FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Tikkijane]

I've been doing it for years with no ill effects.  I never switch feeds except for sometimes I'll give them chick starter in the first week...if I feel like it or get around to it...and that still is mixed with layer mash.   Years upon years, actually, and my flock never have illness, lay well into their older years and never miss a beat. 

One thing to note...my birds also free range, get tons of exercise, only get fed once per day and do not depend entirely on commercial feeds for their main diet, so that will be a consideration. 

Free ranging is the bomb.

 

[Tikkijane]

I wouldn't think so, but it does break up strands of yeasts that are forming colonies, so I wouldn't get too carried away if you want a quick ferment.  It's sort of like tilling the soil and breaking up the microbial life webs there.  Once a day is enough and I generally do that right before I feed....sometimes I don't stir it beyond that stirring I do when I refresh the bucket.  Mine is generally too thick and dry for stirring after that. 

One of the reasons I like to mix my new batches at night. Stir to mix and then again before feeding in the morning. I end up stirring twice a day. {That is one of the reasons I don't purely eyeball- having a general idea of measuring helps me be sure my feed won't outgrow the container by the time it gets what it needs in there.}

Initially, I did stir it every few hours, mostly to make sure I wouldn't have a mess, because I didn't have experience on hand. But after that, it's really just to mix new batches and stir everything back in together before feeding.

 

[aart]

I've heard of folks putting that in the feed to keep bugs out but I think that might be folks who are storing large amounts of feed for large livestock. I've had garbage cans full of chicken feed for nigh on 40 yrs and never saw a bug in it yet. I'd say, if bugs are getting into the feed it's time to rethink storage methods. I'd try a different storage container before I'd place sharp dust~almost like glass dust~ in their feed where they have to breathe it when they eat.

Grain mites I had came from the manufacturer, they were very hard to see.....basically moving 'dust', smaller than a grain of salt.
I switched brands and source(the store was infested too), cleaned cans and treated feed and cans with DE...that took care of it.
The mill here adds DE when processing cracked grain feed mixes.

 

[Tikkijane]

Thanks. I don't free range my chickens so I was planning on feeding them 3 meals so they don't get bored. I have 1 bantam EE, a campine the size of a bantam and a orpingtons yet they seem to eat a LOT.I have fed them a total of 2 cups of food today and their just starting to act full. Is that a lot for 3 chickens? Could they be over eating? Thanks for your help

Please don't feed just to ease boredom. That's how they get fat. Give them something to do- varying roost heights in the run; a cabbage or another head of something hanging from a string {tetherball}; a swing; a flock block. But ya. Food should not become a substitute for exercise.

 

[chickluvinfreak]

Please don't feed just to ease boredom. That's how they get fat. Give them something to do- varying roost heights in the run; a cabbage or another head of something hanging from a string {tetherball}; a swing; a flock block. But ya. Food should not become a substitute for exercise.

Thanks for the ideas

 

[Tikkijane]

Thanks for the ideas

 

[Leigti]

I've been doing it for years with no ill effects.  I never switch feeds except for sometimes I'll give them chick starter in the first week...if I feel like it or get around to it...and that still is mixed with layer mash.   Years upon years, actually, and my flock never have illness, lay well into their older years and never miss a beat. 

One thing to note...my birds also free range, get tons of exercise, only get fed once per day and do not depend entirely on commercial feeds for their main diet, so that will be a consideration. 

That's true. It would probably have more Effact on birds that never free range or get anything else to eat. Right now I am feeding a grower to all of my chickens and then having Oystershell for the ones that need it. Having chickens of two completely different ages is a pain in the feed department when you can't keep them separated.

 

[circlehouse]

Got our chicks yesterday and started them right on FF. They are really going at it this morning!

 

[Beekissed]

That's true. It would probably have more Effact on birds that never free range or get anything else to eat. Right now I am feeding a grower to all of my chickens and then having Oystershell for the ones that need it. Having chickens of two completely different ages is a pain in the feed department when you can't keep them separated.

That's one reason I don't even bother....my chicks are mostly eating foraged food anyway, so the meal at the feeder is not a huge issue for them....it's more or less a supplement and to make sure they get a full crop at the end of the day in case the hunting out there wasn't as successful as it could be. I'm always amused when folks give chicks continuous feed, saying that's how it would be in a natural setting....most of the time chicks are foraging with Mama is spent running after her, trying to keep up with her as she finds food for them. I'm often left wondering how they get enough calories to keep up with what they burn each day and still grow, but they do all the same and finish out as big as birds that are kept penned and with feed in front of them all day....just takes them a little longer to get there, is all. I don't mind that....a slower growth for big breeds isn't such a bad thing.

 

[slordaz]

People tend to worry to much beekissed, mine do what they want when they want, I have to keep eye for illness as the Roosters in the flock do pretty good job at keeping their hens safe, slower growth makes for a better bird without as many health issues.