Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Hiltonizer]

Thanks, all. Right now they're a week old. I'm just keeping food in there all the time and letting them eat as they'd like. I'd like to move them into a chicken tractor as soon as I feel they no longer need the heat plate. My concern is that it's really hot, even here in NH, during the day.

I may go to the 12 on 12 off feeding schedule, but putting them to bed on an empty stomach seems unnatural for chickens.

My plan WAS to make an 8 x 10 tractor and cover the last 4' top and sides and move it every day or so. I have 25 birds. If they do well in the tractor and get crowded, I may let them pasture. I really don't know. I've only raised layers.

I guess I just have reservations about restricting their feed. Everyone has different advice.

I dislike having meaties in July because of the heat myself, but I just processed some for other folks that were fine if not uncomfortable. With yours a week old, they won't be too heavy before it starts cooling down in late August. You'll be fine to put them in a tractor at week 3 or so. 8x10 is plenty of space for 25, just move it to fresh pasture daily to avoid a giant turd pile.

The only way to keep CCX healthy is to restrict feed, fermented or not, they'll eat themselves into broken legs and shutdown organs otherwise. I like having them sleep with a full crop, so feed in the afternoon... which forces them to forage in the morning within their tractor.

 

[Beekissed]

hah.. even the room my wood stove is in gets into the 50's at night... though a solarium sounds like a fun project....

50s is perfect! I keep mine on an inside/outside back porch where it stays in the 40s all winter, which keeps the mix perfectly. It slows down a bit but that's okay with me as I like to keep plenty made up for winter months and slower means it doesn't smell quite so much.

 

[MargaretYakoda]

I'm going to apologize up front for this question, but this thread is 17,000 comments long and there isn't a Reader's Digest version.

I've read about people fermenting pellets and starter mash for their layers. Can you ferment pellets and starter feed for meat birds? If you DO ferment, how do you feed it? Leave it out all the time and add to, or regular feeding times and measured amounts?

Thanks, and I'll close with an apology for something that's likely already in the thread.

Yep, scroll back just a few posts in this thread and you'll see my Coleman cooler fermenter. That's Flockraiser in there. One day we'll feed better stuff, but this is what our birds have been eating for the past couple of years. And we use an old wooden rain gutter (no lead paint!) with two bricks holding it upright to serve the birds. Once a day, about mid-day. Easy-peasy.

 

[Robert M]

Quote:
Nice setup. Edited by Staff

 

[Beer can]

Odd....

....

 

[Turk Raphael]

Yep, scroll back just a few posts in this thread and you'll see my Coleman cooler fermenter. That's Flockraiser in there. One day we'll feed better stuff, but this is what our birds have been eating for the past couple of years. And we use an old wooden rain gutter (no lead paint!) with two bricks holding it upright to serve the birds. Once a day, about mid-day. Easy-peasy.

Do you keep layers too?

 

[MargaretYakoda]

Do you keep layers too?

Yep.

I assume you're asking because of the calcium requirement? We use the old feeder to serve up the oyster shell. It's one of those one gallon metal hanging feeders. Keeps the oyster shell up away from where the chicks can get to it, and only has to be refilled about once a year. PERFECT!

 

[Robert M]

Odd....

....

Prudes.

 

[Beer can]

Yep. 


I assume you're asking because of the calcium requirement? We use the old feeder to serve up the oyster shell. It's one of those one gallon metal hanging feeders. Keeps the oyster shell up away from where the chicks can get to it, and only has to be refilled about once a year. PERFECT! 

That's a great idea! I think I'll do the same.

 

[Turk Raphael]

Yep.

I assume you're asking because of the calcium requirement? We use the old feeder to serve up the oyster shell. It's one of those one gallon metal hanging feeders. Keeps the oyster shell up away from where the chicks can get to it, and only has to be refilled about once a year. PERFECT!