Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Lacy Blues]

My birds don't get ANY free range at all. I live in the desert and we bring sagebrush to them, sometimes, which they pick clean!

#2 - it all depends on how much your birds will eat.
#4 - you don't need any where even close to that much vinegar. Just a few glugs from the bottle.
#7 - if you're using laying mash, it will be hard to drain your mix.

What I do, is when I first mix it up, I make WAY MORE than what I'll need. Cover with water, the ACV should be mixed in with the water before adding to the feed so it is evenly distributed through your feed, the mash will absorb a lot of it. There will be fermentation take place and most of the extra liquid will stay in the bottom of your bucket. I scoop off as much food as I need, usually down to where it gets really wet, and feed. Then I'll refill with mash/grain and additional water, reaching in with my whole arm (I use a 5 gal bucket) to mix the bottom contents in with the new. I use warm water. When I first started out, I put a little bit of vinegar in each time I added water... don't know if I needed to or not... but it worked for me.

I imagine you could use your acidophilus caps. Don't know why not.

 

[Christie Rhae]

Quote:

Around here in Hawaii there are lots of wild pigs that are caught and fattened up to slaughter. We also have a lot of macadamia farms and I have heard that feeding pigs the mac nut scraps makes them super yummy. Wonder if it would work for chickens? lol

Macadamia nuts should make good chicken feed. They are too hard for chickens to crack, so would have to be crushed first.

What macadamia nuts are best for is to bread your chicken pieces with crushed macadamia nuts and fry it. Serve with a bit of sweet and sour sauce for dipping. Now that's some good eating.

I ain't giving those dumb chickens good nuts! From macadamia farms you can get scrap. It is crushed up shells with bits of nuts mixed in. That is what I was thinking of feeding them if I can get it. lol

 

[Beekissed]

I just found this thread a few days ago but I really am liking the idea. Please let me know if I have this right...

1. Get a container that is nonreactive, such as plastic.
2. Fill the container part way (perhaps 1/4 of the way?) with grain or pellet feed.
3. Cover grain or pellet feed with water.
4. Add ACV (the type with the mother) (perhaps 1/4 of the amount of water?)
5. Cover (but do not seal airtight) and wait till there are bubbles. About 1 to 4 days?
6. At this point it should smell sour (not rotten) and look bubbly.
7. Drain saving the liquid.
8. Feed the wet mash to the birds.
9. Refill the container to about the same amount of dry feed as before.
10. Add the saved liquid and enough water to make sure its all covered.
11. Repeat from #5

I am guessing that older acidophilus caps that have been stored in the refrigerator could be added to the mix for an instant boost to the good bacteria, correct? Just out of curiosity how much of your birds daily feed are we talking about in fermented feed versus total feed excluding free ranging?

Sounds good except the amount of ACV...Lacy got it right. Just a glug or so...but you really don't have to do that. The grains will start to ferment all on their own, even if you don't use the ACV.

I fed all FF to mine, no dry feed at all.

 

[redandalusian]

My birds will hardly touch the dry feed ever since I put
The fermented wheat with them

 

[Christie Rhae]

Well... after a week or so of trying the fermented feed I decided to only ferment grains, seeds, scratch. The crumble and pellets is just such a mess! lol. I am sure the chickens love it but I cannot get it to drain for nothin. So I end up with a huge soggy glop. I am feeding all my birds mind you not just meat birds.

I have been adding a few scoops of crumble to the fermented grains/scratch after I drain it and scoop what I need into my feed bucket. The birds really like this and it keeps down the dust of crumble. Seems like less waste.

Just adding my experiences to the FF experiment.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I use the mash, just add enough water to cover and it will all be soaked up. It's not gloppy that way, just a bit wet, like firm mashed potatoes. Works great for me.

 

[Tivona]

Thanks everyone! I was having a hard time figuring out how much on the vinegar. I kept reading how acid it ended up and couldn't quit get the amount of starting ACV. As far as the pellets not draining perfectly I am not concerned. I only have ducks and geese at this time and they should be fine with the extra liquid I am thinking. I could always try a finer sieve or cheesecloth if its really hard to strain out. And if its still a pain I could always get some whole grains going in the future.

Anyone here use the ff for laying ducks? I am curious on how they do on it. I will probably only be supplementing their dry feed with this at least for awhile but if this fixes their runny and sometimes stinky poo that would be great. I also will be happy if it cuts how much they need.

I really like the idea the ff and I hope I can get my setup going asap...first for the ducks and geese then for future quail. I noticed some in this thread use the ff for quail. I will probably be getting some quail here and they will be getting the ff as the only feed if I can mange it. First though for my ducks...

 

[Christie Rhae]

I use the mash, just add enough water to cover and it will all be soaked up. It's not gloppy that way, just a bit wet, like firm mashed potatoes. Works great for me.

Oh you let the water absorb away at the top? I was thinking I had to keep it under water so I would keep adding water. Then it just would not drain when I wanted to use it. Hmm....

 

[Lacy Blues]

I make WAY MORE than what I'll need. Cover with water, the ACV should be mixed in with the water before adding to the feed so it is evenly distributed through your feed, the mash will absorb a lot of it. There will be fermentation take place and most of the extra liquid will stay in the bottom of your bucket. I scoop off as much food as I need, usually down to where it starts to get really wet, and feed. Then I'll refill with mash/grain and additional water, reaching in with my whole arm (I use a 5 gal bucket) to mix the bottom contents in with the new. I use warm water. When I first started out, I put a little bit of vinegar in each time I added water... don't know if I needed to or not... but it worked for me.

Here's just a little more info that I wrote about what I do, before your initial post tonight.

My birds really love it! My girls used to barely eat anything at night. Now they fill up their crops and lick their dishes before going to bed. Much better for them I'm sure, than picking out a few tidbits and waking up starving every day. They probably went to sleep starving too... by their own choice. I always gave them as much as they would clean up.

Try serving it dryer. I think you'll like it a lot more than serving soup! You only need to "keep it covered" with a lid or towel that will let it breathe.

 

[burnyourmoney]

ignore this