FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[gramakoko]

I read the other thread awhile back and within a week of using beekissed's method I noticed a change in their poop. I have only 7 girls so I have (2) 3 gallon buckets going, feeding out of one bucket while fermenting the other...I use ground corn, hard red wheat, oats, and barley. I ferment 3 or 4 days...they still waste alot, I'm just using several small trays. Each time they see me headed for the bucket, they go into a feeding frenzy...

 

[Outpost JWB]

@Beekissed I wish I could let them free range all day, but I leave the house at 5am for work. Hubby is disabled, so he lets them out when he can, around 12pm. I've thought about getting a solar door, but we also have hawks, many hawks that frequent our property early in the morning. Lost a dozen or so birds to them already. Hoping to get a covered run area built for next year.

Putting the buckets in deep litter compost is a great idea. I'll have to get a compost pile started asap. I stopped feeding FF last year because of winter. Frozen buckets, that took months to thaw

 

[WPFarmstead]

@Beekissed I wish I could let them free range all day, but I leave the house at 5am for work. Hubby is disabled, so he lets them out when he can, around 12pm. I've thought about getting a solar door, but we also have hawks, many hawks that frequent our property early in the morning. Lost a dozen or so birds to them already. Hoping to get a covered run area built for next year.

Putting the buckets in deep litter compost is a great idea. I'll have to get a compost pile started asap. I stopped feeding FF last year because of winter. Frozen buckets, that took months to thaw

We had hawks pretty bad this year, until we strung fishing line up over the run. Haven't had a hawk attack since. Two days ago I was out with the flock and watched three hawks fly overhead (parents and juvenile). They eventually moved on, because they couldn't get to the birds.

 

[Tikkijane]

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.

We don't have a run, so yes, we free range. That comes out to about 1/2 cup per bird per day. Once their nutrition levels off, they often end up eating a few mouthfuls at a time.

 

[Tikkijane]

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. 

About 30 of those are ducks and guineas; twice as many guineas as ducks. They guineas may stop and get a wee bit before bed, but not much. It's surprising how little they eat. Right now is the absolute low for the season- bugs, frogs, etc are abundant. Come fall, this will start to change until winter, when consumption will near double. All told, the yearly average is still about a 2/3 savings over what I was feeding dry with fewer birds.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

We don't have a run, so yes, we free range. That comes out to about 1/2 cup per bird per day. Once their nutrition levels off, they often end up eating a few mouthfuls at a time.

So do you mean they consume more while they are still growing?

Thanks

 

[Tikkijane]

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.

TSC regular pricing= 15% off when you get a pallet of feed. You can mix your feed brands and kinds of feed, but you have to get 20 bags. Dog/cat food doesn't count, though. I've mixed horse, chicken, and rabbit food all in there, fwiw. {My dd works there, so we get the employee discount, but before she did, we used this a fair bit.}

 

[Tikkijane]

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

They should eat what they need in 10-30 minutes. I've never had a problem with freezing, but our southern temps don't freeze as hard as many other places. A lot of people like the heated dog bowls.

 

[Tikkijane]

We had hawks pretty bad this year, until we strung fishing line up over the run. Haven't had a hawk attack since. Two days ago I was out with the flock and watched three hawks fly overhead (parents and juvenile). They eventually moved on, because they couldn't get to the birds.

I've been known to place pinwheels on the perimeter and various spots around. I'd hang cds if I needed to.

After 4 years of good free ranging, we got hit by coyotes last week {and I'm not home until Saturday.} It was a *devastating* loss- at least 10 of my experienced roosters. I'm down to a bare bones 1 lf roo; 2 lf cockerels and very young bantam cockerels. We've got help in the lead dept, and the dogs are barking all night. Right now it's a dance until we get some canine bodies.

But- they are more stressed out when cooped up. They are still stressed; wary, and not wandering far. My girls are more diligent outside with them right now, too; not letting them wander out into the pasture with the cows.

Free ranging has its risks, but in the overall, it's better for them, imo.

 

[Tikkijane]

So do you mean they consume more while they are still growing?

Thanks

Proportionately, chicks eat more because they are growing. I don't limit my chicks on feed if they are in the brooder. If they are out with mama, we'll feed them smaller portions more frequently, but they are busy ranging with mama.

The leveling off- that's transitioning a flock from dry food to fermented. Initially, they eat a lot FF. Then, as their nutrition levels stabilize and even out, they won't need to eat as much. {And then it'll be fall, and they'll increase some preparing for winter; then back off once it's cold, etc etc.} Observing the flock daily is important, imo.