FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Aphrael]

Yes...it is the consistancy I am thinking of and having a higher % of protein. Grower feed...hmmm

The scratch would likely lower your overall % of protein. I believe it is only around 8% protein. The kind we have around these parts is anyway.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yes...it is the consistancy I am thinking of and having a higher % of protein. Grower feed...hmmm

I usually have mixed flocks with males and growing birds so I rarely have an entire flock laying so I use a 16% grower and provide oyster shell for layers.
If you want more protein most grower and starter rations are a bit higher than mine. The grains won't do it. Fishmeal would be good too since it has a complete complement of amino acids. The one I use is 60% protein so mixed 10:1 with the 16% gives me 20% for young birds and molters.

The Bryant feed I use is also pretty coarsely ground and I like the consistency it gives much more than that of the Layena pelleted feed I use. But I mix them because I feel the 24% protein in the Bryant is too much for the layers to have all the time.

You're right about that being too high. It's even a bit high for molting birds. 17% is about right the rest of the year.
Excess protein is taxing on both liver and kidneys but also increases ammonia in the feces.

The scratch would likely lower your overall % of protein. I believe it is only around 8% protein. The kind we have around these parts is anyway.

X2
Depends on the makeup. corn is 7-10%, wheat, barley and oats more like 12 but depending on where grown and variety, it can vary quite a bit.
I make my own scratch by buying 50# bags of wheat, oats, barley, BOSS. It's mostly oats in summer. As weather cools I start migrating to the other seeds.

 

[vpatt]

...

I usually have mixed flocks with males and growing birds so I rarely have an entire flock laying so I use a 16% grower and provide oyster shell for layers.
If you want more protein most grower and starter rations are a bit higher than mine. The grains won't do it. Fishmeal would be good too since it has a complete complement of amino acids. The one I use is 60% protein so mixed 10:1 with the 16% gives me 20% for yo


Can you explain how you figured out the 20%......my brain is not working right now.

 

[LindaB220]

Is it ok to add scratch to the ferment? I was thinking if I used the chick starter for the adults it is powdery and the scratch would add some crunch. Do the chickens care about that?

Crimped oats is about 12% protein. Better than 9% scratch. I also add a couple of cups of alfalfa pellets to my 5 gallon bucket. It bumps up the oats protein and also add brighter orange color to eggs. Good for them.

 

[Sparkway]

hi I have been feeding FF for about a year. this is the layer mash I am using. I am in a part of NJ where not many people have chickens therefore not much by way of choice of feed. please any thoughts would be helpful if I should add anything

 

[Beekissed]

Looks good to me! A balanced ration with adequate nutrition for laying birds...and the fermentation will give it an extra boost, so it's a cheap enhancement for an already balanced meal.

 

[ReillyJ]

One thing my FF is doing lately is after about a week it's smelling so off that i'm throwing it out and the birds won't eat it either. i use Scratch n Peck crumble and a pellet mixed, stir it daily, blah blah etc. It smells sour good until it starts smelling like dog vomit and i have to throw it out and the hens won't eat it anyway

So i guess that i'll just have to make a new batch every week. shrug.

 

[Beekissed]

Mine always smells strong but the birds eat it all the same. I'd just refresh it with fresh feed and water and roll on...they will eat it eventually. Never saw a chicken intentionally starve themselves with food sitting in the trough.

 

[ReillyJ]

Mine always smells strong but the birds eat it all the same. I'd just refresh it with fresh feed and water and roll on...they will eat it eventually. Never saw a chicken intentionally starve themselves with food sitting in the trough.

i think i'll just toss it, they eat the FF with GUSTO now (when it doesn't start stinking like DEATH--not talking about that nice fermented sour smell, this smells off) and they stop eating it when it's like that and i don't blame them, i just won't make as much.

 

[LindaB220]

One thing my FF is doing lately is after about a week it's smelling so off that i'm throwing it out and the birds won't eat it either. i use Scratch n Peck crumble and a pellet mixed, stir it daily, blah blah etc. It smells sour good until it starts smelling like dog vomit and i have to throw it out and the hens won't eat it anyway

So i guess that i'll just have to make a new batch every week. shrug.

Poor ReillyJ, it seems that you have had trouble with this from day one. I wonder what you are doing different from other folks? How much do you make at a time. It should last for weeks. Just keep adding feed and water and stirring. You're wasting a lot of very good food by throwing it out. Find out what the problem is and change it. For your own sanity.