FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Don Arsenault]

My chicken love fermented boiled peanuts. It is a real treat for them and I can get them to do most anything for them.

 

[Finnie]

It has taken me a very long time to find that fine point between a bucket full of FF and a bucket with FF oozing across the floor!

A week ago when I was asking about stirring, someone mentioned trying a smaller bucket. But I think I have figured out that keeping my 5 gallon pail, but putting less in it has turned out to be very convenient. I only use about the bottom third, so it's not too heavy and a regular slotted cooking spoon reaches the bottom easily. Now you have given me another reason to appreciate my oversize bucket.

 

[Finnie]

My chicken love fermented boiled peanuts. It is a real treat for them and I can get them to do most anything for them.

Fermented boiled peanuts, huh? Sounds interesting. Maybe I'll try some. Do you have a photo of it?

AND, I see this was your first post!

 

[mobius]

Fermented boiled peanuts...just boiled peanuts and water? How very creative!!!!

 

[AUtiger]

I have read through the first 75 or so pages and am intrigued by this. I had been giving my sick chicks a Yogurt/Kombucha/Protein power "Chicken Smoothie" soaked mash all week after being on antibiotics with good results, but am wondering how spoiled they will get? Will they still eat dry feed if they go a few days without the FF? We go on vacation in a few weeks and will be gone for 5 days. I'm not sure if our teenage pet-sitter is going to want to deal with fermented mash. He will be coming every other day to check on them. (and we have a wifi security camera too). We have a 3' PVC pipe feeder that holds about 8# of dry food that will last the whole time we are gone. We have (3) 12 week old pullets and a 5 year old hen and they love the mash so far.

 

[mobius]

It is hard to say if your chickens have been sick how they would do, but otherwise I would think they could go on dry and back to FF after you return.

 

[lazy gardener]

You might consider putting a container of your ferment in the fridge while you are gone. That will keep the culture in a suspended growth state, so when you return, you can add it to a bucket of feed/warm water, and have FF ready to serve the next morning.

 

[mamacearc]

Hi all!
I only made it 200 pages through this thread, so please forgive me if this has been asked and answered, but I have been fermenting feed for our five 3- year-old adopted hens for the last 8 months, but now we have three new 7-week-old chicks that we are trying to integrate.
Mostly things have been good during this first weekend of supervised multi-generational free-ranging ( although we do have a Wyandotte we call Bully, who will drop what she's doing to run across the yard to peck at our runt (grown) hen while she is just napping).
My main question is with their feed. We're almost out of fermented starter. When I go to buy the new bag, how important is it that I get grower/finisher? We have plenty of layer feed, but I've heard that is dangerous for our little ones. If I do go with finisher for all 8 chickens, and I put out crushed shells for the hens to supplement, is it dangerous if the chicks get into that? If they can get to it, they will peck it. Trying to move everything out of reach for our adventurous young ones is getting old fast, but I'll keep doing it if that's what's best.

 

[Molpet]

Hi all!
I only made it 200 pages through this thread, so please forgive me if this has been asked and answered, but I have been fermenting feed for our five 3- year-old adopted hens for the last 8 months, but now we have three new 7-week-old chicks that we are trying to integrate.
Mostly things have been good during this first weekend of supervised multi-generational free-ranging ( although we do have a Wyandotte we call Bully, who will drop what she's doing to run across the yard to peck at our runt (grown) hen while she is just napping).
My main question is with their feed. We're almost out of fermented starter. When I go to buy the new bag, how important is it that I get grower/finisher? We have plenty of layer feed, but I've heard that is dangerous for our little ones. If I do go with finisher for all 8 chickens, and I put out crushed shells for the hens to supplement, is it dangerous if the chicks get into that? If they can get to it, they will peck it. Trying to move everything out of reach for our adventurous young ones is getting old fast, but I'll keep doing it if that's what's best.

when I have chicks, I feed grower to every one w/oyster shells on the side... the chicks will investigate it but soon ignore it.. better than layer that they have to get too much calcium

 

[lazy gardener]

When I am anticipating getting chicks, I use up my last bag of layer. Then, the entire flock get starter, until I place the chicks on layer. I put them on layer any time after the chicks get their "cluck". I offer oyster shell to the adults while they are on starter, but not consistently. I figure they get plenty of calcium when they are out foraging. I also NEVER throw away an egg shell. Those are saved and given back to the hens.

No, your chicks will not be harmed by pecking at the OS. They will explore it, and then move on to other peckable items.