FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[GC-Raptor]

The fresh vegetables are fine for the most part, but grains and beans both contain anti-nutrients (chemicals that prevent nutrient absorption and/or actually do damage). Fermenting breaks down a lot of those chemicals into more tolerable and/or beneficial ones. Eating fermented foods is actually good for humans as well.

Although this article is about human nutrition, it should offer you some insight on why anti-nutrients are a problem and what can be done to help yours and your flock's nutrition.

PS- If you try it, you might be surprised how much your birds like it. Mine dove in right away when I first made FF.

My 5 girls are 16 months old today, I got them at 2 days old. I've never treated them for worms, nor illness. Never gave them vitamins or electrolytes. Last week we had a 4 day heat wave, and I got 32 eggs, Sunday through Saturday.
My girls love their pellets. I open the coop at 5 a.m. year round. As soon as I turn on the light the girls make a beeline to the feeder or nest box.
I buy the freshest feed with prebiotics and probiotics in the formula. I buy one bag at a time, even if its on sale, store in my house till I need to refill my feeder. It's so nice to refill the feeder once a week. GC

 

[Dayrel]

Good. I hope your chickens will always be healthy. Convenience is certainly a positive point for dry feed. FF offers a number of benefits, but certainly isn't required. If you decide that the benefits don't outweigh the downsides, then don't use FF.

Mine also happily ate their pellets and when I tried FF, they never missed a beat. Good quality feed is also a good idea, regardless of how it is prepared. Not sure what your point is.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Good. I hope your chickens will always be healthy. Convenience is certainly a positive point for dry feed. FF offers a number of benefits, but certainly isn't required. If you decide that the benefits don't outweigh the downsides, then don't use FF.

Mine also happily ate their pellets and when I tried FF, they never missed a beat. Good quality feed is also a good idea, regardless of how it is prepared. Not sure what your point is.

CONVENIENCE. And so much easier to get someone to collect eggs daily, and not have to feed, and water if you're away. GC

 

[Molpet]

ummm I am going through 100 lbs + of feed a week... would be a lot more if it wasn't fermented... 8 turkeys and 58 chickens ( I think )that would be a BIG feeder to last a week LOL

 

[GC-Raptor]

ummm I am going through 100 lbs + of feed a week... would be a lot more if it wasn't fermented... 8 turkeys and 58 chickens ( I think )that would be a BIG feeder to last a week LOL

I agree. For me, 5 hens = 12# feeder, 2 gallon waterer = 1 week. GC

 

[3riverschick]

I get the fermented feed thing, I really do. I get it . I like to feed dry. working my way around any nutritional disadvantages of the grain by putting poultry Nutri drench or goat Nutri drench in my birds water for the first 2 weeks. it works for me. gives them any added nutrition that they need .I'm all about putting a supplement with the dry feed if I need to... then fermenting the feed. that's just me. I'm glad you guys enjoy it . it's just easier for me to feed dried feed with supplements. And that looks more appetizing and safe to me.
Best,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

Dayrel,
I'm not surprised they like it .I read an article a while back on the internet about the difference between hops for chickens that have been treated and steam treated hops. it was really interesting. both types of hops had been used for brewing and then they were feeding the leftover hops to the birds. but the steam treated hops had a lot more of this anti nutritional breakdown thing going on. they were a lot better for the birds . there was even something in the article about how to steam your own hops for your birds.
the poultry industry right now worldwide is researching how to get past these anti-nutritional problems in regular feed with broilers because they only have a 42-day lifespan. the first 12 days is pretty much almost a third of their life. they've come up with some interesting Solutions. Hamlin protein in Findlay, OH , US has developed a specialized soy protein that bypasses this problem. it's too long to explain here but it bypasses the problem and delivers Optimum nutrition to the chick. I'm going to get some and try it on my chicks next season I'm excited about the helps it can give them. Hamlin Protein has an excellent educational website and is a world leader in developing top quality nutrition for neonates of many species , including poultry.
Best,
Karen

 

[Finnie]

Thanks!
I have a whole barrel full of barley that won't sprout, so I'm trying to find ways to use it. It will be of SOME more use as food when it's soaked and fermented than just dry, right?
So time is not an issue, it's not going to increase in value the longer it sits in the fermenting-bucket?

I have a question about your barley that won't sprout. Why won't it sprout?

I have read that the way to tests seeds for nutritional value is to try to sprout some. If they sprout, they are good to feed. If they don't sprout, they have lost their nutritional value. Is barley any different?

 

[FlyWheel]

I use flock raiser crumbles, mainly because of the high (20%) protein and low calcium content*. I also leave what FF mash remains in the cask after pouring out the days ration and I add hot (100F) water to the new mix to jump start the fermentation of the next batch. It is usually going strong after less than 8 hours and nice and vinegary tasting after 48.

*I use this and have a separate bowl of ground oyster/egg shell. That way I don't have to worry about which chickens are laying, need the extra calcium, should be avoiding it because they aren't laying and so on.

 

[lazy gardener]

Again, I find it amusing that folks who choose not to ferment their feed find it necessary to spend so much time on this thread. I think I'll find a thread about bull fighting to spend my time on, since I don't approve of bull fighting.