision when we chose this location. And thankful to God every day for what he has provided!

My birds free range, in the PNW (plenty of greens and bugs) on 1 acre from sunrise until sunset. I only supply fermented freed. And I take all of my dishes in every night, so there are no free loaders attracted to it. I am having a little waste, not that much though.

Ya, the hawks are terrible. I don't see them often, mostly vultures. But my next door neighbor lost her banty roo to a hawk earlier this season. I don't blame you for protecting your flock. I'm sure I would to.

Is that a national chain where you get those coupons and discounts from? Did you settle on a rain gutter feeder or have other suggestions?

Thanks for your time and always helpful info!

 

[Outpost JWB]

I'd like to know the secret on feeding 150 birds with 50# a month. I have about 100. Mine free range daily. They are fed about a gallon layer pellets when they are let out of the coop around noon (I'm at work and DH lets them out), a big bowl of ferment feed in the evening when I get home from work, and 2 more gallons of layer pellets at lock up time (8pm).

I go thru 2 bags of 50# layer feed & 1 bag of 25# chick starter each week. (I still have chicks and pullets under the age of 6 months).

 

[Beekissed]

I'd like to know the secret on feeding 150 birds with 50# a month. I have about 100. Mine free range daily. They are fed about a gallon layer pellets when they are let out of the coop around noon (I'm at work and DH lets them out), a big bowl of ferment feed in the evening when I get home from work, and 2 more gallons of layer pellets at lock up time (8pm).

I go thru 2 bags of 50# layer feed & 1 bag of 25# chick starter each week. (I still have chicks and pullets under the age of 6 months).

First, I'd ferment all their feed, not just some of it. That will help cut costs. Then I'd stop feeding them three times a day....let them free range all day long, then feed them in the evening to top off what they've found. That might cut down on what you are feeding.

Not sure if you'll ever get by on just 50# of feed a month, that seems a little small for that amount of birds, but you'll certainly use less than 125# a week.

 

[lazy gardener]

Wow, that's a deal. I'm gonna have to shop around out of town stores (2 hours each way) since we have to go there for Costco trips anyways. Gas is usually cheaper there so if we fill up the savings covers our fuel cost as well. Wouldn't trade my small town life for all the savings on Earth though. Made that decision when we chose this location. And thankful to God every day for what he has provided!

My birds free range, in the PNW (plenty of greens and bugs) on 1 acre from sunrise until sunset. I only supply fermented freed. And I take all of my dishes in every night, so there are no free loaders attracted to it. I am having a little waste, not that much though.

Ya, the hawks are terrible. I don't see them often, mostly vultures. But my next door neighbor lost her banty roo to a hawk earlier this season. I don't blame you for protecting your flock. I'm sure I would to.


Is that a national chain where you get those coupons and discounts from? Did you settle on a rain gutter feeder or have other suggestions?
Thanks for your time and always helpful info!

Every couple of months, TSC has a spend 50, get 10$ discount coupon. And every couple of months, Blue Seal has a 20% discount.... or maybe it's the other way around. But, I am usually able to buy enough to last a month, until the next coupon arrives. I really prefer to feed multi-flock, but find the savings on layer to be too much of a temptation.

And I agree with you, I am blessed beyond compare. Thankful that God has given me the life and family I have, the home I have... and good enough health to be able to get out and do stuff around the yard. Such joy in the simplest little details... Today, I was admiring the detail of the way lettuce seed ripened on the plant for me this season. Time to harvest that, with perfect timing to be able to plant some in the green house that is coming to completion.

 

[Outpost JWB]

First, I'd ferment all their feed, not just some of it.  That will help cut costs.  Then I'd stop feeding them three times a day....let them free range all day long, then feed them in the evening to top off what they've found.  That might cut down on what you are feeding. 

Not sure if you'll ever get by on just 50# of feed a month, that seems a little small for that amount of birds, but you'll certainly use less than 125# a week. 

Thanks for the advice. Do you use FF in the winter too? If so, how? Heated water bowls?

 

[Beekissed]

Thanks for the advice. Do you use FF in the winter too? If so, how? Heated water bowls?

Yes, I do it in the winter too and, no, I don't need heated water bowls to serve it...they eat it too quickly to need those. When it gets below zero, I just put it onto the composting deep litter and it keeps it warm enough that they can eat it all before it freezes hard. Any chicken just needs one good crop full to get through the day, so I serve it each morning in the winter months...their activity level is lower then and they aren't using up the energy they normally would in free ranging, so one meal serves them well too.