FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[chickluvinfreak]

Good. Thanks for all your help, my chickens appreciate it.

 

[aart]

Quote: The DE is unnecessary..... unless it is to kill pests living the dry feed storage.

 

[Tikkijane]

Also, I am home all day usually and have been checking the coop often. I think something couldn't get ALL the eggs before I get to them? No vet ask, I've called them

and only 1 young one is losing feathers.

I have 3 dogs that will go right in the pop door and eat them out of the nesting boxes. {And 2 of these are tall enough when standing on hind legs to open the house door. That particular feat was taught by one of the border collies....} For whatever any of that's worth.

I'd think about a game cam. And then follow them in the afternoon. Mine lay eggs all day long.

 

[Tikkijane]

My chickens just nearly finished their first bucket of ff. I left about 2 cups in the bottom of the bucket and added more feed and water to continue it. Is this the correct process? Can I just feed it to them tomorrow? Does it jump start the ff when you add to an already started bucket?

Yes. That's called backslopping. Works overnight.

 

[Tikkijane]

How much ACV is usually used per cup of feed? Most posts say they mix in a tablespoon but not how much feed they are using.

Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada. None. And it can detrimentaly throw off the necessary balance of the feed. Skip it entirely.

 

[Tikkijane]

Thanks that's a great article! Most that information I read was on this thread actually. Maybe I misunderstood? So water+feed+3 days=fermented feed, right? Sounds simple.

Alllllllllllll of the information in the FAQ came from this thread, and many of the folks here helped proofread/edit it.

 

[Tikkijane]

Thanks that's a great article! Most that information I read was on this thread actually. Maybe I misunderstood? So water+feed+3 days=fermented feed, right? Sounds simple.

From the FAQ:
How? What ingredients do I need to use?

Water + feed + 3 to 4 days for initial ferment. Stir. Wait. Stir. Wait. Lather, rinse, repeat.

If you’ve been strolling around the WWW, no doubt you’ve found a boat load of recipes for chicken foods to be fermented, and those using multiple buckets with holes drilled in the bottom; rotating them in and out so they always have a batch going.

Ya. That’s not going to happen on my planet.

Ain’t nobody got time for that here!

So. Let me repeat. Water + feed + 3 to 4 days for initial ferment. Whatever you’re feeding now- ferment that. Add some water, stir, wait 3 to 4 days, stirring a few times a day. That’s really all there is to it.

I like a 1:1 ratio of food to water, which makes a nice, thicker consistency. There is no need to strain or keep it covered by inches of water. It’s also not as sloppy as much wetter feed. You are welcome to keep it soupy, but I go for easy and the least labor intensive as possible. But, I’m lazy like that.

Now, if you want to complicate things and make it involved, have at it. "

 

[Tikkijane]

This seems like a stupid question but I mix DE and probiotics in my layers feed, is it OK to ferment? I just mixed my first batch for some chicks that are coming in a couple days and am excited. But not sure if I should use the layers feed I have now or wait until I get a new bag?

The probiotics won't hurt. I'd personally rethink the DE. But, that's me.

 

[NellieFed]

I have 3 dogs that will go right in the pop door and eat them out of the nesting boxes. {And 2 of these are tall enough when standing on hind legs to open the house door. That particular feat was taught by one of the border collies....} For whatever any of that's worth.

I'd think about a game cam. And then follow them in the afternoon. Mine lay eggs all day long.[/quote]

 

[NellieFed]

Oops, still figuring this out....just told my husband to set up the game camera. Thought I'd mark an egg if they lay one and see if the same egg is there at the end of the day.