Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[curious chickee]

I wish I could read all 1700 pages here, but... I've read the first few pages and a few things here and there...I am *kind of* interested in fermenting feed. We do use grain based. So I have two questions: with the intense summer heat, our area has not had any rain and it's getting pretty hard on the meaties. They never run out of water, but the grass is dried up and there just isn't much escape from the heat even in the shade (which they do have all day long.) so my first question is, does this add any moisture benefit that would help them find comfort in the summer? I feel like I've read that...but can't remember where.
Second, if this increases protein, do I need to mix their ration with something like oatmeal to lower the protein to normal levels?
Thanks everyone! I'm going to keep on reading while I wait to hear.

FF helps keep mine hydrated. My do not drink as much water since I switched over. I fill up my quart waterer about every three days for my 4 week old chicks. The rest use an auto waterer, but I notice they don't drink from it as often.

As for the protein, FF makes the protein in the crude protein analysis easier to absorb. crude protein analysis is the chemical percent of protein in the feed, but most animals can not absorb the full quanity of the protein since the feed is not digested to the full extent to yield the 100% of protein availble. FF has already begun the digestion process so the bird is able to get a higher yield of the crude protein available.

 

[eviemethugh]

Thank you curious chickee! The absorption of protein makes sense! I guess we will just have to try this a few days and see what they think about it!

 

[rvroman]

Well,

I let the crumbles sit overnight and the chicks loved it :cd, it was definitely the mash/oatmeal consistency. They enjoyed it so much I just went ahead and poured the little bit of medicated crumbles I was keeping just in case right in with the fermenting bucket to cook overnight. I let the grains sit 2 whole days because well they are whole grains, they had a bit of swelling and more cooking to do so to speak. But I set them out today (not entirely sure they are fully fermented) as I needed something to bait my girls back into the coop early due to yet one mores impending torrential downpour. They sure did come running! And took to that stuff like they had been starved (not free ranging at all) their whole lives.

 

[Latestarter]

IME (In My Experience) a 5 gallon bucket consisting of 18% broiler finisher pellets, 28% game bird, steamed rolled oats (oat grouts), barley, milo, millet, scratch grains (primarily for a little corn), and BOSS started with hot tap water and stirred to mix the ingredients will fully ferment in approximately 3.5 days kept indoors, on the floor, covered with a towel @ ~ 68 degrees F. The towel is not to keep anything out aside from my too fat dog who seems to like chicken food...especially when fermented and even more so after processed and excreted by the chickens

Her breath will make ya gag! Dentastix don't make a dent!

During the past winter when we had prolonged sub freezing weather, I found that it would continue to ferment, becoming stronger and more powerful smelling but NOT go bad, even after 2 weeks. you could keep it going even longer by simply adding fresh grains... During above freezing days, I'd use it to feed them and they scarfed it right up... no problems, no issues.

There have also been days when for whatever reason I didn't have enough to go around and simply added some fresh feed/grains and water, (creating a mix of fermented and non fermented feed) stirred and served. The Birds didn't seem to mind or notice and it still got consumed

As for the intense summer heat, I don't know that the FF will make them any more comfortable or eliminate their heat stress... It seems to me since it's easier for them to digest, it will be easier on them than simple dry pelleted food... they won't need to eat as much to get the nutrients they need. They won't need to drink as much water since the FF is wet... Many I've read use hose misters to help the birds cool down/keep cool. I've never used them...

Glad it's (FF) working out for Y'all!

 

[Robert M]

IME (In My Experience) a 5 gallon bucket consisting of 18% broiler finisher pellets, 28% game bird, steamed rolled oats (oat grouts), barley, milo, millet, scratch grains (primarily for a little corn), and BOSS started with hot tap water and stirred to mix the ingredients will fully ferment in approximately 3.5 days kept indoors, on the floor, covered with a towel @ ~ 68 degrees F. The towel is not to keep anything out aside from my too fat dog who seems to like chicken food...especially when fermented and even more so after processed and excreted by the chickens

Her breath will make ya gag! Dentastix don't make a dent!

