FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Molpet]

So this is my first mix. I may have the container too full. I put it in the shower in case it over flows when it starts to bubble. Will feed some out if that happens. A little over a gallon container 1" from the top.

good thinking , putting it in the shower.... crumbles and pellets expand more than milled feed.

 

[bullets]

I've been fermenting a mix that contains equal parts 18% protein chick starter, 10% protein bird seed, and crimped oats. It's working out nicely! Once the 18% chick starter runs out I will be using 22% game bird grower to up the protein. Chicks are 10 weeks old and free range during the day.

 

[Jensownzoo]

I am really glad that everyone but the guineas seems to have gone through their mini-molt quickly so I could stop with the feather-fixer ferment. Even the goats weren't as enthusiastic about being allowed to lick the transfer buckets clean. I think I will plan on starting them on the FF-FF at the end of August next year to get everyone ready for their first full-blown molt though.

 

[lazy gardener]

I've been fermenting a mix that contains equal parts 18% protein chick starter, 10% protein bird seed, and crimped oats. It's working out nicely! Once the 18% chick starter runs out I will be using 22% game bird grower to up the protein. Chicks are 10 weeks old and free range during the day.

I know you didn't ask for advice, but I'm gonna stick my nose in. Your current mix is only 14%. Way too low for developing birds. That could cause a permanent stunt. Not to mention that the oats are most likely lacking in some very important protein and other nutrients.

 

[Intheswamp]

Jensownzoo , lz is right. Here is a link to some good information on formulating feed mixes....

http://extension.colostate.edu/topi...lating-rations-with-the-pearson-square-1-618/

This covers what is known as "Pearson's Square" including how to use it with more than two feed items. It seems that giving a variety of food would be good but often times when we try giving them "good" stuff we actually water down what they really need.

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[NickyPick]

For what it's worth, you don't have to use up your FF every few days. I mix mine in a 35 gallon feed drum and it's been going for over 3 years now. My hen only get fed in the mornings. If there's feed left in the troughs at the end of the day, we make sure to give them less the next day (mix the old with the new in the morning). I used to have problems with lots of squirrels (and probably rats at night) in the run every day, but since I started adding cayenne pepper to the mix, no more squirrels!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

For what it's worth, you don't have to use up your FF every few days. I mix mine in a 35 gallon feed drum and it's been going for over 3 years now. My hen only get fed in the mornings. If there's feed left in the troughs at the end of the day, we make sure to give them less the next day (mix the old with the new in the morning). I used to have problems with lots of squirrels (and probably rats at night) in the run every day, but since I started adding cayenne pepper to the mix, no more squirrels!

But was there a huge increase in egg production once you added the red pepper? I have seen it claimed for both red and black.

Bet you have a nice scoby going. I use 2 (18 gallon) bins back and forth. It's pretty heavy to stir. How many birds are you feeding, out of curiosity?

 

[NickyPick]

But was there a huge increase in egg production once you added the red pepper? I have seen it claimed for both red and black.

Bet you have a nice scoby going. I use 2 (18 gallon) bins back and forth. It's pretty heavy to stir. How many birds are you feeding, out of curiosity?

No, no increase in egg production. They're all in molt now, so out of 20 grown hens, we got 1 egg yesterday. I'm not convinced that cayenne pepper actually does anything for egg production. Could all be just coincidence.

I have 20 hens aged 1-7 years, plus 4 roosters, 14 8 month old pullets, 13 5 month old pullets (with one cockerel) and 13 4 week old chicks - one cockerel in that batch for sure. Hope he's the only one. We have a long, skinny shovel that we use for stirring the feed.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

@NickyPick

So is that 75 birds total? Surprised your 8 month old pullets aren't laying for you yet. Hard to feed that many and not get any eggs! How many bags of feed do you go through monthly? Or have you figured out your cost per chicken per month, approximately?

 

[NickyPick]

64 total. Some of the young cockerels won't be staying. The 8 months are laying some. They're doing a light molt themselves, so some days I'll get 6-7 and others nothing. They're all EE's and the only bunch I don't let free range. I've lost more EE's to hawks and to them flying over the back fence and getting either lost or eaten by the foxes. I have so many youngins because we got hit with a pack of stray dogs last summer and it wiped out a LOT of my hens.

We mix our own feed - 1 bag whole oats, 1 bag barley, 1 bag scratch, 1 bag BOSS and 1/2 bag Catfish food. That usually lasts us about a month, more in the spring/summer, since they don't eat as much - too eager to get out in the pasture to get other goodies. They do an awesome job in the barn, too. I think I clean stalls 3-4 times a year now, instead of 1-2 times a week! Even the wet spots get scratched out and opened to air, so by the time I get home, it's dry.