FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Tikkijane]

Guys please weigh in but i think i'm going to start offering pellet feed in addition to FF as much as i hate too because the FF i'm giving is an organic one but i'm kind of concerned about the weight of my hens, never had chickens before 4 months ago so really don't know what to expect and i think they went through a mild molt and look a bit scrawny to me and they've been on FF about 3 wks and seem to like it ok but don't go NUTSO like y'all are seeing but i'm concerned so maybe i'll offer pellets on the side especially for one of my hens...

IDK what to choose, used Layena before but have been told it's basic crap so yea--idk what to do Kind of sick of worrying about it.

Also i free range my hens and one of them sometimes occasionally want to try to roost outside in the trees come roosting time (OLD habits) and tonight i went to shut the coop door and all were in but her and i looked in all the trees and found her in an outside nest on the ground which is really weird to me but i chased her out of there and she went immediately to the coop.

IDK, was really hoping they would flourish on the FF, i also give them BOSS (shelled) and meal worms every day. The one that was outside is the one i'm kind of concerned about eating the FF and i'm thinking of pellets

How much are you feeding?

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

Guys please weigh in but i think i'm going to start offering pellet feed in addition to FF as much as i hate too because the FF i'm giving is an organic one but i'm kind of concerned about the weight of my hens, never had chickens before 4 months ago so really don't know what to expect and i think they went through a mild molt and look a bit scrawny to me and they've been on FF about 3 wks and seem to like it ok but don't go NUTSO like y'all are seeing but i'm concerned so maybe i'll offer pellets on the side especially for one of my hens...

IDK what to choose, used Layena before but have been told it's basic crap so yea--idk what to do Kind of sick of worrying about it.

Also i free range my hens and one of them sometimes occasionally want to try to roost outside in the trees come roosting time (OLD habits) and tonight i went to shut the coop door and all were in but her and i looked in all the trees and found her in an outside nest on the ground which is really weird to me but i chased her out of there and she went immediately to the coop.

IDK, was really hoping they would flourish on the FF, i also give them BOSS (shelled) and meal worms every day. The one that was outside is the one i'm kind of concerned about eating the FF and i'm thinking of pellets

I offer the FF first thing in the morning when I let them out of the coop. It's the first food they eat so they get it before going out to free range for supplemental food. Just like kids who have to eat their dinner before they get dessert. Lol.

 

[LindaB220]

Thanks, i have some left over pellets from a local hay/grain (their generic--ugh) that i can offer. Don't really want to but hey, i guess i'll have to unless i'm imaging it all

Or i can offer the Scratch n Peck organic seeds/fines layer feed that i am fermenting just moistened on the side for her to see if she likes that rather than the fermented...

i think i'll ferment the pellets also, i just cannot help trying to improve health, it's in my blood--just am on a major learning curve when it comes to chickens, didn't have them until 4 months ago or so!

Reilly J, you are so over thinking this. Give them time to get accustomed to the place, free ranging and the fermented feed. Yes, the heat will trim them down, and the free ranging will trim them down. They will not get any healthier by having dry pellets around.

 

[ReillyJ]

How much are you feeding?

It's hard to gauge but i put enough out there so there's some left over. Then i let them free range for about 5-6 hours and offer them food again before they roost. They eat less before they roost but i always have some out.

I also think i'm going to offer pellets, i really wanted ORGANIC and soy free for them.

There's Manna Pro organic pellets at my co op but honestly how are they different than any other commercial Layer feed other than so called organic?

They ARE eating the FF, just idk if they're an ideal weight or ......

 

[ReillyJ]

From what I've learned through lots of research, the bacteria that causes the fermenting needs to be fed, so adding more water and feed to the batch as you remove some in feeding is important. Let too long without being fed can allow the bad bacteria to take over.

Also it needs to be wet. I keep at least an inch of water above the feed. I sift thru a strainer to separate the bulk of water from the wet feed as I serve it up each morning.

Yep that's what i do, when i get down to a couple servings left i add water and feed, i stir the batch well a couple times a day and i'm adding food/water every few days or so now that i went to a bigger bucket.

i ALSO LAST NIGHT added in some commercial pellet to the FF. IT isn't that they didn't like the organic Scratch n Peck because i used to just moisten it and feed it along with pellets, they stopped eating the pellets.... it's a food designed to be fed moistened and preferably FF as their website states but it does have fines and grains, of course the grains stay intact but the hens seem to eat it, i am just such a newbie and want to know if i'm doing right by them.

i REALLY think they went through a molt and are just finishing with it, they're stilling laying but less and also the days are certainly shorter.

Another thing i need help with is what to feed it in. Right now i have a very large saucer (the plastic kind that goes under large planters to catch water) and it works fine however they step in it and track it all over and i want to offer two in case the hen in question wants to eat by herself. It needs to be easy and especially removable so i can clean it. I've heard of gutters, how do you stabilize it and it needs to be taken out to be hosed off, there's always some residue they leave.

 

[ReillyJ]

Reilly J, you are so over thinking this. Give them time to get accustomed to the place, free ranging and the fermented feed. Yes, the heat will trim them down, and the free ranging will trim them down. They will not get any healthier by having dry pellets around.

Thanks, LindaB

They didn't really want the dry pellets! I think they are certainly accustomed by now though. The FF is about 3 weeks in or so. I'll try to get some pics up. Maybe i can find a good layer pellet (not really impressed w/any out there!) and add that into the Scratch nPeck that i'm fermenting.

