FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[rawheid]

Thank you. Everything around here is rustic. We even have a business called Rustic Barnyard. DH makes barnwood furniture and I paint furniture. I should really get a signature going so people can see what else we do.

 

[Beekissed]

Yes, you should! And you should also start marketing your rustic chicken feeder troughs...and make some a little deeper for little planters for those who don't even have chickens. Maybe even get some little burlap bags and market some starter kits for fermented feed...a little bag of chick starter, a little bottle of mother vinegar and a small pamphlet of instructions and explanations as to the benefits...and include the link to one of the FF threads here on BYC so they can explore the method further.

 

[rawheid]

Yes, you should!  And you should also start marketing your rustic chicken feeder troughs...and make some a little deeper for little planters for those who don't even have chickens.  Maybe even get some little burlap bags and market some starter kits for fermented feed...a little bag of chick starter, a little bottle of mother vinegar and a small pamphlet of instructions and explanations as to the benefits...and include the link to one of the FF threads here on BYC so they can explore the method further. 

Thanks! DH does make planters. But they have been bigger. But what a great idea to make them look like troughs!!

I like the idea of educating about FF too.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Thanks! DH does make planters. But they have been bigger. But what a great idea to make them look like troughs!!

I like the idea of educating about FF too.

Good idea Bee.

 

[rawheid]

So its been two days of feeding the FF. Though it's more just wet feed right now since it's only been in the water 2 days. my question is how much is enough to feed them. I feed in the morning around 8 am. The feed is usually gone by 10-12. Does this mean I'm not giving enough? I have 12 birds and today I gave them about 3/4 of an ice cream pail of feed. Is this enough? Its hard to judge since they've been on a self feeder forever.

 

[Beekissed]

Way too much. You'll have fat, waddling birds in no time and that's not a good thing. I have 12 birds right now too and they are currently getting 2 1/2 cups of feed daily. I'd put out what they can clean up in 15-30 min. You're currently feeding what I would feed in 3-4 days time.

 

[RoseMarie1]

So its been two days of feeding the FF. Though it's more just wet feed right now since it's only been in the water 2 days. my question is how much is enough to feed them. I feed in the morning around 8 am. The feed is usually gone by 10-12. Does this mean I'm not giving enough? I have 12 birds and today I gave them about 3/4 of an ice cream pail of feed. Is this enough? Its hard to judge since they've been on a self feeder forever.

Do you let yours free range? Bee free ranges hers and I do mine as well.

 

[rawheid]

Ok I'll cut down on what I give them. Do I still just feed 1x per day?

No they don't free range. I lost my entire previous flock to some predator so I am leaving them in the run. They have a good sized run though.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Ok I'll cut down on what I give them. Do I still just feed 1x per day?

No they don't free range. I lost my entire previous flock to some predator so I am leaving them in the run. They have a good sized run though.

I was just thinking if you don't free range yours might need more food since ours free range but Bees the expert here.

 

[Beekissed]

I'm no expert, not by a long shot! Even if confined to pen and run, cutting back a little and only feeding once a day should be fine. Especially then..they get very little exercise in a coop and run situation, so they don't need a ton of food to keep a good body condition. You'll have to experiment with it and see how they do when you cut back...on body condition, not on signs of appetite. If you go by how hungry they act you'll be tube feeding them continuously just to fill their gullets.

Take them down to half a bucket and see how long it takes for them to eat it. They should have enough for one good meal and a snack later on...if not, take it a little lower until they do. Give them some good deep litter in the coop and run to give them something to do while they are in jail and they will adjust to the lower activity/lower feed levels.

Now that my flock are not finding bugs out on forage, I'm increasing their daily allotment up to 2 1/2 c. of feed per day from 1 1/2 c. and will monitor it from there. Will be adding some BOSS this weekend for some fats and fiber in the FF.