FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Kiki]

I'm not home right now so I'm not sure but I think it's M G

 

[aart]

If it's starter feed @ 20% to 24% protein and contains no calcium it should be fine. Do you remember which brand it was?

Ed

I think that most starter/grower has like 1-2% calcium.....layer has 3-4%.

 

[Intheswamp]

I think that most starter/grower has like 1-2% calcium.....layer has 3-4%.

Thanks for the correction!!! Take note Kkg.

Ed

 

[Kiki]

My feed has: 18% Protien and Calcium min .80%, max 1.3%

The label clearly says feed for growing chickens from 6 weeks of age to first egg.

Well...mine have been eating this for a week already.
I had originally bought a small bad of "starter" from my feed store but once I used that I bought a 50lbs bag of the above.

I hope it doesn't cause much damage, I am not going to switch them back to the starter feed for another 2 weeks.

I do give then meal worms, kale, grapes, oregano, clovers and sprouts of all kinds.
I'm pretty sure they will be fine.

 

[Meadowchick]

Being in the Deep South, I have found that I have to stop using fermented feed for the Summers. It doesn't matter that I stir it religiously and keep it in the shade or under a roof, etc. to stay out of the sun. Can anyone give me pointers to prevent it from ruining...I don't have this problem in the Spring, Fall or Winter...so I am assuming it's a heat related issue...and I don't have room in my house to do it there. I use a cattle molasses tub and lid (loosely fit) for my "crock"...It's clean when I start, but within a week it is up-chuck-smelling-horrific...

I have also tried making small batches...too much work, too often, that way. Any experienced input would be greatly appreciated! Have a blessed day!

 

[Beekissed]

Being in the Deep South, I have found that I have to stop using fermented feed for the Summers. It doesn't matter that I stir it religiously and keep it in the shade or under a roof, etc. to stay out of the sun. Can anyone give me pointers to prevent it from ruining...I don't have this problem in the Spring, Fall or Winter...so I am assuming it's a heat related issue...and I don't have room in my house to do it there. I use a cattle molasses tub and lid (loosely fit) for my "crock"...It's clean when I start, but within a week it is up-chuck-smelling-horrific...

I have also tried making small batches...too much work, too often, that way. Any experienced input would be greatly appreciated! Have a blessed day!

Instead of backslopping, you could start your ferment fresh each time, which would give you a lightly fermented product the first day and so on and so forth. Then I'd just keep the batches to a size where you can feed it out before it gets too rank.

I feed mine the upchuck horrific stuff anyway and they act like it's caviar all the same.

 

[omalicha]

For everyone using the fermented feed, would you say ur chickens are less prone to diseases and illness and more robust and healthy?

 

[Beekissed]

For everyone using the fermented feed, would you say ur chickens are less prone to diseases and illness and more robust and healthy?

Mine have always been so, so I can't really report a change in that regard, but I can say it worked miracles on a flock I recovered from someone who had let their health get in deplorable conditions while in their care and they made an amazing recovery in a short amount of time when put back on free range, clean living conditions and on fermented feed.

You can read about it here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-horrors-anyone-want-to-follow-their-progress

 

[Jensownzoo]

For everyone using the fermented feed, would you say ur chickens are less prone to diseases and illness and more robust and healthy?

There are few scientific studies for feeding wet fermented feed, but the few that there are support increased lifetime production and better intestinal immunity and health (thanks to the daily probiotics of FF).

 

[faebun]

Has anyone tried giving chickens other fermented foods? Kombucha? I have a ginger bug that I'm using the liquid from to make ginger ale, would the hens eat the solids or would too much ginger hurt them?