My layer flock shares this feed if they are molting, but I ferment a batch of regular layer pellets and grain for them separate to keep levels of protein lower for them when laying.
Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds
- Thread starter shadowmane
- Start date
Sounds good. I didn't think about the BOSS. Thanks for mentioning that. That sounds yummy in there for them to eat.
Now that I know about the 30 gallon trash cans, I will try again to make FF for the gazillion birds that I have. Sounds like I will have some FF (fermented fruit (wine)) when I start their FF.
The BOSS will float. Once everything has absorbed the water the boss will stay in place just fine, so then I give it a good stir to mix it all up. If you like it more runny, I would suggest stirring the FF before each feeding. That way it will be more evenly mixed.
Ok, so I found a list of things to add to the FF. WOW!! Who knew. Veggies, eggs and egg shells? Really?
Here are 10 foods you can ferment for your chickens:
1. Layer or grower feed: When you hear about fermented feed, it usually means just that. Your regular feed can be fermented. Take a look at the basic directions here.
2. Scratch grains: Whole, dried grains do very well. Oats, wheat, corn – whatever you feed as scratch grains can be fermented.
3. Conventional supplements: If you add poultry conditioner, flax seeds, kelp, fish meal, or any other supplement to your regular feed, these can also be mixed into your ferment recipe.
4. Sunflower seeds: My chickens love BOSS – black oil sunflower seeds, sold most commonly for wild birds. Soaking and fermenting will soften the shell and make them that much more delectable.
5. Dried alfalfa: Alfalfa is a great green food that you can provide during winter which also has a high amount of protein. You can buy cubes or pellets of alfalfa at feed and pet stores to add to your ferment.
6. Grasses and clovers: Farmers have been creating silage by fermenting grasses for hundreds of years. Clippings of the plants your chickens like best make a great addition to your feed, either fresh or dried. Try dandelion, comfrey, nettles, clover, or chicory.
7. Vegetables and fruit: Your chickens love your bits and pieces fresh or fermented. Toss some to your chickens while fresh and add the rest in well-chopped bits to the ferment to provide a wider nutrient profile. They would love the cores and bruised parts of your apples and the ends of your garlic cloves. (Apple seeds can be poisonous in large amounts, so I usually remove them.)
8. Grains and flours: In my kitchen, I sometimes use flours like ground chickpeas or flax seed meal or cook steel-cut oats or wild rice. When these ingredients get old or I find an old bag with a few scant tablespoons left, these find new life in the ferment.
9. Crushed egg shells: A great calcium supplement from the flock, crushed egg shells are an ideal candidate. The fermentation process will help to break down the shell and make it more digestible. I don’t bake or treat my shells in any way; I just crush them in a cloth with the bottom of a cup and shake them in.
10. Hard-boiled eggs: Shells and all, I toss hard-boiled eggs into the ferment and crush them with a potato masher! I did try adding them raw once, but it made the mix mold rather quickly. But, hands-down, my chickens’ favorite food of all time is fermented hard-boiled eggs. Yum!
I think Bee touched on rice previously too, and it can be used, its a starch so it can be a benefit on lowering protein levels too. I know someone who cuts there game bird feed with rice to feed their layers and it works out great.
And Hogster160 is right, if they're are thriving Great! Don't over think it, a base line idea is good to have in case an issue does arise you can diagnose it and make adjustments if feed is suspected but they'll let you know if somethin is up usually by observation or drop in egg production.
I save by Fermenting what's on hand (lotsa trades for feed recently lol but free of spending) what's on sale when I buy and cutting with 3 to 4 grains scratch type mixes. (got a lot to feed? Buy grains individually and mix your own n save even more cost over buying premixed)
And Hogster160 is right, if they're are thriving Great! Don't over think it, a base line idea is good to have in case an issue does arise you can diagnose it and make adjustments if feed is suspected but they'll let you know if somethin is up usually by observation or drop in egg production.
I save by Fermenting what's on hand (lotsa trades for feed recently lol but free of spending) what's on sale when I buy and cutting with 3 to 4 grains scratch type mixes. (got a lot to feed? Buy grains individually and mix your own n save even more cost over buying premixed)
I'm not sure about the rice as I have never used it. There is no recipe, just whatever feeds you currently use. If you are using a higher than 16 % for layers, it's a good idea to cut it a little with a lower percentage protein grain, as the FF will increase proteins, making it a much richer feed. For broilers, I'd cut a 26% protein ration WAY down...probably to 20% if you want them to have a slower, more natural growth. I'd be worried about renal, liver and cardio problems with a high pro feed such as that, even for the short time they will be on it....such is the source of "flip", leg joint problems, etc. from excess protein in the diet that cannot be fully metabolized by such a young animal.
The whole idea with increasing the proteins with the use of FF is so that you can take a feed with a certain protein, cut it with a cheaper grain, and still have the same feed proteins you originally bought with the use of fermentation...and thus how one saves on feed costs by diluting the expensive feed with cheaper grains. There are some feed cost savings associated with having to feed less total feed, but to get the full savings, one can cut the expensive feed with a cheaper one to get the same nutrition as using 100% of the expensive feed. It doesn't do much good to feed a high pro expensive feed, ferment it, feed it as is~without utilizing a cheaper feed to bring the proteins down~ and never gain the advantage of saving on the feed. That's just taking a high pro expensive feed and making it even more high pro..which will increase health risks to the bird and still not save you much on money.
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About how long does it take for the FF to be ready?
Well, I read to page 56, then finally skipped to the end. I started my first batch of ff yesterday which consisted of layer crumbles and scratch as that is what I had. I was disappointed that I saw nothing happening this morning. I set the bucket out in the sun after mixing it up, and put it in the garage late afternoon. This morning I added a bigger glug of ACV as I did not know how much to add initially. I have BOSS, I feed it to the wild birds and my horse so will go out and add some to the mix, hopefully by this evening or in the morning I will see some action. Someone at one point said they added alfalfa cubes to the mix, was wondering if this worked out or if the alfalfa molded. Alfalfa is notorious for going moldy. I was just going to give them the cubes to peck around on as the grass is slowing way down (I give them fresh grass clippings). Have thoroughly enjoyed this thread, and Bee and Cassandra your advice is invaluable. Thanks for any help.
Mine go crazy when I add grapes and figs to the FF feed! Drunkard chickens lol
Now that I know about the 30 gallon trash cans, I will try again to make FF for the gazillion birds that I have. Sounds like I will have some FF (fermented fruit (wine)) when I start their FF.
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