FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Amina]

Thanks so much for the faq! I'm not sure yet that I want to make the switch, but now I understand it more and know that it's an option.

 

[LindaB220]

Yep, the feed store workers don't always know what they are talking about. One told me that none of their bagged grains could be sprouted. I bought some anyway, and they sprouted perfectly fine. I've also seen feed store personnel choosing "female" chicks for people by picking them up by their heads. They tell them that if the chick just dangles it is guaranteed a pullet. So yeah. Take anything they tell you with a grain of salt.

This is late, I know, but it brought back memories of how dumb I was back when I first started in Sept '13, I came on one of these threads, The meat birds FF thread and told BeeKissed how thrilled I was to find out how to sex them. They were all gracious to NOT laugh out load at my newbie status. I'll always remember everyone fondly. Snicker.

 

[lazy gardener]

My chickens seem to be eating the ff better now and I usually give it to them at breakfas tand lunch. Then I give them a bit of scratch before bedtime. Scraps as available. Does this sound ok to you all who are more experienced? They are cleaning up what I give them.....ive been watching them eat and those that get chased away from the food do get to eat when the "bosses" are finished.

IMO, a calorie is a calorie is a calorie. I don't get carried away with the whole concern about if corn is good or bad, or if it provides more heat or not. You'll hear varying opinions re: the benefit of extra protein in the winter months. I like to beef it up a bit for my flock. Their feather condition will tell you how well they are doing. Bright glossy feathers without "growth disturbance" (I don't know the technical term here) indicate that their nutrition has been good during that growth cycle.
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I bought a bag ot Fertrell nutrition balance...I think it is powdered vitamins. Can I mix a bit in the ferment until I use it up....should I put it in at the beginning or just before feeding? Don't ask me why I bought it. But I would like to use it up. I have three chicks not yet a week old ..could I mix a wee bit in the chick starter?

If you add anything to the FF, do it just before you serve it up. I'm not familiar with that product. I'd follow the label, and if it indicates that it's good for chicks, give them an appropriate amount. Again, advice varies. Some folks say extra protein is good for chicks... helps them to grow and feather faster. Others say that extra protein pushes them to sexual maturity before their bodies are mature enough, thus setting them up for reproductive problems later. No matter what you do, there will be someone telling you that it's wrong. Again, watch your flock, and be your own judge based on how well they do with your management practices.

Thnx for any advice.

Aha! Finally feel like 'I get it' when it comes to this fermented feed business. I was putting it off because I thought it was going to be so complex. To me, the concept is really a lot like sourdough starter or yogurt making, am I right? Anyways I have been working on fodder for a while and I thought, might as well see what this ferment thing entails. Got my first batch going in a flash after reading your link up there. Thanks for the great tutorial!
Jenn
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Yes, Jenn. You got it! Just like making sour-dough. Uses the microbes and yeasts floating around in the air. They, in turn do a bit of pre-digesting of the feed, making it more bio-available for the chickens. They also give the chicken's guts a boost of healthy bacteria so they can process food better, and boosts their immunity. If you're doing fodder, you'll find that FF is a far easier process. You don't have to babysit it. Just mix the feed with water, and let it sit until it's bubbling.

Thanks so much for the faq! I'm not sure yet that I want to make the switch, but now I understand it more and know that it's an option.
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Amina, it's not a forever decision! Got a 1 quart container hanging around in your kitchen? Try a test batch. Use 2 cups of feed, and add warm water, allowing the feed to soak up water and add more water until the pellets or crumbles are broken down, and it's the consistency of cooked oatmeal. You can add ACV with the mother, or a bit of active culture yogurt whey, or nothing, and let it mature until it bubbles. Give the girls a trial, hold back 1/2 cup for a starter for your next batch.

This is late, I know, but it brought back memories of how dumb I was back when I first started in Sept '13, I came on one of these threads, The meat birds FF thread and told BeeKissed how thrilled I was to find out how to sex them. They were all gracious to NOT laugh out load at my newbie status. I'll always remember everyone fondly. Snicker.
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We all start someplace. It makes me cringe when someone speaks less than kindly to a newbie.

 

[vpatt]

Thanks lazy. I think the nuti-balance is something people use when they make there own feed.....again, I don't know why I bought it, just had money I wanted spend maybe! I agree ....it makes sense to watch how the chickens look for a health guideline. And you are right about all the opinions. I have been thinking about feed and bringing our new chicks out with the flock. Now they are in the coop with Mama and all the birds are in there at nite. But during the day when the other ladies go out I shut Mama and babies in the coop. Partly because of the temps and wetness outside......partly because I don't think they will be able to fly in and out of the coop yet. But the food part of my thought is this. When they do go out to free range with everyone that fermented laying mash will be out there where they can get to it. It is also what the rooster eats. He is doing great and I have to think the chicks will do well, also. I will still feed them chick starter but I'm sure they are going to get mash also. If it was warmer weather they would be eating bugs, too. I think bugs are protein. I just have all these things running thru my mind. I definitely think ff is good. I ferment some of my food for probiotics. But being free ranged and getting scraps and bugs they will never be 100% ff.

 

[lazy gardener]

When I have chicks being raised, I switch the whole flock over to starter, and give the layers extra calcium on the side in the way of oyster shell and crushed egg shell. For my own flock, and my own desires, the only reason I buy layer is b/c it is cheaper. If i weren't so frugal with a $, they'd be on starter or multi-flock all the time.

 

[vpatt]

When I have chicks being raised, I switch the whole flock over to starter, and give the layers extra calcium on the side in the way of oyster shell and crushed egg shell.  For my own flock, and my own desires, the only reason I buy layer is b/c it is cheaper.  If i weren't so frugal with a $, they'd be on starter or multi-flock all the time.

Yeah, not sure I could afford to feed all of them starter....all I have found is small bags.

 

[vpatt]

I do have a ferment question.......all that powder I hated in the dry feed has become sludge in the wet feed. Is this just how it is? Or maybe my feed is not fermenting properly or am I feeding too much?

 

[hennible]

I'm not sure, I find the powder just incorporates into the FF...

 

[ak rain]

I do have a ferment question.......all that powder I hated in the dry feed has become sludge in the wet feed. Is this just how it is? Or maybe my feed is not fermenting properly or am I feeding too much?

I feel this that if feed is left give s little less next time. Also if cleaned very quick give a little more. Yes the seeds are cleaned out first but they'll clean it up if hungry

 

[lazy gardener]

Yeah, not sure I could afford to feed all of them starter....all I have found is small bags.

is there an other store you can take your business to? Starter is about $1 more/bag.

I do have a ferment question.......all that powder I hated in the dry feed has become sludge in the wet feed. Is this just how it is? Or maybe my feed is not fermenting properly or am I feeding too much?

Just stir it up well before you feed it. Are you seeing a fine sandy grit in the bottom? That's the calcium product that they add.