FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[pioneerchick816]

@lazy gardener
This is my first go around with fermented feed starting it on chicks. I started fermenting for my layer girls a few weeks before I got the new babies. Just wanted to play around with the consistency etc. I started the chicks on it from day one. That first day I put a little crumble around & in(on top of the FF) a round plastic feeder. They seemed to get the hang of it no problem. A couple I was concerned about so I sat the feeder in a pie pan full of FF, just for easy access. Does that make sense? I don't have a pic or anything.
My meatie babies go crazy for the stuff & seem to not drink as much as last years batch. The poop is not near as disgusting either. I'm pleased with the results even though it is a little more fuss. My little flock (33 meaties & 19 layers)is about 2 1/2 weeks old & we've only gone through 1 50 lb bag of 25% protein starter feed

I think it will save on the cost of feeding the meaties tremendously

 

[bunsnpupsnchick]

I didn't start fermenting until a few months ago. By then all my chicks had grown. If I raise any new chicks I will of course start them on fermented feed, as it supplies the probiotics they need. I use flock raiser and have oyster and egg shell on the side in it's own disk for calcium, I have found the chickens ignore it until they need it. As for the chickens walking all over their feed even the adult birds do that so when I built my stand alone feeder I took this into account and built this: The top bar keeps them from walking in their food, and the 'roof' is hinged so if they try and roost on it they get dumped. I have since made a larger version on which I hinged the bar at one end so I can raise it to make pouring the FF easier.

Thank you for the pic. I think I might combine this with the PVC pipe cut in half for a feeder. Depending on the cost vs the mud pans. The hinge roof is genius.

 

[bunsnpupsnchick]

I've got 12 chicks inside cause 1 I couldn't resist at tsc & 2 I didn't think my broody girls would hatch. Well, I've now 10 babies outside at least check.

All are being given the same FF as everyone else. I have cut out adding the extra oyster shell, but that's it. I was adding as some shells were thinner than I want. I noticed girls didn't have an interest in it otherwise.

Babies are doing great. No problems not eating. They are going to town on it.

 

[MungoSummer]

I started Fermenting for my flock a couple of months ago and am thrilled with the results. I have started this year's chicks on it right away. I have had one hatch which I have brooded under a heat plate. The chicks didn't realise that the FF was food at first, so I gave them some chick crumbs to start then kept offering ff with dry crumbs sprinkled on top. By day 3 they loved FF (liked it best fed fairly dry) so I stopped sprinkling crumbs. My next hatch was also in incubator but brooded by a hen. I though that she would show the babies how to eat FF, but she wanted dry food to pick up and drop for them. So, I put down a container with half crumbs and half FF. Chicks ate the crumbs and jumped on FF. As the FF dried out they took more interest, so I starting adding dry crumbs to FF and mixing it in. By day 3 they were eating FF really well, so I stopped adding crumbs. Both sets of chicks are doing really brilliantly, and I also noticed that the broody kept a red comb while brooding and didn't lose condition as they normally do. I now have 12 meatie eggs in incubator (I have a friend with a relative who owns a commercial broiler unit so was lucky to swap some eggs fo beer - son owns a micro brewery) with a broody Australorp waiting to receive the babies. It's my first time with meat birds and will be feeding only FF - I am trying to read all of the 'Feeding FF to meat birds' thread before they hatch!

 

[FlyWheel]

Quote: You can get them at any feed store, TSC has them, they're the ones with the hinged top with the holes. I just took off the top. I used them because they were handy. A PVC pipe cut in half and capped at both ends would be much better in retrospect. Remember not to use anything metal in any areas that the fermented feed will be in contact with, as the acids will corrode it.

 

[FlyWheel]

I have a question, how long can a batch of fermented feed sit before it "goes bad"? I'm going to be gone for a week, and although I have someone coming by to feed and care for my chickens They will not be required to keep up the ferment.

I use individual casks each holding one day's worth of FF (1 Qt, crumbles per mix) if that matters.

 

[lazy gardener]

I have a question, how long can a batch of fermented feed sit before it "goes bad"? I'm going to be gone for a week, and although I have someone coming by to feed and care for my chickens They will not be required to keep up the ferment.

I use individual casks each holding one day's worth of FF (1 Qt, crumbles per mix) if that matters.

FW, this is what I'd do: Save about a quart of your ferment and put it in the fridge, loosely covered. That will put a nice culture of your SCOBY into a suspended state while you are gone. Have your caretaker feed out the rest of your FF, and then switch to crumble or pellets. When you get back, you can pick up right where you left off. Enjoy your trip. So glad you have someone to tend your flock.

 

[chicken curious]

x2!

 

[FlyWheel]

Thanks, I'll do that. I have one cask left that I am going to feed them tomorrow morning B4 I go. Then I'll backslop it like I usually do but put the new batch in the fridge.

 

[Leigti]

Here's a picture of a feeder I saw that I think would work well. I use something like this but just without the top rail. I just put a piece of vinyl gutter between two cinderblocks, my chickens don't tend to try to stand in it.