During the past winter when we had prolonged sub freezing weather, I found that it would continue to ferment, becoming stronger and more powerful smelling but NOT go bad, even after 2 weeks. you could keep it going even longer by simply adding fresh grains... During above freezing days, I'd use it to feed them and they scarfed it right up... no problems, no issues.

There have also been days when for whatever reason I didn't have enough to go around and simply added some fresh feed/grains and water, (creating a mix of fermented and non fermented feed) stirred and served. The Birds didn't seem to mind or notice and it still got consumed

As for the intense summer heat, I don't know that the FF will make them any more comfortable or eliminate their heat stress... It seems to me since it's easier for them to digest, it will be easier on them than simple dry pelleted food... they won't need to eat as much to get the nutrients they need. They won't need to drink as much water since the FF is wet... Many I've read use hose misters to help the birds cool down/keep cool. I've never used them...

Glad it's (FF) working out for Y'all!

Wondering?: Is there enough calcium in this concoction to ensure good hard shells, for hatching purposes?

Do you use cracked corn, in lieu of full kernel corn?

About the poop-eating: they like the protein. One of OUR dogs "cleans out" the cats' litter pan and we were told that's why... the protein.

When she (the dog) gets into the FF, make sure you have a place for her to sober up... AWAY from the 5G buckets. LOL

 

[Beekissed]

My dog stopped eating the poop when I switched to FF....no more protein left over in the manure to attract the dog or even flies. No more flies in the coop or the yard...ever! If your dog is still eating the poop, could it be due to feeding them treats and such that are not fermented? Or it could be due to the fact you are using such high protein in your mix that the proteins are not being converted fully by the time you feed it out, so your high pro mix is winding up on the coop floor, which is an awful waste of money.

 

[Latestarter]

Wondering?: Is there enough calcium in this concoction to ensure good hard shells, for hatching purposes?

Do you use cracked corn, in lieu of full kernel corn?

About the poop-eating: they like the protein. One of OUR dogs "cleans out" the cats' litter pan and we were told that's why... the protein.

When she (the dog) gets into the FF, make sure you have a place for her to sober up... AWAY from the 5G buckets. LOL

They have free choice crushed oyster shell

I don't have thin shelled eggs, although I do sometimes get them with holes punched in them or cracked... rough girls is my thought... I don't put corn in the mix aside from what's in the scratch. Yeah... I know she eats it for the protein... Maybe I should take her to AA?

or just keep the FF out of her reach...

My dog stopped eating the poop when I switched to FF....no more protein left over in the manure to attract the dog or even flies. No more flies in the coop or the yard...ever! If your dog is still eating the poop, could it be due to feeding them treats and such that are not fermented? Or it could be due to the fact you are using such high protein in your mix that the proteins are not being converted fully by the time you feed it out, so your high pro mix is winding up on the coop floor, which is an awful waste of money.

I've considered just going with the broiler finisher @ 18% and adjusting the amount of grain down just a bit to maintain a protein level of 14-16%, and may do that, but I don't think that would save me as much as doing it the way I am... the 28% is a little more expensive, but I need a lot less of it in the mix. Then again, I've also considered just going to a bucket feeder of dry that will hold 50 pounds of feed and then I wouldn't have to feed them every day... Would be nice to be able to go away for a few days and not need a chicken sitter. Ah well...

 

[Beekissed]

I go away for a week at a time and still feed FF....you don't need a chicken sitter at all. You can leave FF in a feed trough the same as you can a bucket.

 

[katbriar]

ME? No, not being grumpy, just a little levity. Sorry, I guess it came across wrong. Thing that makes me "grumpy" is stupidity... and I see NO stupid people here, just those that know and those who wish to learn. Be well and have a good one. Bob

Got it, thanks!

 

[Robert M]

Thanks people. Now I need to get started on finishing building my incubator. That'll be a cool weather project. No AC in the workshop.

For now, Mennonite eggs. =)