Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Sunny Side Up]

I'm doing smaller quantities here and simply pour the contents from one bucket through a colander into a second bucket. I'm using 1-gallon buckets and a colander that fits neatly across the top, all found at the dollar store. Most of the liquid is at the top of the bucket and it pours right through, then I use a spatula to scrape out the wet feed into the colander. I do this about 30 minutes before I wish to feed, and give the wet feed time to drain even more in the colander.

This might work for those fermenting smaller quantities of feed, or if you don't want to drill holes, or if you don't have somewhere sturdy to hang heavy 5-gallon buckets.

Shadowmane, I too love your hawk deterrent, got 3 of my own here thank God! Two of them wear bigger mud boots than I do now, I am still savoring each day I am blessed with them...

 

[shadowmane]

LOL... yeah, I've got two more boys older than him. He just seems to be the one the most interested in them.

 

[Beekissed]

I've got three boys also! No girls, though...just ornery and wonderful boys!

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

Could this be used for laying hens, by any chance? I'm really new to this, so my question probably sounds stupid, or weird, but I just thought I would ask!

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

Okay, my chick starter is brewing nicely (I used wild yeast whole wheat sourdough starter) but now I have a question....

Do I just feed out of the bucket and then just add more feed to what is already in there? I don't think there is any way I can drain this as it looks like a really watery mush that will just go out the drain holes.

 

[shadowmane]

Scooter&Suzie, I don't have any meat birds and I'm doing this. They devour it when I feed it to them. I, like myhubbycallsmechickeemama, am still on starter, so its nothing but mush. I'll have to formulate a layer feed later on with whole grains.

Maybe we should find the post Beekissed started in the feeding and watering section and expand it too with all this information. I've sort of keyed in on this thread, and forgotten all about that one. Those who are raising layers and no meat birds would probably appreciate that, given that this is the meat bird forum. I finally have my girls out in the coop. I have to build a tractor, then we'll be getting a small flock of meat birds, and I WILL be using this method with them.

 

[Beekissed]

Okay, my chick starter is brewing nicely (I used wild yeast whole wheat sourdough starter) but now I have a question....

Do I just feed out of the bucket and then just add more feed to what is already in there? I don't think there is any way I can drain this as it looks like a really watery mush that will just go out the drain holes.

Depends on how small your holes are. When it looks like watery mush, just add more starter until it's paste consistency...easier to just scoop out and feed that way. I just add more to what is existing in the bucket...more starter or grain and more water. It will mix with whatever is still cookin in the bottom bucket and rise up into the new starter. Stir well and let sit...the ferment will soak into and start to ferment the new stuff you added. I really didn't get to use the sieve action on this setup until I graduated to whole grains.



Quote: It works especially well with layer hens. There should be a link on here somewhere to the studies they did with FF and layers....I think the only downside they found is that it needed to be introduced when they were young to get them to adapt more quickly to the change in feed. I found that the rooster I had adapted in just a couple of days and then couldn't wait to get his FF...preferred it over dry after that.

Here's an excerpt from that study conclusion and I'm highlighting the areas I would monitor if trying this. I've not tried it with a layer flock but I certainly intend to do so....keep in mind that the birds they tried this on were commercial layers in commercial housing...in other words, crowded and confinement to the max.

I'm also highlighting the pros to this type of feeding that causes me to try it despite the one con mentioned, though I will still monitor this aspect, I doubt it will be an issue in birds not confined like battery layers.


Quote:

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

However, an early adaptation of the birds during the rearing period seems to be necessary.


Why do you suppose they say this? I made some for my big girls and OMGosh, they went absolutely freaking crazy over it!! I did notice that the coop didn't smell like poop this morning and they sure didn't eat very much dry food yesterday. So far, my baby chicks don't seem too interested in it. Do I just offer that feed and nothing else? They are 3 days old today. Do you also just give them enough feed that they will consume in a certain amount of time at this point or will the feed be okay until gone?

Thank you again for your help!!

 

[Zootopia]

I have been feeding the chicks I had in the small brooder FF starter mash since they were 3 days old, I let the little feeder run out and about 2hrs later scooped some mush in, they ate it alittle slow at first but by the next day it was like they had always eaten it.There is a big difference in the smell, my daughter hated the chicks in the spare room, she ashed if I had moved them out. I tried giving it to the 3 wk olds and even tho they were hungry, they only picked at it, but they sure learned to forage for any scraps left in the litter!
The first set has been on this for just over a week and are now in the shed, my new babies are eating it right out of the bator. They don't drink nearly as much of course, and even I can tell the difference in the small brooder box, less smell, less poop. Nice
That is great research, better eggs, better shells, better health. I think what I will do is set up a bucket of grain to ferment and feed out small amounts as it starts so they get used to the taste gradually. I'll try this one pen at a time and see how it works.

 

[Beekissed]

I'd offer this and nothing else. It won't spoil, so don't worry about leaving it until they have cleaned it up. Fermented is fermented and it can really only ferment even further, which is no harm.

In that study, they had waited to use fermented feeds until the chickens were, if I remember it correctly, around 2 mo. old or older. They then introduced them to the fermented feeds and stated it took them awhile to take to it.

I'm adding layer mash to my ferment today and will continue to mix it with the whole grains for feeding these CX. To me, they seem like they need an infusion of protein and calcium in their feed regimen. I can't really put my finger on the reason why I say this other than they just don't have the appearance I like to see in my birds....their feathers look a little rough, they don't look as bright eyed as I would like, though they are certainly still very active and foraging, they just don't look.....content and thriving. I like a sleek bird and these don't look quite as sleek as I like, so increasing the nutrition value of their feed is my first step.

My last batch of meaties looked more feathered and fatter at this age and the only difference is they were receiving layer mash as the base of their ration, with the whole grains mixed in, so that is what I will do again.