FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Leigti]

I started my first batch of fermented food a few days ago. After three days it did have a slight sour smell so I started feeding it. The problem is they're not eating it. I figured they were just eating too much out in the yard so today I got drastic and I locked them in the coop. Didn't work, they still didn't touch it. They eat it dry just fine. Any ideas to get them to eat it? Eventually it's going to freeze and snow and there won't be anything in the yard and I would very much like the idea of the fermented feed to increase the nutrition they are getting.
Also, I made the mistake of asking a question about this on a different for him and got jumped all over. I am new to chickens and I sort of was under the impression this is a known practice. But I guess not. Do you find yourselves having to defend it? What are some of the issues people have with it besides "why would she want to do that? "I've never heard of that before"

 

[shortgrass]

I started my first batch of fermented food a few days ago. After three days it did have a slight sour smell so I started feeding it. The problem is they're not eating it. I figured they were just eating too much out in the yard so today I got drastic and I locked them in the coop. Didn't work, they still didn't touch it. They eat it dry just fine. Any ideas to get them to eat it? Eventually it's going to freeze and snow and there won't be anything in the yard and I would very much like the idea of the fermented feed to increase the nutrition they are getting.
Also, I made the mistake of asking a question about this on a different for him and got jumped all over. I am new to chickens and I sort of was under the impression this is a known practice. But I guess not. Do you find yourselves having to defend it? What are some of the issues people have with it besides "why would she want to do that? "I've never heard of that before"

Lol always but I'm organic too, so I get slammed from all sides sometimes

Sometimes people get grouchy when they just don't understand... FF can seem hard to understand, but actually its not


You're with good peeps here


Maybe it's too new and bland... You can cheat a little and add a teaspoon of molasses and see if they don't nibble...

But I have to ask, a " sour" smell? Mine always smells sweet, and its foamy and bubbly.... How long are you letting it ferment before feeding?

 

[Leigti]

Lol always but I'm organic too, so I get slammed from all sides sometimes

Sometimes people get grouchy when they just don't understand... FF can seem hard to understand, but actually its not


You're with good peeps here


Maybe it's too new and bland... You can cheat a little and add a teaspoon of molasses and see if they don't nibble...

But I have to ask, a " sour" smell? Mine always smells sweet, and its foamy and bubbly.... How long are you letting it ferment before feeding?

sorry, I meant a sour smell. I fed it first after three days. And then I added more food and water and started up again. I stir it to her three times a day. I tried dressing it up today, I put cheese on it because they love cheese and they are molting, I put a little bit of their dried food and I also put a little bit of corn. Nothing worked they didn't touch any of it. I don't have any molasses. Do they like honey?

 

[bbhorsefly]

I started my first batch of fermented food a few days ago. After three days it did have a slight sour smell so I started feeding it. The problem is they're not eating it. I figured they were just eating too much out in the yard so today I got drastic and I locked them in the coop. Didn't work, they still didn't touch it. They eat it dry just fine. Any ideas to get them to eat it? Eventually it's going to freeze and snow and there won't be anything in the yard and I would very much like the idea of the fermented feed to increase the nutrition they are getting.
Also, I made the mistake of asking a question about this on a different for him and got jumped all over. I am new to chickens and I sort of was under the impression this is a known practice. But I guess not. Do you find yourselves having to defend it? What are some of the issues people have with it besides "why would she want to do that? "I've never heard of that before"

When I get chickens that are used to dry feed, they usually refuse to start too. I just toss dry on it under their noses until they get to pecking and realize it's food. Mine have always instinctively pecked at flying food and then they get competitive. If they haven't eaten in awhile they'll be trying to grab those morsels out of the air. I wouldn't offer anything else until they figure it out. Once they start, every one I've had come through here LOVES it and goes gaga over it. All it's going to take is for one to get to eating and the rest will follow suit.

 

[Leigti]

OK I will keep trying. Do you think I should lock them in the coop until they get the idea? They usually free range all day. But because they are molting I'm worried they're not getting the nutrition they need.

 

[bbhorsefly]

OK I will keep trying. Do you think I should lock them in the coop until they get the idea? They usually free range all day. But because they are molting I'm worried they're not getting the nutrition they need.

I think the best way to get them that nutrition is to get them started on the ff ASAP. If they were locked up today, they should be ripe for feed in the am. If they refuse and won't take the bait of tossed feed, I'd leave them up and try again periodically until their hunger gets the best of them. You can check their crops too! I have to rememeber that just because they haven't eaten in x amount of time doesn't necessarily mean that they don't have any food actively going through their system. If they got filled up right before bed, they may not be that terribly hungry first thing depending on how quickly it digested. Maybe I'm wrong. I haven't studied up that much on digestion time.

 

[Leigti]

OK. I haven't checked how much food is in their prop because I read somewhere not to handle them when they are molting. They are also much more flighty than usual. Is this normal when they malt pushed and Mark they are 18 months old and this is their first Big molt.

 

[bbhorsefly]

OK. I haven't checked how much food is in their prop because I read somewhere not to handle them when they are molting. They are also much more flighty than usual. Is this normal when they malt pushed and Mark they are 18 months old and this is their first Big molt.

Yeah. I've read handling is painful on the feathers during molt and can cause bleeding. If you'd have to fully grab them and hold them to feel their crops, best to just try and get a visual. I've got a couple that have huge crops I can see a mile away, but some of my older birds the bulge isn't so pronounced under their feathers.

 

[Leigti]

Yeah. I've read handling is painful on the feathers during molt and can cause bleeding. If you'd have to fully grab them and hold them to feel their crops, best to just try and get a visual. I've got a couple that have huge crops I can see a mile away, but some of my older birds the bulge isn't so pronounced under their feathers.

that's kind of funny, I am legally blind. I'm lucky to find the chicken i'll wait and till they are roosting and then I will try to check.

 

[Leigti]

Could the bull be the problem? I am using one of the rubber type dog bowls. Something like this.