FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[aatx]

aatx, I've been wondering about your horizontal nipples. Are they better than the little cup nipples?

They were the only ones I have ever tried. Seem to work great.

 

[LindaB220]

Its reaching over 100 daily now and I am down to making only one feeding at a time. The feed ferments so fast the feed i mix up in the evening is well fermented by the morning feeding. I mix it a little on the wet side so any uneaten food wont dry up out in the sun. And if it does dry up i have found that all i need to do is splash a little water onto the feed and the liquid will work its way all the way through the feed. So far so good.

Good job, that's the way to do it. I left some out this morning out of the coop and just added a little water and stirred. I make up 3/4 of a 5 gallon bucket for my 14 4mo olds and they eat it in about 3-4 days. I do the same for my smaller birds 24 1-4 wk olders and they will keep it going several more days. I feed the 13 4 wk olders about 1 qt a day over am and pm. and the bigger ones get 2 qt a day. It might be a little high but it's fermented and I let them eat until satisfied. They are through in about 5 minutes. The other 11 1 wk olds are not up to much yet but do eat it willingly. What a disappointment. My birds don't like banana.

 

[ShinShien]

Upon request I am starting a thread about using fermentation to improve feed nutritive value and health benefits.

1. Anyone doing it?
2. How long have you been doing it?
3. Your methods?
4. Grains/feeds used in this manner?
5. Your overall review of this method of feeding?

• Anyone doing it? I'm doing it
• How long have you been doing it? three months
• Your methods? feed, water and raw ACV in a small rubber trash can
• Grains/feeds used in this manner? I'll try anything. Cat food, goat feed, corn/oats and layer feed so far...
• Your overall review of this method of feeding? It stinks if it's left to ferment for two months, which I did. Chickens love it, though

 

[LindaB220]

• Anyone doing it? I'm doing it
• How long have you been doing it? three months
• Your methods? feed, water and raw ACV in a small rubber trash can
• Grains/feeds used in this manner? I'll try anything. Cat food, goat feed, corn/oats and layer feed so far...
• Your overall review of this method of feeding? It stinks if it's left to ferment for two months, which I did. Chickens love it, though

Two months? Your chickens must be slow eaters.

I waited until my chicks were in the mail to make mine for the first time. I don't think it was quite done but you know they love food. It won't really spoil, just get more fermented. I replenish when I have about 3 inches left in the 5 gallon pail. Add water first and stir. Then start adding feed. I read on another thread that hog feed and poultry feed is almost identical. Just put oyster shell beside it. I also add azomite for trace minerals.

 

[ShinShien]

Two months? Your chickens must be slow eaters.

I waited until my chicks were in the mail to make mine for the first time. I don't think it was quite done but you know they love food. It won't really spoil, just get more fermented. I replenish when I have about 3 inches left in the 5 gallon pail. Add water first and stir. Then start adding feed. I read on another thread that hog feed and poultry feed is almost identical. Just put oyster shell beside it. I also add azomite for trace minerals.

No, they eat like a starving pack of dogs. I just kept adding water and feed as the level went down. After two months, it smelled pretty much like vomit, but the chickens still loved it. Had to start a new batch when neighbors caught wind of it.

 

[Meeka3]

What I do is much less complicated than a lot of the others - I buy a bag of wild bird mix (which is suitable for the wild parrots in Australia), I soak it for 24 hours, drain it off, give it a good wash the next day and feed it to them when it starts to sprout, they love it. Another thing I do is make a mash out of chicken crumbles, fine layer mash, and water with added apple cider vinegar. I just bought a container of apple cider vinegar with garlic in it, and they really love it.

 

[evemfoster]

What I do is much less complicated than a lot of the others - I buy a bag of wild bird mix (which is suitable for the wild parrots in Australia), I soak it for 24 hours, drain it off, give it a good wash the next day and feed it to them when it starts to sprout, they love it. Another thing I do is make a mash out of chicken crumbles, fine layer mash, and water with added apple cider vinegar. I just bought a container of apple cider vinegar with garlic in it, and they really love it.

May i ask why you are adding vinegar to your FF. Its just that the FF doesn't need an extra fermentation source the FF will do all the fermenting needed. So i cant think why you are adding it.

 

[Meeka3]

I don't add it to their sprouting mix, only to their mash. I'm new to raising chickens and I read somewhere that the apple cider vinegar was good for their overall health and any bacteria they might have in their gut from freeranging all day. They love their mash, so it's a good way to make sure they get it, and when I saw the one with garlic, I thought that would have extra health benefits and maybe ward off parasites etc., I'm open to any suggestions and tips about this.

 

[Teila]

I add ACV (with mother) to my bantams drinking water. I was told about ACV by a friend who has had chickens for a very long time and some of the reasons he uses it are:
* It apparently maintains a good pH balance in their digestive system and makes it a little uncomfortable for worms to live in. So while not an actual wormer, it can be a deterrent.
* It can act as an antiseptic killing bacteria in their throat and is reported to keep bacteria out of their water. I know it is recommended to people with sinus issues also.
* Some think it increases egg production but I can't comment on that because my 2 adult bantams and 3 x youngsters yet to lay their first egg are giving me 1 egg every day or two. Luckily I am not in this for the egg production! lol

With my FF, as I only have 5 bantams, I am using the 3 jars x 3 days method. Simple, easy to do and just the right amount of FF for a small flock.

 

[Meeka3]

thank you for your advice, it makes me feel better about using it now.