FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Teila]

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

No problemo Meeka3

I probably should mention that is what 'I' do and the whole Yeah or Nay on ACV will continue to be something debated for years to come I think; some are pro and some are con. This is the same for FF, some are pro and some are con .. I am one who is happy to share what 'I' do and totally respect what others chose to do

 

[LindaB220]

No problemo Meeka3

I probably should mention that is what 'I' do and the whole Yeah or Nay on ACV will continue to be something debated for years to come I think; some are pro and some are con. This is the same for FF, some are pro and some are con .. I am one who is happy to share what 'I' do and totally respect what others chose to do

Correct, different strokes. I'm happy with it dryer. Kassaundra prefers hers wet. Both work.

 

[frenchiegirl21]

Well, I'm up to 20 chicks!!!!

The large fowl are barnyard mutts and the bantams are cochin/gamebird and cochin/frizzle. They are super cute! I'll try and upload a picture later. Now for the other 17 to hatch. I'm going to give the babies their first taste of FF this evening

Fingers crossed that they like it and I don't have any problems.

 

[Tikkijane]

Have to ask.......what tricks do you use to make your girls able to tolerate the heat better?  : )

Still reading, but here's my list. I worry about heat from 95 up.

*frozen milk jugs
*frozen pop bottles/2-3 litres. The smaller ones are good for littles
*frozen sports bottle sticks for nesting boxes- good for broodies
*a floor fan for the coop. Helps get the air moving so girls in the nesting boxes don't overheat
*shallow wading pans. I like litter boxes or dishpans. Put them in the shade for them to wade in. Change out when the water gets too warm.
*hose down dust bathing areas in the shade. Gives them a cooler area to dig into.
*spray down the ground under their shady spots
*hose down coop roof if needed.
* stand mister in the shade. Leave it so it kind of spits out cool drips or have it full mist in the shade.
*frozen treats. Any kind, but watermelon and rinds are always huge hits around here

And, as always, shade and cool water. We'd hit 100+ at the end of May and stay there until September. Heat is MUCH more of an issue than cold, imo.

 

[evemfoster]

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.

I was just wondering because so far i have been reading about most of the people are using the ACT in the water. I have heard its good for them, with all the good things Teila mentioned.

But i have also heard that giving them 'too much' ACT is not necessarily a good thing.

I'm not sure how much ACT to add. This is just something i read a while back here on BYC and there is sometimes a lot of contradictory information that can be a bit confusing. I am far from new to chickens but the new ideas i am finding here is giving me quite a education. I find a lot of mostly spot on advise.

Anyway the "too much ACT is not necessarily a good thing" statement from earlier. I'm afraid i didn't save the threads that discussed this. It was stated that the more ACT chickens ingest the more oyster shell they have to consume. Too much ACT can thin the eggshells. The acid in the ACT neutralizes some of the calcium in the feed. Thus the hens can store less of the calcium they ingest.

But i do believe the little bit that is supposed to be added to water was just fine. The problem's being discussed came into play when too much ACT was used. When owners were glugging a big shot of vinegar into the water. In one case they were using so much ACT that the chickens were having trouble drinking the water, shaking their heads and backing off from the water but desperate to have a drink.

I can't be called anything close to an expert on this or even that knowledgeable about ACT, it's simply new to me. I am having a hard time getting a clear conciseness on how much ACT is appropriate, I've read anywhere from a teaspoon per gallon to 3 Tablespoons per quart or "Oh i just glugg some in" Until i get a better handle on this i believe no vinegar is better than unmeasured vinegar. But plan to try it anyway if i get some hard figures. I may try it in one waterer later in the year when the seeps dry up just to see what happens. Right now the chickens would rather drink out of the seep beside the deer than drink out of a chicken waterer.

 

[Nofowlplay]

I was just wondering because so far i have been reading about most of the people are using the ACT in the water.  I have heard its good for them, with all the good things Teila mentioned. 

But i have also heard that giving them 'too much' ACT is not necessarily a good thing. 

I'm not sure how much ACT to add.  This is just something i read a while back here on BYC and there is sometimes a lot of contradictory information that can be a bit confusing. I am far from  new to chickens but the new ideas i am finding here is giving me quite a education.  I find a lot of mostly spot on advise.  

Anyway the "too much ACT is not necessarily a good thing" statement from earlier.  I'm afraid i didn't save the threads that discussed this.  It was stated that the more ACT chickens ingest the more oyster shell they have to consume.   Too much ACT can thin the eggshells. The acid in the ACT neutralizes some of the calcium in the feed.  Thus the hens can store less of the calcium they ingest.

But i do believe the little bit that is supposed to be added to water was just fine.  The problem's being discussed came into play when too much ACT was used.  When owners were glugging a big shot of vinegar into the water. In one case they were using so much ACT that the chickens were having trouble drinking the water, shaking their heads and backing off from the water but desperate to have a drink. 

I can't be called anything close to an expert on this or even that knowledgeable about ACT, it's simply new to me.  I am having a hard time getting a clear conciseness on how much ACT is appropriate,  I've read anywhere from a teaspoon per gallon to 3 Tablespoons per quart or "Oh i just glugg some in"   Until i get a better handle on this i believe no vinegar is better than unmeasured vinegar.  But plan to try it anyway if i get some hard figures.  I may try it in one waterer later in the year when the seeps dry up just to see what happens.  Right now the chickens would rather drink out of the seep beside the deer than drink out of a chicken waterer. 

I use 1 teaspoon per gallon of water about twice a week. I put 1/4 teaspoon in a quart waterer with ice cubes. The girls seem to have no problem drinking it.

 

[evemfoster]

I use 1 teaspoon per gallon of water about twice a week. I put 1/4 teaspoon in a quart waterer with ice cubes. The girls seem to have no problem drinking it.

Thank you, i believe this is a safe dosage and i will probably start with it when i have to start filling waterers. And the ACT is done brewing.

 

[Nofowlplay]

Thank you,  i believe this is a safe dosage and i will probably start with it when i have to start filling waterers.  And the ACT is done brewing. 

In my short experience I had a hen lay an egg right in the middle of the run with a soft shell on an extremely hot day. I might have overdone the vinegar because I put it in their water 3 days in a row. I did so because my Barred Rock was sneezing.
She is no longer sneezing and I have backed off on the vinegar to once or twice weekly . I have read you can be a little freer with the vinegar in cooler weather. But the ratio is the same . 1 teaspoon per gallon of water.

 

[Meeka3]

I put 10mls in a 2 litre milk bottle of water and that usually lasts about 3 days in their mash
which I make fresh each day. I don't put it in their drinking water because they have access to water all over the place. Every now and then I put a soluble calcium tablet in the water instead and they always have a good supply of grit. I've been doing this for about 9 months and my chooks lay nice big healthy eggs every day. I have cut back to 5mls with the commercial brand which is double strength.

 

[Teila]

Again, quote: "different strokes for different folks", just sharing what 'I' do:

I have two water sources (one larger dispenser and a back up small dispenser, just in case one should get knocked over). I change their water morning and night. I add raw, unfiltered ACV; in the small container I put 1/4 teaspoon (1.25ml) and in the larger container 1/2 teaspoon (2.5ml).

I only have 5 x bantams and they certainly do not empty the water containers so, at the above dosage, they are definitely not overdosing on ACV and besides losing a couple of girls over a year or so, one to internal laying and one to a possible poisonous critter bite, I have happy, shiny, healthy girls