I think it's especially one that i'm a bit concerned about, i don't think she's the bottom of the pecking order so to speak but she's slower to come to the food bowl, but i cannot monitor her all of the time nor can i force feed her! I did post that i do need to figure something out to feed the FF out of and preferably more than one station because it's getting all over everywhere. OY

 

[kpgoldstar]

Guys please weigh in but i think i'm going to start offering pellet feed in addition to FF as much as i hate too because the FF i'm giving is an organic one but i'm kind of concerned about the weight of my hens, never had chickens before 4 months ago so really don't know what to expect and i think they went through a mild molt and look a bit scrawny to me and they've been on FF about 3 wks and seem to like it ok but don't go NUTSO like y'all are seeing but i'm concerned so maybe i'll offer pellets on the side especially for one of my hens...

IDK what to choose, used Layena before but have been told it's basic crap so yea--idk what to do Kind of sick of worrying about it.

Also i free range my hens and one of them sometimes occasionally want to try to roost outside in the trees come roosting time (OLD habits) and tonight i went to shut the coop door and all were in but her and i looked in all the trees and found her in an outside nest on the ground which is really weird to me but i chased her out of there and she went immediately to the coop.

IDK, was really hoping they would flourish on the FF, i also give them BOSS (shelled) and meal worms every day. The one that was outside is the one i'm kind of concerned about eating the FF and i'm thinking of pellets

Dried mealworms or live? Dried are like candy or dessert. Be sure they are getting their fill of balanced food (FF) before giving in to treats daily. Mine only get a treat about twice a week and then it is watermelon or grapes.

 

[kpgoldstar]

From what I've learned through lots of research, the bacteria that causes the fermenting needs to be fed, so adding more water and feed to the batch as you remove some in feeding is important. Let too long without being fed can allow the bad bacteria to take over.

Also it needs to be wet. I keep at least an inch of water above the feed. I sift thru a strainer to separate the bulk of water from the wet feed as I serve it up each morning.

It's not necessary to keep water over the top. That is a personal preference and most of us tend to keep ours on the drier side. I don't want the extra hassle of straining my feed.

@BY Chicken Lady where are you? I am on the Colo. River in AZ.

 

[ReillyJ]

Dried just a bit maybe a T. per hen a day i mixed it into their FF so they're encouraged to eat it, i figure it's healthy protein

Dried mealworms or live? Dried are like candy or dessert. Be sure they are getting their fill of balanced food (FF) before giving in to treats daily. Mine only get a treat about twice a week and then it is watermelon or grapes.

Dried just a bit maybe a T. per hen a day i mixed it into their FF so they're encouraged to eat it, i figure it's healthy protein

It's not necessary to keep water over the top. That is a personal preference and most of us tend to keep ours on the drier side. I don't want the extra hassle of straining my feed.

@BY Chicken Lady where are you? I am on the Colo. River in AZ.

I don't keep water over mine either, i think my hens prefer it drier, also.

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

Yep that's what i do, when i get down to a couple servings left i add water and feed, i stir the batch well a couple times a day and i'm adding food/water every few days or so now that i went to a bigger bucket.

i ALSO LAST NIGHT added in some commercial pellet to the FF. IT isn't that they didn't like the organic Scratch n Peck because i used to just moisten it and feed it along with pellets, they stopped eating the pellets.... it's a food designed to be fed moistened and preferably FF as their website states but it does have fines and grains, of course the grains stay intact but the hens seem to eat it, i am just such a newbie and want to know if i'm doing right by them.

i REALLY think they went through a molt and are just finishing with it, they're stilling laying but less and also the days are certainly shorter.

Another thing i need help with is what to feed it in. Right now i have a very large saucer (the plastic kind that goes under large planters to catch water) and it works fine however they step in it and track it all over and i want to offer two in case the hen in question wants to eat by herself. It needs to be easy and especially removable so i can clean it. I've heard of gutters, how do you stabilize it and it needs to be taken out to be hosed off, there's always some residue they leave.

A few thoughts...

-I don't over stir my FF, I give it a very brief, gentle stir, twice a day, I just want to blend things, not whip them up.

-If you visit my profile you will see a link to my FF process with pictures and instructions...I don't make more than I will use in a single day, I just reserve the fermented liquid and add to it each morning.

-I have fermented pelleted feed, crumbles, mash, and loose milled feed. They all work well. I only use organic feeds, and I add supplements as needed like wheat berries or split peas during molting times. It doesn't matter what you feed them, just about everything can be fermented.

-As the days get shorter, and molting is in full swing, the girls will slow down on laying, but they still need a little extra protein to help with molting.

-I use a round stainless steel feeder pan to feed my FF in. I think they were designed for pigs. It is a nice wide base so it doesn't get tipped over, it has a 3"+ lip so they don't scoop out much food. They do walk through it on occasion but that's not a big deal...chickens are 'pigs' but they are not neat-nicks either. What ever pieces get out, will get eatin anyway.

-As a few of us have said, offer the FF first. Scratch, mealworms, scraps, etc are all 'treats' and should be no more than about 10% of their daily food intake, and never offer treats before their main dish.

Hope some of this helps. Just hang in their...you will eventually work out a system that works for you and your chickens.