FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Beekissed]

KP, those all look like pullets to me! Congrats! Can't wait until they fill out and you see just how pretty those pullets are really going to be...you'll have to keep us posted.


Missy, it's perfectly fine. The chickens normally eat the flies and their offspring when they can get them, so them being on or in the feed will just be as natural as paint for them. Chickens regularly dig fly maggots out of cattle manure and this is no different. No worries!

 

[kpgoldstar]

Oh, YAY! I am so happy you think so. I found this other thread just this morning.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...k-pullet-or-cockeral-pic-heavy-refresh-if-big

My initial concern was not gender in the least. I was more worried about an allergy or worse yet an infection that could spread to the rest of my girls. It appears it is just normal development at this particular age. One of my other girls started to get a little pinkness around her eyes last night too. No more panic, they are just growing up!

 

[ak rain]

Thought I would share my first egg

And yes I'm still using fermented feed
Ak rain

 

[pegm]

I have a question. I started feeding my four pullets fermented feed a little over a week ago. They took to it very quickly, but the last couple of days they don't seem nearly as enthusiastic about it and pick around the run before going to the feed. Also, their poops are getting runnier. I thought ff was supposed to firm up poops and reduce smells along with the benefits of being fermented. I am inclined to go back to crumbles, scratch and BOSS to see if the runny poops clear up. I do seem to notice less smell, but it still smells. the feed smells perfectly fine, is a thick oatmeal consistency. Any advice would be very appreciated.

 

[Beekissed]

Give it a little time. Some are reporting the very same reaction from their birds and if they wait a bit, the runny poop clears up and the birds resume their eating of it. Any change in the diet of an animal can cause a temporary change in the stool consistency, but the bird will adjust. Many have also reported their birds reduced eating of the feed after the initial phase of gobbling it all up...they will naturally need to eat less than they used to eat, as their feed now has more nutrition available.

Just give it time....you'll see the benefits of it.

 

[kpgoldstar]

Peg, is your feed fully fermented? You say the feed smells fine, but it should smell sour and you should see bubbles as if it is a live culture.

 

[pegm]

It smells a little sour like ACV. I stir it twice a day.

 

[kpgoldstar]

Thought I would share my first egg

And yes I'm still using fermented feed
Ak rain

Congratulations on your first egg! Mine will be some time in March.

 

[pegm]

Thank you Bee for the advice, I will give it more time. They do clean it up eventually during the day.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Thought I would share my first egg

And yes I'm still using fermented feed
Ak rain

congrats!!!