Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[aoxa]

even soaked feed is better for them than dry.

Is it? I've been feeding wet feed every night now. They love it.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I don't think they do Genetic Modification on Alfalfa, do they? I'll have to look. But anyway...
It wouldn't surprise me. I know that they don't like the GMO corn. Now, I've no absolute proof the regular feed corn is GMO but come on, it has to be. Organic corn, they love. I have a small amount to make GMO free Masa with and I cracked some and offered it. They ate it right up! The corn in the scratch... only if they're starving.
ETA: Looked it up, they do indeed have GMO alfalfa.

Yes. They DO GM alfalfa and it's becoming prevalent. A friend sent me this documentary on GMO and how its affecting US and our animals if anyone is interested in watching. It's pretty interesting.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Ok, I've tried and tried and racked my brain... I just don't get it. What is ETA?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Ok, I've tried and tried and racked my brain... I just don't get it. What is ETA?

"Edited to Add"

 

[Lacy Blues]

Yup... I figured this would be an "uf-duh" moment for me.

Thank you Leah's Mom.

 

[Beekissed]

Have a question for those of you who have fed FF to your young chicks. What consistency do you use, watery or thick like peanut butter. I am using thick feed like peanut butter right now, and the chicks seem to be eating nonstop, but there just does not seem to be that much feed gone. Want to make sure they are getting enough. They seem healthy enough so far but it has only been 24 hours.

Thick like PB. They will eat until they are full or don't need the nutrients right then....let them self-regulate. I've never yet seen a chick that would starve to death in the face of plenty of food.

 

[chickachee]

I'm feeding ff twice a day - in the a.m. and then again when they'e in for the night. Both times they empty their tray. They are let out about noon or so to free range til they go in at night. Should I change their feeding to once a day and let them pick all day long (if they come back to the coop periodically), or continue with 2/day? Should I also feed a bit more than I am now just to see if they'd eat more and then figure out the amount to continue to feed from that?

Thanks!

 

[chicken curious]

What great information here. I tried to read it all but wow lots of information.

I have a question (it may have already been answered) but I am getting cornish in next week and I am going to purchase what I need to make FF. I have read alot about people using chick starter because they already had it. I can only find medicated chick starter in my area but plenty of grains (rural georgia go figure). Can you start day old babies on mixed grains or do they need they chick starter? Is there anyting that they cant have right off?

I've only done ONE batch of layer chicks (but no one else has answered yet, so here goes...)

I started them on a whole grain feed that was cracked/partially ground and just made sure that they had sand available as grit until the were big enough for fine grit. That was dry...before I learned about fermenting. Fermented grains are softer so you may be able to do them whole. If the chicks don't eat it, maybe you could toss the drained, fermented grains in the food processor and give it a few whirls?

Once they were older, I switched to fermenting whole grains that I buy at the feed mill as the bulk of their feed: I ferment whole oats, whole wheat, and milo/sorghum with a small portion each of BOSS and Ultra Kibble (to make sure I'm missing any key nutrients).

I hope this helps! This thread moves fast sometimes, so please repost if we miss your question.

 

[bruceh]

I'm feeding ff twice a day - in the a.m. and then again when they'e in for the night. Both times they empty their tray. They are let out about noon or so to free range til they go in at night. Should I change their feeding to once a day and let them pick all day long (if they come back to the coop periodically), or continue with 2/day? Should I also feed a bit more than I am now just to see if they'd eat more and then figure out the amount to continue to feed from that?

Thanks!

i am in the process of figuring out this as well. this is what i do and seems to work. i am feeding 30 meat birds and 16 layers and a rooster. i have 2 5 ft vinyl gutters..the gutters are placed outside the coop area. i feed at 2-3 pm. i do this intentionally to encourage free ranging. i fill both gutters to the 3/4 mark. the birds polish off a good part of of it and let the rest sit for awhile . by bedtime all the feed is gone. the next morning all the birds are out of the coop and roaming the yard free ranging.

 

[Sandyd]

I saw Bee say that the ACV w/Mother wasn't really needed, that the grains/feed would eventually ferment on their own gathering yeast from the open air... so I understood it that both (the yeast and the ACV w/Mother) were just used to jump start/continue the actual fermenting of the grains/feed, but maybe I am wrong since I have never done this before

If ACV is better to use and provides better nutritional benefits for my birds then I'll want to start a new batch and not use yeast any more (but I did/do not have any ACV w/Mother and wanted to see if my birds even liked fermented feed ASAP so I used what I had).

I would have had a terrible time finding ACV w/mother in it in the small town I live in. I just happened to be at Wally World the other day and saw that Heinz Vinegar has come out with a new vinegar that is un-distilled with the mother in it. Boy I snatched that bottle up and proceeded to mix me up some grain to ferment last night when I had time. I also innoculated some regular ACV that was distilled. I am anxious to try the fermented food on my broilers, pullets and old hens.