FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[mobius]

You all may have seen this but my answer to FF feeders for chicks. I wish I had started them day one, but it took them no time to yum it all up! I think I started them on the first week or so....

While they may walk on it, they can't step in the feed or roll around in it or sleep in it or fling it all over the place. Darn! No fun in that is there?

 

[redsix]

Well, I started the hen and chicks on dry starter and grower. Once they got too big for the brooder, I had to turn them out with the adult chickens. I feed the adult chickens fermented layer feed. The hen and chickens ate the fermented layer feed. It didn't kill them. I read somewhere that the extra calcium in the layer feed could cause the young chicks to have kidney problems. The chicks are adults now and don't seem to have any problems..

 

[Kiki]

Well, I started the hen and chicks on dry starter and grower. Once they got too big for the brooder, I had to turn them out with the adult chickens. I feed the adult chickens fermented layer feed. The hen and chickens ate the fermented layer feed. It didn't kill them. I read somewhere that the extra calcium in the layer feed could cause the young chicks to have kidney problems. The chicks are adults now and don't seem to have any problems..

how old are you "now adult" chicks?

 

[haejungkim]

X2
Favorite part of the ferment
I try to stir it down to redistribute it so they don't get it all the first day or so

Is

Is the BOSS in the shell?

 

[chicken curious]

Yes.

 

[bbhorsefly]

Well, I started the hen and chicks on dry starter and grower.  Once they got too big for the brooder, I had to turn them out with the adult chickens.  I feed the adult chickens fermented layer feed.  The hen and chickens ate the fermented layer feed. It didn't kill them.  I read somewhere that the extra calcium in the layer feed could cause the young chicks to have kidney problems.  The chicks are adults now and don't seem to have any problems..

I was told by TSC employee, "chickens can't have layer feed before they turn six months old or it will kill them. Their digestive tracks are much too sensitive I scoffed at her and she looked at me like I had three heads. Some chickens lay before 6mo. And I've seen my chicks catch flies, worms, and other insects. I was concerned about the "calcium will overload their kidneys" so I just didn't add the extra oyster shell and egg shells to the feed, just left if for the hens to eat at will from a separate feeder. I had a broody hatch and there was no way I was going to try and separate her chicks out at feeding time, and once my chicks are fully feathered, I start letting them out with the big flock with just a "panic room" area to get a break if they are being harassed or chased off the feed.

As far as feeding chicks fermented or dry from the start, I've done both. At the moment, I have this batch eating dry. It's just easier imo to fill the gravity chick feeders and let them have as much as they want. They were also being brooded with ducklings and I had enough to deal with without the ducks trying to bathe in the fermented feed bowls. What a mess!

 

[lazy gardener]

Quote: If the TSC employee bothered to read the literature posted on every bag of feed they sell, he'd find out how foolish that statement is.

I can't believe how much dry feed these chicks are wasting. They are now doing pretty good with FF, so I will make the switch to 100% FF within the next week. Good riddance to the dry crumble.

 

[redsix]

If the TSC employee bothered to read the literature posted on every bag of feed they sell, he'd find out how foolish that statement is.

I can't believe how much dry feed these chicks are wasting. They are now doing pretty good with FF, so I will make the switch to 100% FF within the next week. Good riddance to the dry crumble.

Yes, they do waste feed. I have my brooder for the hen and chicks inside the chicken house, so the spilled feed drops through the wire floor of the brooder and the adult chickens get it.

 

[FlyWheel]

Here's the ? of the day: How many of you who use FF as the only feed for your adult flock start your hatchlings on FF? Or do you start them on crumble and then switch over to FF?

I tend to do the latter. Chickens are notorious about resisting new things, and newly hatched chickens are no exception. Even when it comes to eating scrambled egg: Day one, they are afraid of it, and it will sit and rot before they will eat it. Day two: a few brave souls will try it, and by golly, they like it. But they don't finish it up. Day three, and every other day after that: They see that plate of egg coming, and they go into a total feeding frenzy.

So, it comes as no surprise to me that they respond to FF the same way. I've been taking advantage of the scrambled egg frenzy, and putting it first ON TOP of their FF, then mixing it into the FF. Today, they are chowing down that FF like it's a brand new treat!

They like to stomp all over their FF. When it's mashed down into the dish, they no longer want to eat it. So, I've been dropping one of my extra round chick feeder tops over the dish of FF, and sticking a plastic cup upside down in the middle hole to keep them from wallowing in that big hole. This works very well to keep them out of the big hole, and to keep them from mashing down the FF and even pooping in it!

So, let's hear it: how many of you start your chicks out on FF on day one, and how many of you convert them over after day 1? Any particular things you've done that make it easier? Any particular methods of serving that have worked for you?

I didn't start fermenting until a few months ago. By then all my chicks had grown. If I raise any new chicks I will of course start them on fermented feed, as it supplies the probiotics they need. I use flock raiser and have oyster and egg shell on the side in it's own disk for calcium, I have found the chickens ignore it until they need it.

As for the chickens walking all over their feed even the adult birds do that so when I built my stand alone feeder I took this into account and built this:

The top bar keeps them from walking in their food, and the 'roof' is hinged so if they try and roost on it they get dumped. I have since made a larger version on which I hinged the bar at one end so I can raise it to make pouring the FF easier.

 

[redsix]

I didn't start fermenting until a few months ago. By then all my chicks had grown. If I raise any new chicks I will of course start them on fermented feed, as it supplies the probiotics they need. I use flock raiser and have oyster and egg shell on the side in it's own disk for calcium, I have found the chickens ignore it until they need it.

As for the chickens walking all over their feed even the adult birds do that so when I built my stand alone feeder I took this into account and built this:

The top bar keeps them from walking in their food, and the 'roof' is hinged so if they try and roost on it they get dumped. I have since made a larger version on which I hinged the bar at one end so I can raise it to make pouring the FF easier.

Where did you get the plastic feed trays?