I started this with my layer feed a little over a week ago, so I'm definitely not an old hand nor would I say my results are of statistical significance. I still leave them dry feed in the coop and hanging in case someone didn't like the new stuff, but that's not been an issue. I take out a giant aluminum pan (because that's what I have available at the moment) of the stuff every day at 3 or so with the idea being they can go to bed with super full crops. There's some leftover every day and I've been leaving that and they finish it when they're let out the next morning. They seem very enthusiastic about it at the very least. I have new layers that just started last week a few days after doing this. They were about to start anyway so I can't credit the feed with starting egg production. As for poop, it hadn't been runny in the past and it still isn't. There does seem to be more of it and it's got more liquid in it, which makes sense. At the very least I do feel better about them being okay until I let them out in the AM since I don't leave water in the coop. I don't know that the food can really be hydrating them, but I certainly feel better about it.
My ferment bucket is down in the basement and I just portion it out with a smaller bucket that has holes drilled in the bottom to drain. It doesn't seem to sieve really well so I'll sometimes toss a little more dry feed in to make it more oatmeal than gruel. Maybe I could drill more holes in the bucket or maybe the mixture is not that wet. When I mixed it, it didn't get actively fermenting until 3 or 4 days later, but I just used the natural air method as opposed to an ACV or some other starter. The smell is pungent when I lift the lid, but it really is not rotten. It's like THE sourest sourdough ever, lol. I don't mind it, but some people might. For what it's worth it doesn't stink up the basement or anything and you wouldn't know it's there until you lift the lid on it. I throw in feed and a few scratch grains here and there with enough water to keep the whole mix covered, or saturated at the very least. I think it will take more experience from me to really get a feel for how much to add.
I've only been doing it a short time so I can't say if it'll cut down on feed costs yet and I don't have anything to compare my eggs to since they're new, but the yolks take up more of the egg than a store bought egg and they are orange. I can continue to report on that if it's helpful to anyone. There's not much for me to offer in the way of knowledge as a chicken newbie and being even newer to this method, but I thought I'd share my experiences thus far in case anybody else new stumbles on this and might want to give it a try. Sorry I wrote a book here!
