Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

Beekissed, what is the ratio in your feed? Eg...? lbs of barley, ? lbs of wheat....etc, mixed.

 

[Beekissed]

I mixed 100 lbs of cracked corn, 100 lbs of barley and 50 lbs of wheat in my initial feed but am now mixing that feed half and half with laying mash. When I go to get feed, I scoop equal amounts from each feed can to place in my FF bucket.

 

[Kassaundra]

I have been researching Korean natural farming including feeding your chickens that way, according to that the chickens should eat roughly 1/3 protien, 1/3 carbs (grains, etc), 1/3 greens (vegetation). This got me to thinking along w/ the fermenting grains, does anyone know what happens if you add greens (either leafies, or veggies like squash) to the fermenting grains / layer or chicken food?

 

[Zootopia]

I mixed 100 lbs of cracked corn, 100 lbs of barley and 50 lbs of wheat in my initial feed but am now mixing that feed half and half with laying mash. When I go to get feed, I scoop equal amounts from each feed can to place in my FF bucket.

So you are fermenting the laying mash? How does that work with the holes in the bucket?

 

[Beekissed]

They are small holes and only the very fine particles come through them because of the weight of the feed in the bucket kind of blocks the holes and only lets water come through. Now, I don't know the nature of your mash...if it's the pre-bagged mash I've seen it isn't the same texture as mine. Mine has some fine ground but mostly coarse ground grains-more meal than mash- and is golden in appearance, whereas the bagged feeds seem to look more beige-to-grey colored and might just dissolve down like chick starter. If that is the case, then you'll probably feed it in a mash consistency....it will be like thick oatmeal or mortar.

It doesn't really matter because it's the same stuff, only a different consistency.

 

[bj taylor]

what is mash?

 

[Beekissed]

Layer mash is finely milled feed that when mixed with water makes a "mash" consistency. It is meant to be fed moist, which is why it's ground fine. Not many folks feed it moist nowadays but it traditionally was fed as a moistened feed. The mash I currently have access to at this local mill is more coarse ground than I am used to buying and it seems to have more corn in it than the feed I used to get at my old town.

As with anything that is bagged, the more fine the particles, the more actual volume you receive per bag. Like pecans....it may say 12 oz on the bag but if it's finely chopped it has more total volume of nuts in the bag than do the bags with pieces or whole nuts. With fresh milled feeds, the bags are all standard size and the boys filling and tying those bags just fill it, tie it closed and put it on a pile. Bigger pieces of grain will have spaces in between and won't fill the bag as solidly and fully as will finely ground grain, which is why, if I'm going to buy premixed feed, I always buy mash instead of crumble or pelleted style feeds....more for your money.

 

[burnyourmoney]

Well, after reading all 21 pages I promptly went to the coop and grabbed some feed and grain and mixed up a concoction. Hopefully it will turn out right

 

[Zootopia]

I have my 3 wk olds and newest chicks eating FF , it's been to hot to stress the rest by taking up their feed for now. The newest get some dry chick feed sprinkled around a couple times a day too so they learn to scratch for their dinner.

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

I have been researching Korean natural farming including feeding your chickens that way, according to that the chickens should eat roughly 1/3 protien, 1/3 carbs (grains, etc), 1/3 greens (vegetation).  This got me to thinking along w/ the fermenting grains, does anyone know what happens if you add greens (either leafies, or veggies like squash) to the fermenting grains / layer or chicken food?

That's a good question. I have always given my girls hydrated alfalfa cube for their greens in the winter but in the summer they get grass and stuff outside. Maybe I'll mix up a little tiny batch of feed and add some alfalfa to it just to see what it does. I know that fermented alfalfa tea is awesome for your garden!!