Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Chad Cool]

Hey y'all i just got in 56 cornish x today from Hoover Hatchery. They sent 57 but one didn't make it. I have regular feed in the brooder right now but want to switch to fermented feed. I know how to make the fermented feed all I need to know if how much should I give them. I want to be as safe as I can about this. Thanks so much for y'all help and God bless everyone.

 

[beverly evans]

Quote: Don't forget, snakes can climb up fencing of any type!

 

[Bethel3330]

Don't forget, snakes can climb up fencing of any type!

yep, and climb steps. The boogers can get themselves onto an object a couple of feet high at least. I've seen them climb a tree stump and some got into our attic when I was a kid. *shudder* how does that happen?!

 

[MargaretYakoda]

Here's a question that's probably been asked before: Is it a good or bad idea to ferment Purina Start And Grow medicated chick feed? Amprolium is the medication. We started our first chicks on the Purina stuff, and switched to fermenting organic, non-medicated feed a few months later. We haven't had any problems (knock on wood) but with new chicks on the way I'm wondering if I should feed them fermented medicated starter, or unmedicated fermented starter. And if we use the unmedicated starter, should we use amprolium in their water? I want to go as organic as possible without taking risks that are too large for a still inexperienced chicken keeper.

 

[Beekissed]

Here's a question that's probably been asked before: Is it a good or bad idea to ferment Purina Start And Grow medicated chick feed? Amprolium is the medication. We started our first chicks on the Purina stuff, and switched to fermenting organic, non-medicated feed a few months later. We haven't had any problems (knock on wood) but with new chicks on the way I'm wondering if I should feed them fermented medicated starter, or unmedicated fermented starter. And if we use the unmedicated starter, should we use amprolium in their water? I want to go as organic as possible without taking risks that are too large for a still inexperienced chicken keeper.

To me, amprollium is counterproductive and does nothing for the bird in the long run, which is why so many report getting coccidiosis in their flocks after they stop feeding the medicated feeds and switch to an all flock feed. It's a thiamine blocker and thiamine is important to a growing bird, so I never use the medicated feeds or any other med, for that matter. It's individual preference, though, so no one is going to tell you not to use it.

Feeding FF is one way to help prevent coccidiosis already, so feeding medicated FF is sort of redundant but in a less efficient way. You can do it but it won't do much either way for the bird and won't do as much as feeding the probiotics in the FF.

You can also give the birds early exposure~day one~to the levels of coccidia in your local soils by placing a clump of sod in their brooder for them to partake of. I take that one step further and brood my chicks right on the same deep litter my flock has been living on for over a year so they will get a good exposure to the levels in the coop as well.

The first two weeks of their lives is when they are best able to form antibodies for environmental pathogens and is why broody raised chicks are so much more healthy than those brooded in the house and then placed out with the big flock after they are 4 wks of age or more...that's about the age we get the most reports of coccidiosis in young birds.

 

[butch vb]

ive been fermenting for ten days also been feeding sprouts for about 8 wks chicks are 10 wks old loved the fooder wheat barly since feeding both I cant tell if they prefer one over the other they clean up both well and doing great. iferment chick starter non meds oats wheat barley black sunflowers corn if they leave anything it will be the corn same when I give them scratch always thouth chickens loved corn corn is all cracked not whole I hve 17 chicks 9 different breeds in a portable coop with a pull behind tractor that is 8 by 10 it gets moved every two days to fresh grass they eat more like pigs than chickens I also use two 5 gal nipple waters one plain other with acv feeders are pvc got all ideas on this sight chicken keepen made easier than grama had it and I think mine are healther thank all of you for your greet ideas and plans to build if I can ever learn to post pictures iwill

 

[MargaretYakoda]

To me, amprollium is counterproductive and does nothing for the bird in the long run, which is why so many report getting coccidiosis in their flocks after they stop feeding the medicated feeds and switch to an all flock feed. It's a thiamine blocker and thiamine is important to a growing bird, so I never use the medicated feeds or any other med, for that matter. It's individual preference, though, so no one is going to tell you not to use it.

Feeding FF is one way to help prevent coccidiosis already, so feeding medicated FF is sort of redundant but in a less efficient way. You can do it but it won't do much either way for the bird and won't do as much as feeding the probiotics in the FF.

You can also give the birds early exposure~day one~to the levels of coccidia in your local soils by placing a clump of sod in their brooder for them to partake of. I take that one step further and brood my chicks right on the same deep litter my flock has been living on for over a year so they will get a good exposure to the levels in the coop as well.

The first two weeks of their lives is when they are best able to form antibodies for environmental pathogens and is why broody raised chicks are so much more healthy than those brooded in the house and then placed out with the big flock after they are 4 wks of age or more...that's about the age we get the most reports of coccidiosis in young birds.

Thank you Beekissed! This is what I thought maybe I remembered, but I wasn't too sure. Newbie that I am. So, OK. We expect the chicks to hatch in two or three days, so I'll start fermenting their unmedicated starter tonight.

The broody's been doing her job outside in the nestbox in the coop. So we're already exposing the kids to whatever's out there. But I think I'll take your suggestion and toss in a couple handfuls of dirt from the run.

 

[butch vb]

I have chosen not to use medicated feed cause I use yougart in their first chick starter I grind starter in coffee grinder mix yougart in to make a thin paste use two waters one plain one with probiotic and elctrolites changed and cleand ever day aftenr three days I change from probiotic eletro to acv in one waterer started sprouts and mealworms after three days as treats and my chicks have done great

 

[Bethel3330]

I have seen two different methods for fermenting, several containers rotated out and a new one started each day you feed, and one kept going all the time, much like sourdough starter. What is everyone's favorite? If you use the second method, at what point do you clean it out and start a new batch? I can't seem to find that out, other than when it smells ''too sour''. Thanks

 

[Bethel3330]

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