FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[beverly evans]

Quote:
I sprouted grocery store lentils w/o a problem but my girls ate only the lentils and left the spouts!

 

[Audio51]

Remember everyone, that Bee dresses out her hens and roosters so gets to see the results of her feeding! She sees if they are skinny or fat; if there are too many buttery fat globules hanging onto muscle, etc. and adjusts for it. So her break down is 1/2 cup per bird per day. So I counted up my 1/2 cups in a container and that is how much I dish out of the ff bucket each AM to my ladies. They come running when I come out of the house because I've spoiled them with treats, not because they are starving. btw my coop doesn't smell even with all the dampness, partly due to ff and partly to deep litter. I started my babies on ff and they go for it but walk in it a lot so still get the dry. win-win-win! : )

Is the 1/2 cup of dry or after it is fermented?

 

[Beekissed]

This may be a dumb question, but could I use spent brewers grains to feed my chickens? I know a local brewer pretty well and he offered the idea but I wasn't sure if it was good for them, I'm new to this

You can...but as was so pointed out to me on another thread, the BGs are concentrated in their nutrients, so the proteins and sugars are rather high as a result. They list those grains at 24-25% protein.

Do you make your troughs or buy them?

I make mine but have also used old ones that had been manufactured that I found in old chicken coops. When feeding dry in a trough, I usually place fencing over it to keep the birds out and to keep them from flicking out and shoveling through the feeds for the good parts.

Remember everyone, that Bee dresses out her hens and roosters so gets to see the results of her feeding! She sees if they are skinny or fat; if there are too many buttery fat globules hanging onto muscle, etc. and adjusts for it. So her break down is 1/2 cup per bird per day. So I counted up my 1/2 cups in a container and that is how much I dish out of the ff bucket each AM to my ladies. They come running when I come out of the house because I've spoiled them with treats, not because they are starving. btw my coop doesn't smell even with all the dampness, partly due to ff and partly to deep litter. I started my babies on ff and they go for it but walk in it a lot so still get the dry. win-win-win! : )

Well....not exactly. It's just working out that way right now and feed amounts are a seasonal thing, not a constant. I never advise anyone to feed 1/2 c. a day per bird as it's not a realistic thing to have standard feed amounts for all breeds, all flocks and all seasons.

I feed all my feed wet and don't measure out the contents before fermenting. I just scoop X amount of scoops of feed into the trough each day and gauge if they leave any behind. If they do, they get less the next day. If they eat it too quickly and it's gone by mid morning, I'll add a little more. It's a constant dance between enough and just right.

Since the feed swells up about half again what it is as dry, feeding the same amounts you would have when feeding dry gives you about half what you would have fed, because it is now wet and taking up more volume in your scoop.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

OK so I bit the bullet and started a project to FF.
I currently have 6 flocks so I'm starting with one of them. I filled a 5 gallon bucket half full of 15% Dumor finisher feed, added a little hard winter wheat. I then added 3 gallons of warm de-chlorinated water, added a glug of ACV, 2 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast and a teaspoon of Gro2max which is a combination of probiotics formulated for chickens with 5 strains of bacteria. Does anyone see a problem with this so far?

Also, I'd like to know what each person finds is the primary benefit of FF.

 

[Beekissed]

For me, the drive behind trying it was duofold~save on feed costs and probiotics in the feed. That was my motivation, initially. What I've found out about the benefits since then has only been like very thick icing on a great cake and keeps me resolved to continue to do it from now on.

Note: When I added wheat to the feed for my CX, they left it behind and much was wasted. I never thought I'd find anything that CX wouldn't devour, but the wheat was just such a thing. If you see it left behind, don't be too surprised.

 

[ak rain]

Bee I have very excited birds at feeding time they are on top, in front, and on bucket if I let them. Hard to get feed to trough.
I am thankful for all the help and advice received. I am trying to sprout some seeds now as we are all snow and ice now.
Thank you
Ak rain

 

[Beekissed]

You'll need to train them like you'd train a dog to stand politely while you set out their food. I've got mine settled down about that and am currently training the new cheap meat roosters to await patiently and not rush the food. They are learning quite quickly. I'm also training the meat roosters with the stick to stay out of the trough in their fervor for the feed...just a tap on the back reminds them to get out of their trough.

It can be done and it's worthy of doing if you don't like being mobbed every day.

 

[Audio51]

My question is this: I want to use the 2 bucket method but don't know what size holes to drill in the top bucket. I am using layer crumbles with some scratch grains added and am concerned about making them too big and the feed running into the bottom bucket. I also don't want to make them so small that the liquid won't drain. Does any have a recommended drill bit size? And how many holes on the bottom. How many on the sides?

Anyone??? Any help with the drill bit size and number of holes?

 

[pdirt]

Anyone??? Any help with the drill bit size and number of holes?

 

[Audio51]

Thanks, Pdirt! 1/4 inch it is. And I think I have some extra screen around from some repairs a few days ago....