Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[galanie]

Mine, that I started with whey, is simmering along wonderfully in the wash room. It has that sour smell that I think smells good. They're licking the platter clean, I'll tell ya!

 

[Jeanette56]

Turkeys - we started some young turkeys on it and they love it! For older birds, just let them get a little hungry and they will eat it.
Ducks - ducks actually prefer for the their food to be quite wet so for them it is best for the food to be pretty sloppy. Again, let them get a little hungry and I bet they will go after it alright.

The turkeys won't touch it and the ducks ignored it entirely but we are hoping to up our fermented feed production and get everyone on it soon.

 

[Taniamax]

Some of us are trying to avoid genetically modified foods and the majority of soy in north america is GMO.

Yep, that's why I avoid it as well.

 

[Taniamax]

Yes you can and yes it will but if you mix in the "scratch and peck" it won't be a nasty consistency. The grains in the pellets will be much more appetizing. I haven't tried it... but my birds like it a lot better with the grains in it.

Where do you get this "scratch and peck"? It sounds like a great mix and something I'd like to get my hands on!

There is another very good brand that is actually organic, called Cascade Organic Layer: http://www.magillranch.com/Cascade-Feeds.html (they also have Grower and Starter). Scratch and Peck is not certified organic, but they do say they are GMO free. I've used both and I like Cascade better. It is from a family run mill in Oregon. I have it shipped via Azure Standard, using a drop site (basically a bunch of folks get together to combine shipments and avoid freight costs). It's a bit expensive, but I think it is worth it. Their poop smells so much better on the Cascade than any other organic feed I have tried. And that is without the fermenting. Can't wait to see what it smells like once I start them on the fermented feed this weekend.

 

[Taniamax]

Yes, it is fermented tea. But it has to be heavily sugared tea. And sugar is what is fermented in ACV as well. But my thought was just from tasting it. Tasted like vinegar when allowed to "brew" for 2+ weeks.

That happens to mine too. I think it eats up all the sugar and then gets vinegary.

 

[Taniamax]

That goes for any hybrid plant. Not just ones that are GMO'd on a molecular DNA level.

Except that hybrid plants don't reduce fertility as far as I know.

 

[Taniamax]

I have my eye on something like this:

http://www.qvc.com/qvc.product.K340...pla=Cookware&cm_ite=K34005-000-000&adtype=pla

But I'm not sure how large the mesh is. It may be too large.

cool

 

[Taniamax]

Do you mean the ferment or the drinking water?

the drinking water.

 

[Taniamax]

I am so happy, I finally read all 141 pages! Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread. I have learned so much. I'm waiting for my layer feed to ferment and will give it a go this weekend. I have mostly Ameraucanas and Araucanas, (but also two Sussex, a Faverolle, a Cuckoo Maran, a Welsummer and a Blue Wyandotte - my first birds ever). They are all just wonderful. They are so much fun to care for and make me happy, so I want to keep them happy and healthy. After reading through all of the information here, I think I probably retained about 20%, but it is enough to know that FF is the way to go for me and my girls. Especially since they've gotten a bit of dia-poo this year. Yuck!

 

[Matrix Escapee]

Except that hybrid plants don't reduce fertility as far as I know.

That's not the point. Trust me, I'm not defending GMOs. I use organic feed.
The question was that she heard that GMO varieties cannot be grown again if you save seed. That is not inherent to GMO hybrids was my point. It goes for any hybrid.
Of course the seeds will grow, but they will not come back to be true to type across the board.