Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[simolvsa]

I tried a new batch of ff as oatmeal consistency but they haven't been eating it as much as an inch of water on top. How long does the feed last if you don't add any fresh stuff and is it normal to have a gray layer on top. It smells mostly the same.

 

[AKCharle]

Hi simolvsa, when you ferment your feed strain out the liquid so chickies get a thick mash. Save the liquid in the ferment bucket and just add enough feed and water to cover the stirred feed again about an inch or two. This process is also called back slopping. If there is a layer of water in the chickies feeder it is difficult for them to eat it as they are trying to eat and not drink. They drop their head and peck to eat and throw their head up to drink so soupy mash is hard for them to work with. A gray layer is perfectly normal and not to worry. Mold is dangerous and needs to be thrown on the compost heap and your FF started over. You should ferment up to about 4-5 days to start then I would offer fresh FF every day to the chickies and throw to the composter what they don't eat. They will eat it and once they get used to it they may start oinking.

 

[simolvsa]

Oh ok fair enough. Think I just need to go to a smaller amount. Thanks for your assistance

 

[Turk Raphael]

Hey Turk, thanks for the reply. This sounds like a great plan and so I will do like you do. You have generational knowledge so I will ask you another question. What kind of feed do you feed your birds? I want to make my own so I can get away from corn (GMO's) and soy (GMO's and messes with my thyroid). I live in Alaska so shipping is not an option for me and I don't really want to do that anyway. ANYWAY, I can get local grown barley and wheat but I don't know what to use for the protein, any ideas?

Charlie, you might take a look at the BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION thread and check out what my dad uses. You might have access to much of the same ingredients for protein as he does. I can tell you, what he does really works. He's set up for his method in a big way. I don't have the time or access to some of the 'raw materials' as he does nor the machinery but If I were breeding and keeping as many birds as they do, I'd improvise because it saves bunches of money.

The one thing I'm considering to copy is finding someone who butchers their own beef and try to get the contents of the stomachs. That stuff is partially digested and I've seen his birds out pecking at that stuff when the temps were in the teens and below. It has to be good for them.

Turk

 

[AKCharle]

Thanks Turk, I will do that. I know my birds want everything left from their dead brothers and they usually get what the dogs will leave them, just wish they would eat those feathers.

Okay I'm back and I had to give up. I got through about 4 pages and gave up. There are over 100 pages to that thread. What is the post # so I can look it up that way.

 

[Turk Raphael]

Thanks Turk, I will do that. I know my birds want everything left from their dead brothers and they usually get what the dogs will leave them, just wish they would eat those feathers.

Okay I'm back and I had to give up. I got through about 4 pages and gave up. There are over 100 pages to that thread. What is the post # so I can look it up that way.

 

[AKCharle]

Charlie, you might take a look at the BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION thread and check out what my dad uses. You might have access to much of the same ingredients for protein as he does. I can tell you, what he does really works. He's set up for his method in a big way. I don't have the time or access to some of the 'raw materials' as he does nor the machinery but If I were breeding and keeping as many birds as they do, I'd improvise because it saves bunches of money.

The one thing I'm considering to copy is finding someone who butchers their own beef and try to get the contents of the stomachs. That stuff is partially digested and I've seen his birds out pecking at that stuff when the temps were in the teens and below. It has to be good for them.

Turk

Hi Turk, do you have a post # so I can find the post I need in that thread? There are so many pages and I only have x amount of days left to live.

 

[Tikkijane]

If you really have a lot to mix... in a deep container like a trash can or such, you might consider getting one of those long drill driven stirring rods that they use for mastic/grout/paint.  Put it in a high torque, low speed drill and then just move it up and down through the contents in the barrel till everything is homogeneous. That's what I'd try to do anyway...  I'm all about easier is better.

edited for smelling

Commercial stirring paddle. Comes in a variety of lenghts. My handle is mid-lenght at 42 inches.

 

[Latestarter]

Commercial stirring paddle. Comes in a variety of lenghts. My handle is mid-lenght at 42 inches.

That looks like it would work very well with one minor modification... I would drill some holes through the paddle to make it mix more effectively/efficiently. Where did you purchase it? do you have a link?

 

[Tikkijane]

That looks like it would work very well with one minor modification... I would drill some holes through the paddle to make it mix more effectively/efficiently. Where did you purchase it? do you have a link?

I think it works great without holes. I found mine at my local feed store that also sells commercial restaurant equipment. I've seen it online somewhere. ... let me see if I can find one....