FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[LeslieDJoyce]

RIP Mr. Fancypants. Sniff.

 

[debp]

Are you talking restricting feed for chicks or adults? I thought that chicks in a brooder without a hen should have feed available at all times? Is that true only up to a certain age? Or different if you are feeding FF?

 

[Beekissed]

RIP Mr. Fancypants. Sniff.

I was just talking about that to my mother....sniff, indeed. He was a good little guy during his time here...well...until he broke that biggest meat chick's leg with one well aimed kicking flog. That kind of sealed the deal for me on Fat Cochin. Never really had a rooster be mean to chicks before unless it was around the feeder and it was usually just a hard pecking to get them to mind their manners.

I think Mr. Fancypants got a little too big for his feathery britches. Today's the reckoning for that.

 

[Beekissed]

Are you talking restricting feed for chicks or adults? I thought that chicks in a brooder without a hen should have feed available at all times? Is that true only up to a certain age? Or different if you are feeding FF?

Both, really, depending on the age and type of chick. If meaty chicks, then restricting feed can be a way of slowing down their growth so they won't get too heavy for their own bones and organs to support.

Chicks don't have to have feed available 24/7...that's our human thinking that they need to graze constantly, but they can go for periods without eating and they just eat larger amounts when they get the meal. I've not noticed any difference in growth patterns for chicks fed continually vs. chicks fed in meals, except for when it's done to meat chicks.

My layer chicks are let out to forage at 2 wks, so they do get food all the time if they run out and catch it...which they do. Then they get to eat a meal of FF in the evening along with the rest of the flock. They grow healthy and strong and end up being just as large as chicks fed continually.

 

[LindaB220]

It really solved a lot of issues for me just by building a longer feed trough and also cutting rations. Now when the older birds come to the feeder they are so hungry they don't have any time to run of the younger birds and are just trying to get a few mouthfuls before it's all gone. Took care of the bullying at the feeder, didn't need a creep feeder any longer and the meaties are no longer getting injured because they can't understand social structure....they just can't seem to get that one down at all. The younger birds (2 wks) are very good at waiting for the scraps and smaller particles after the larger birds have gone back to foraging. Mostly they are not even coming into the feeder at all...too busy foraging.

Off to make some broody places and kill a rooster....

It's rained so much in the last few days you can SEE the grass growing! Always a miracle, that seeing the greening up of the landscape.

Yeah, my guy is coming to finish the coop tomorrow. Gonna have him do a gutter feeder for me. I ordered 20 babies and 4 died. All hatchery Dellies. I have 2 big strapping girls left and 1 little runt boy Dellie. I don't think he's gonna make it. He moves around a little, eats a little and flops down like a CX. Half as big as the rest. So if he goes I'll have 6 Big Golden Comets, 6 White rocks and 2 Dellies. That will be a fine laying flock.

 

[Bethel3330]

It's rained so much in the last few days you can SEE the grass growing!  Always a miracle, that seeing the greening up of the landscape. 

What? Is it? I can't tell. It's nearly over my head! Lol
Spring is always a miracle, and this one so much sweeter!

 

[birdlady79]

So I'm going on week 2 of using FF... All is finally going well.. Well with my big chicks anyways.... My 5 wk old SS will not touch it though... I've tried everything... I always end up giving in and giving them their dried food... They will joining the others soon and I'm worried they will starve...

 

[Beekissed]

So I'm going on week 2 of using FF... All is finally going well.. Well with my big chicks anyways.... My 5 wk old SS will not touch it though... I've tried everything... I always end up giving in and giving them their dried food... They will joining the others soon and I'm worried they will starve...

No chicken out there will starve in the face of food in a feeder...trust me. They will touch it if you just let them get hungry enough. I'm thinking they are a tad spoiled. When you give in and give them the dry feed it's just what they are waiting for, much like a kid that doesn't want to eat the good food but will gobble up desert. It's just an adjustment period and it may take some tough love to get past that time.

They won't starve.

 

[birdlady79]

No chicken out there will starve in the face of food in a feeder...trust me.  They will touch it if you just let them get hungry enough.  I'm thinking they are a tad spoiled.  When you give in and give them the dry feed it's just what they are waiting for, much like a kid that doesn't want to eat the good food but will gobble up desert.  It's just an adjustment period and it may take some tough love to get past that time.

They won't starve. 

They are spoiled. Haha... I put some more in there tonight w oats and eggs on top.. It looked like they ate a tad or stomped all over it one.... I guess tomorrow I'll bite the bullet and take their dried food away.... I wonder why my big ones gobble it up but the little ones ignore it...

 

[aatx]

After 36 hours, I had some action going on. The level raised just slightly.

I knew tonight I would be busy, so instead of taking the chance of having a mess, I grabbed another container and scooped out some. I'll just feed out of this one first.