FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Radena]

Mine prefer dry feed over the fermented feed, so far.

 

[ShanandGem]

Mine prefer dry feed over the fermented feed, so far.

Often when I bring home new birds who have never had fermented feed it takes a while for them to adjust to it. Sometime it takes months! I am a sucker for a hungry looking face so everyone has dry food free choice all the time anyway. My little Bantam barnyard mixes took forever to eat fermented, and I still don't think the rooster eats that much. He is the Ultimate Rooster though, and spends all his time finding food for the ladies.

 

[Beekissed]

Mine prefer dry feed over the fermented feed, so far.

Remove the dry feed altogether and they will eat the FF just fine. Pretty soon they will prefer it over dry if they have to eat dry later on. Just takes a few days for them to catch on to it all.

 

[Radena]

​Often when I bring home new birds who have never had fermented feed it takes a while for them to adjust to it.  Sometime it takes months!  I am a sucker for a hungry looking face so everyone has dry food free choice all the time anyway. My little Bantam barnyard mixes took forever to eat fermented, and I still don't think the rooster eats that much.  He is the Ultimate Rooster though, and spends all his time finding food for the ladies.

They ate it at first. The more it fermented the less they ate it.

 

[Beekissed]

They ate it at first. The more it fermented the less they ate it.

Many report the birds gobbling FF at first and eating as much or more than they seemed to do when they had dry feeds, but then report they tapered off to a more normal consumption later on. The theory is that they are getting some kinds of nutrients they were deficient in with regular feed and, once their bodies were no longer deficient, they were able to consume a more regular amount.

My sheep used to do that when I'd put out more kelp meal in the supplement feeder...they'd act like I gave them chocolate at first and eat it like feed, but would then just sample it now and again over time, as their bodies signaled need for those minerals and vitamins.

Whatever the reason, this is where the savings in feed amounts and costs come in...they actually consume less feed when it's been fermented than when it's not, as it has more nutrition per serving than the same amount of dry feed. That's a good thing!

 

[dcba flock]

Many report the birds gobbling FF at first and eating as much or more than they seemed to do when they had dry feeds, but then report they tapered off to a more normal consumption later on.  The theory is that they are getting some kinds of nutrients they were deficient in with regular feed and, once their bodies were no longer deficient, they were able to consume a more regular amount. 

My sheep used to do that when I'd put out more kelp meal in the supplement feeder...they'd act like I gave them chocolate at first and eat it like feed, but would then just sample it now and again over time, as their bodies signaled need for those minerals and vitamins. 

Whatever the reason, this is where the savings in feed amounts and costs come in...they actually consume less feed when it's been fermented than when it's not, as it has more nutrition per serving than the same amount of dry feed.  That's a good thing! 

It's so funny to read this I used to ferment for my old flock and hadn't started w/ my new babies yet but was sick of all the powdery waste they weren't eating it's too expensive to throw out so I pulled out their feeder mixed in some ACV w/ mother 2 TBS (5%) some chia seeds and ground flax seed and water they ate so much if it they didn't even touch their fruit and veggies I put in tonight and their crops are so full lol. Idk if I will totally start fermenting for winter this will be a new set up and flock but they are obviously loving the texture and eating more and less waste! I'm thrilled! I was able to get great deals on the nutritious whole food treats from Aldi today including the AVC far less than feed store or reg grocery store prices

 

[Mom2Sav]

Things stay wet here. Spores are everywhere and mold grows on everything. We probably will use our heater for a few months, but it rains the whole time. The humidity never ends. But, everything is green.

I do make sure the halves stay separated now. And for God's sake don't close that container lid

.... but then they spill everywhere.

Now, simply feed it out each day with the compost.... and relax.

LOL, I'm trying to relax, but as you can see I'm from New England and not CA. We're uptight here.

 

[Mom2Sav]

It's so funny to read this I used to ferment for my old flock and hadn't started w/ my new babies yet but was sick of all the powdery waste they weren't eating it's too expensive to throw out so I pulled out their feeder mixed in some ACV w/ mother 2 TBS (5%) some chia seeds and ground flax seed and water they ate so much if it they didn't even touch their fruit and veggies I put in tonight and their crops are so full lol. Idk if I will totally start fermenting for winter this will be a new set up and flock but they are obviously loving the texture and eating more and less waste! I'm thrilled! I was able to get great deals on the nutritious whole food treats from Aldi today including the AVC far less than feed store or reg grocery store prices

I was just going to ask about chia seeds. Thanks for mentioning. Are most seeds OK? What about nuts? Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[ShanandGem]

I was just going to ask about chia seeds. Thanks for mentioning. Are most seeds OK? What about nuts? Anyone have any thoughts?

I feed pumpkin seeds, flax, millet, sunflower and sesame seeds daily.

 

[dcba flock]

I was just going to ask about chia seeds.  Thanks for mentioning.  Are most seeds OK?  What about nuts?  Anyone have any thoughts?

I inquired about a treat mix from a smaller organic company they have a few types of treats and feeds I have chicks song inquired the person that responded said that nuts are in their mix but not recommended for birds younger than 16 weeks so I think yes... For older birds