Fermenting chick feed and water supply

[kgy28]

A few straight forward questions here

How do I properly ferment chick feed?
What is the formula/recipe you use?
How long do I ferment it for?

Do chicks need a seperate water supply when they eat fermented feed? My senses tell me yes of course but ill throw it out here anyways.

And Id very much appreciate any other information you've learned and could share with me!

 

[Latestarter]

A few straight forward questions here

How do I properly ferment chick feed?
What is the formula/recipe you use?
How long do I ferment it for?

Do chicks need a seperate water supply when they eat fermented feed? My senses tell me yes of course but ill throw it out here anyways.

And Id very much appreciate any other information you've learned and could share with me!

Hey Kgy: I've been researching this now for well over a month, and there are many different routes you can take

I have new chicks coming the end of May and will be starting them off with FF right from day one.

Here's a link that also includes a video to help it all make sense quicker/easier: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/no-strain-hot-water-easy-fermented-feed-method-w-video This was done by @Sally Sunshine , whom I consider an expert on many matters "chicken." There are also many dedicated threads to FF on BYC. For more info (some extremely detailed and scientific w/links) I recommend the following thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds It's a long one, but with a wealth of info in it.

You can ferment ANYTHING... starter (or any other) pellets will make a "paste" like peanut butter. It won't "drain" real well, so let it be like peanut butter and spatula it into the feeder for the young birds. As they mature, you can still use the pellets (layer or any other) or you can use a mash, or a combination. It will be "grainier," but still putty like consistency. For adult birds, you can just ferment whole grains or coarse ground grains of whatever you like: corn, wheat, barley, milo, etc... any concoction you and your birds like. Or if there's a particular scratch mix you like, ferment that With that, you can use a colander to drain, or dual bucket method (inside bucket with holes drilled in it holds the grains and soaks down inside the bucket with the water and ACV)

You should always always have water available for your birds, no matter what feed you choose to provide. Hope this helped Happy chickening

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: I couldn't have said it better! That thread is long but such a great read! I DO SUGGEST doing your own research into the subject as well! Have fun with it, you will see a huge dif with FF! less stench healthier birds, bigger eggs, MUCH bigger eggs!

 

[kgy28]

Thanks for the great info looking forward to feeding time and seeing all the great results ive been hearing about!

 

[Autumn Mama]

are there any other threads for raising egg layers on fermented feed? or for switching an existing flock over? we have new day old babies arriving on the weekend and i'm intrigued!

 

[subhanalah]

Thanks for the great info looking forward to feeding time and seeing all the great results ive been hearing about!

I love FF. I really hope I don't dupe myself into going back to dry!

are there any other threads for raising egg layers on fermented feed? or for switching an existing flock over? we have new day old babies arriving on the weekend and i'm intrigued!

I start my babies on FF straight out of the hatcher. I have to break it up where they stomp it down, but I've seen the difference it makes in one clutch of chicks. Mine were fed FF, the others were not. When I went back to get another chick, it was smallest than even the runt of the clutch (which I had brought home with me the first time)

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Thanks for the great info looking forward to feeding time and seeing all the great results ive been hearing about!

see 2nd post for link @kgy28

 

[SheenaBilly]

I have been fermenting my layer's feed, and wanted to start my chicks on FF but when I got it home they had given me medicated starter. From what I can tell it has Selenium added. I read what I could find and I guess it's a yeast so I'm worried that this will change the fermentation process. Can anyone tell me if fermenting this feed is okay?