FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[EggSighted4Life]

I gotcha. I usually spend hours on end with the chickens, goats, & dogs. It makes it easy to tell if someone is just not quite right.

Some one else told me they hang cd's to keep the raven and crows from stealing eggs and that it worked quite well with no problem for the chickens.

 

[TexasLisa]

We had hawks pretty bad this year, until we strung fishing line up over the run. Haven't had a hawk attack since. Two days ago I was out with the flock and watched three hawks fly overhead (parents and juvenile). They eventually moved on, because they couldn't get to the birds.

I have fishing line strung over my outside pen for the last 3-4 yrs. Works great and have not lost anymore to the fowl predators. Just wish we could come up with something that easy when they free range.

 

[lcertuche]

I've heard that if hawks see fishing line they won't go through it, so I guess this proves it.

 

[MultipleAnimals]

Hi.

 

[lcertuche]

Hi.

Hi back atcha!

 

[Outpost JWB]

I've never had issues with FF molding, but when I opened the lid today. there was some sort of white mold growing on the top. Temps have been 80F- 90F. FF is stored in a plastic 5 gallon bucket with a huge bowl on top that makes it airtight. What did I do wrong?

 

[Beekissed]

I've never had issues with FF molding, but when I opened the lid today. there was some sort of white mold growing on the top. Temps have been 80F- 90F. FF is stored in a plastic 5 gallon bucket with a huge bowl on top that makes it airtight. What did I do wrong?

Nothing...that's just yeast growth from the hot temps, not mold. And you won't want that lid to be airtight...FF needs to gas off as it ferments.

 

[Outpost JWB]

Had my lid airtight.....That's what I did wrong then. They love FF and I've watched it bubble and brew and smell like beer, but today, the white film had some sort of fur growing. I stir it up daily when I add or take any. Today, I scraped the skim off the top & fed the rest to them. They were in heaven!

 

[bullets]

Hello!

I have a few questions and I'm sorry if these have already been answered but this thread is very long!

I haven't started with fermented feed but I am intrigued for sure!

My questions are centered around the batch of 2.5 week old chicks I have brooding indoors in the garage. I let them out every other day in the pen outside to get some fresh scenery.

Question 1: I currently have the chicks on 18% medicated feed. I have always fed the bird medicated as chicks but I am wondering if it is really necessary as I brood them indoors. Leading from that I was wondering if I can ferment medicated chick feed? Would the fermentation process dilute the amprolium and weaken its effectiveness?

Question 2: I was reading fermenting increases the digestible protein by 12%. So that means if I am using 18% feed, fermenting brings it up to 20.16%. Is that the right math?


Question 3: Do chickens require less feed when it's fermented because it becomes more efficient for them to digest and absorb nutrients or does it have some to do because its creates a fuller feeling because of its increased volume with water.

Thanks guys!

 

[lazy gardener]

Hello!

I have a few questions and I'm sorry if these have already been answered but this thread is very long!

I haven't started with fermented feed but I am intrigued for sure!

My questions are centered around the batch of 2.5 week old chicks I have brooding indoors in the garage. I let them out every other day in the pen outside to get some fresh scenery.

Question 1: I currently have the chicks on 18% medicated feed. I have always fed the bird medicated as chicks but I am wondering if it is really necessary as I brood them indoors. Leading from that I was wondering if I can ferment medicated chick feed? Would the fermentation process dilute the amprolium and weaken its effectiveness?

Question 2: I was reading fermenting increases the digestible protein by 12%. So that means if I am using 18% feed, fermenting brings it up to 20.16%. Is that the right math?


Question 3: Do chickens require less feed when it's fermented because it becomes more efficient for them to digest and absorb nutrients or does it have some to do because its creates a fuller feeling because of its increased volume with water.

Thanks guys!

Fermenting and Amprolium: I have no idea how fermenting affects Amprolium. You can ferment medicated feed. There are 2 schools of thought on Amprolium: Cocci is everywhere, in all soils, and a natural flora in a chicken's gut. Amprolium is a Thiamine blocker. Thiamine is required for the cocci to reproduce. So, the medicated feed campers, figure that the medicated feed will limit the load of cocci in the gut to give the chick time to build a healthy flora to outnumber any cocci. Common mistake is taking them off medicated when they move out into wet soil conditions. Then there is the other camp, of which I am a strong proponent: Cocci is natural. Chicks have the highest natural immunity in the first 2 weeks after hatch. During that time, I want to expose MY chicks to the specific cocci strains that are in MY soil. At the same time, I do everything in my power to boost their immunity: give them a plug of soil/sod from my yard that will give them a good dose of bacteria and fungi to jump start their gut flora. Give them fermented feed, again, to do the same. Lots of probiotics in FF, and they do absorb more nutrient, and their gut villi grow longer, allowing them to absorb nutrient from all sources with more ease. Also, by keeping your flock off bare fecal loaded impacted soil that is often seen in many closed chicken runs, you will decrease ALL pathogen exposure. (deep litter here, as soon as the soil becomes visible in the run) My chicks have NEVER had medicated feed. I've never had issues with cocci. I can't imagine ever needing to give medicated feed. Last spring, I had a poor hatch of shipped eggs that was compounded with some incubation problems. Those chicks were not as thrifty. But, just as soon as I got them on 100% FF, they perked up, and their stools improved greatly.

FF protein math: You can research some studies. Or you can simply try it and enjoy the benefit. My chicks have always laid at least 2 weeks earlier than the chicks of my friends. (Same breed, same source, same age, same feed store options. In multiple instances the chicks of my friends have come from MY incubator!)) Only difference is FF.

They will eat less feed because they absorb more nutrient from the feed that they do eat.