Fermented Feeds

[Lilyput]

See Bradapui post.

 

[Brada Puhi]

Aloha,

I only meant to cover with water for the first time to keep it anaerobic so the good bacterias can multiply and be the top dogs. Then you can go more dry.

After a while, the top half of mine becomes real dry and cakee and perhaps yeast grows on top. I scoop out a hole on the side and bring up the wet stuff from down below and cover the top with it. The next day, all the moisture went back down. When itʻs ready to feed, I do the same thing and fill my feeding pitcher with half wet stuff and half dryer stuff from the middle, then cover the top. I donʻt mix that often. Too dry so too hard.

kden, Puhi

 

[Brada Puhi]

I use 2 buckets now because the first bucket is at 1/3 in 4 days, so I refill then switch to the other bucket for 4 days.

 

[har]

I did the Fermented feed thing on some newly hatched chicks and did not like it. I guess they like it ok but the bowls were hard to keep clean and seemed like I wasted a lot. Just my opinion

Scorr

 

[LindaB220]

I did the Fermented feed thing on some newly hatched chicks and did not like it. I guess they like it ok but the bowls were hard to keep clean and seemed like I wasted a lot. Just my opinion

Scorr

Scrap it back into the bucket and stir. It's fine. No waste. I've been doing it all day with my new babies.

 

[Brada Puhi]

Aloha,

Youʻre overfeeding your chickens. The bowl should be picked clean five minutes later.

kden, Puhi

 

[kpgoldstar]

At the very maximum the bowl of feed should be eaten within a half hour. If they eat it down to nothing, there isn't anything to clean. There shouldn't be any waste because they eat all of the food.

 

[Don P]

Chickens can only eat until their stomach and crop is full. Then they take time to grind in the crop and pass it down to the stomach. Then they can eat more.

That is why I put out enough fermented feed, wet feed, so they can eat it quickly but I also leave dry feed or pellets there so they can come back later and eat more. If all they get is what they can gobble down in 15 min then they are underfed even if you are pasturing. They may not be getting enough protein, vitamins and nutrients.

Be sure if you are not fermenting premixed feed with vitamins added, that you also buy a vitamin minx like Fetrells premium vitamin mineral and probiotic supplement and add in with the whole grains and seeds. Most grains do not have enough vits an mins in the soil they are grown in. Maybe even add fish meal and hi protein yeast or some use cat food to raise the protein.

And remember whole oats and BOSS have a lot of fiber so hens fill up quicker with this less nutrient dense food and the whole oats have anti-nutrients in them ruminants can handle but not chickens. So use those sparingly.

I just bought some pullets a month ago from a science teacher who does an experiment every year with different protein amount feeds on the chicks to 4 months and it was quite noticeable the effect on growth and development after. Low protein ones still aren't laying. But I figure all my organic super food and supplements will get them caught up soon.

 

[LindaB220]

Chickens can only eat until their stomach and crop is full. Then they take time to grind in the crop and pass it down to the stomach. Then they can eat more.

That is why I put out enough fermented feed, wet feed, so they can eat it quickly but I also leave dry feed or pellets there so they can come back later and eat more. If all they get is what they can gobble down in 15 min then they are underfed even if you are pasturing. They may not be getting enough protein, vitamins and nutrients.

Be sure if you are not fermenting premixed feed with vitamins added, that you also buy a vitamin minx like Fetrells premium vitamin mineral and probiotic supplement and add in with the whole grains and seeds. Most grains do not have enough vits an mins in the soil they are grown in. Maybe even add fish meal and hi protein yeast or some use cat food to raise the protein.

And remember whole oats and BOSS have a lot of fiber so hens fill up quicker with this less nutrient dense food and the whole oats have anti-nutrients in them ruminants can handle but not chickens. So use those sparingly.

I just bought some pullets a month ago from a science teacher who does an experiment every year with different protein amount feeds on the chicks to 4 months and it was quite noticeable the effect on growth and development after. Low protein ones still aren't laying. But I figure all my organic super food and supplements will get them caught up soon.

Don, for my 14 birds 12 wk old I put out 4 cups in the morning and 4 in the evening. I was doing 5 cups each time but always had leftovers ea time. They are going to eat just as much as they want. I also put out leftovers with meat in place of pm feeding occasionally. My birds are extremely healthy. I did buy some gamebird to bump up the protein. I scoop of it along with 2 scoops of layer feed and 1/2 scoop BOSS. Azomite. They are happy. No need for dry crumbles. They get a lot of extra vitamins from the fermentation.

 

[Don P]

Linda B220, GameBird feed or Grower feed mash is a good idea to boost protein if feeding mostly Ferment or fodder. What kind of meat do you put out? Cooked or raw? Cat food or your left overs? Fish, beef?

At what age do you start them on Layer feed with the high Calcium in it. Ag scientists say too much calcium too young can cause kidney problems. Most say not till 4-5 months or once they start to lay. Use Grower/Developer/Broiler feed until then.

I would go very light on the BOSS because it is so much fiber like whole oats and can fill them up quicker before they get enough good high nutrient dense food.

As I mentioned, a science teacher I know does an experiment with his class each year on chicks feeding different protein content food until they are 4 months old and weighs them to see development and it makes a significant benefit to get more protein in them and less really slows down their development.

But for lots of us here were are not in a race like a commercial farm and more about having fun, and happy chickens, so I am not saying here is how it has to be, just sharing my experience and study. I like them laying and developing sooner, but not too soon which can happen too.