Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Beekissed]

You can. I gave chicks fermented barley and wheat along with their laying mash this past spring. You can ferment just about any grain, so you can pretty much choose those you would like. Here's a list of things by protein percentages:

FOOD SOURCE - PROTEIN BY WEIGHT
Dried fish flakes 76
Dried liver 76
Dried earthworms 76
Duckweed 50
Torula yeast 50
Brewers yeast 39
Soybeans (dry roasted) 37
Flaxseed 37
Alfalfa seed 35
Beef, lean 28
Earthworms 28
Fish 28
Wheat germ 25
Peas & Beans, dried 24.5
Sesame seed 19.3
Soybeans (boiled) 17
Sunflower seeds 17
Wheat bran 16.6
Oats, whole 14
Rice polish 12.8
Rye 12.5
Wheat 12.5
Barley 12.3
Oats 12
Corn 9
Millet 9
Milo 9
Rice, brown 7.5
Happy fermenting!

 

[Chucklecluck]

ok...I've read up on the fermentation thing. Nice blog!  Now I just need to find out if any of my local produce places sell the right sort of ACV. With all the rules and regulations Australia insists on imposing on **** near every aspect of life, I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out ACV is banned.

I have been reading up on avc(apple cider vinegar) have been looking into making my own and have read blogs saying if you can't find the mother or vinegar with mother you can take the less expensive vinegar remove the cap and cover the opening with cloth. Then put it In a dark place for a few months and the mother should start reforming (supposedly trace amounts of mother is still in all vinegar) I also read that you can feed and grow your mother by inoculating it with apple cider or sulfate free wine. When I have a chance next time I'm on I wool link the blogs and articles

 

[Lacy Blues]

Could be why we've never had a choking...we never feed pelleted foods.

Do feed whole grains, though, and never had any birds have any mishaps with those. Y'all are feeding the wrong feeds...

Not any more!

I am wondering, can you feed fermented whole grains to baby chicks? I am looking for ways to get off of commercial feeds altogether, and have been wondering what I could give to little chicks. I am so excited by this idea, I already have a bottle of the Bragg's ACV here on my counter waiting! LOL

Oh yeah, and what grains would you recommend, aside from corn or soy?

I was going to suggest millet and milo. Both very small grains but then I read Bee's next post. I already had clicked "Multi-quote" though so it was in the queue.

You can. I gave chicks fermented barley and wheat along with their laying mash this past spring. You can ferment just about any grain, so you can pretty much choose those you would like. Here's a list of things by protein percentages:

FOOD SOURCE - PROTEIN BY WEIGHT
Dried fish flakes 76
Dried liver 76
Dried earthworms 76
Duckweed 50
Torula yeast 50
Brewers yeast 39
Soybeans (dry roasted) 37
Flaxseed 37
Alfalfa seed 35
Beef, lean 28
Earthworms 28
Fish 28
Wheat germ 25
Peas & Beans, dried 24.5
Sesame seed 19.3
Soybeans (boiled) 17
Sunflower seeds 17
Wheat bran 16.6
Oats, whole 14
Rice polish 12.8
Rye 12.5
Wheat 12.5
Barley 12.3
Oats 12
Corn 9
Millet 9
Milo 9
Rice, brown 7.5
Happy fermenting!

Again, if you're concerned about the size of the seed, just pick some really small ones and add the larger ones as they grow.

I have all of my older birds on just fermented grains. By older, I mean older than one month of age. I know they need more. I'm looking to get some sprouts and fodder going for them real soon here. I still occasionally throw some dry cat food out for them, especially when they're molting. They love it!

Thanks for that list Bee.

 

[cutechick2010]

Not any more!

I was going to suggest millet and milo. Both very small grains but then I read Bee's next post. I already had clicked "Multi-quote" though so it was in the queue.
Again, if you're concerned about the size of the seed, just pick some really small ones and add the larger ones as they grow.

I have all of my older birds on just fermented grains. By older, I mean older than one month of age. I know they need more. I'm looking to get some sprouts and fodder going for them real soon here. I still occasionally throw some dry cat food out for them, especially when they're molting. They love it!

Thanks for that list Bee.

Thank you too, both very helpful. I wonder about barley, that is pretty small too isn't it? I think it is a harder grain, but the soaking/fermenting would soften it up. Plus it is small enough they could probably swallow it whole anyway. I am already getting rolled oats for them, I have been making the adults a warm breakfast with the oats on the cold mornings. So, oats, millet, either wheat or barley. Would that be a fairly complete feed? Or do I need to add something more for winter feeding especially, they free range but of course this time of year there aren't many bugs or much grass for them to eat.

 

[Beekissed]

The barley you can get at the feed store is different than what you are thinking...it's steamed barley and looks a bit like oats that you cook for breakfast but a little meatier. It isn't hard at all and soaks up the ferment easily and plumps right up like cooked oatmeal.

 

[Beekissed]

Thank you too, both very helpful. I wonder about barley, that is pretty small too isn't it? I think it is a harder grain, but the soaking/fermenting would soften it up. Plus it is small enough they could probably swallow it whole anyway. I am already getting rolled oats for them, I have been making the adults a warm breakfast with the oats on the cold mornings. So, oats, millet, either wheat or barley. Would that be a fairly complete feed? Or do I need to add something more for winter feeding especially, they free range but of course this time of year there aren't many bugs or much grass for them to eat.

You'll want to stay with around 16-18 % protein and also incorporate some fats of some kind...either plant or animal fats. BOSS has a lot of fat...a little BOSS may pump up your feed mix. Fish meal is a great animal fat/protein.

 

[armorfirelady]

You can. I gave chicks fermented barley and wheat along with their laying mash this past spring. You can ferment just about any grain, so you can pretty much choose those you would like. Here's a list of things by protein percentages:

FOOD SOURCE - PROTEIN BY WEIGHT
Dried fish flakes 76
Dried liver 76
Dried earthworms 76
Duckweed 50
Torula yeast 50
Brewers yeast 39
Soybeans (dry roasted) 37
Flaxseed 37
Alfalfa seed 35
Beef, lean 28
Earthworms 28
Fish 28
Wheat germ 25
Peas & Beans, dried 24.5
Sesame seed 19.3
Soybeans (boiled) 17
Sunflower seeds 17
Wheat bran 16.6
Oats, whole 14
Rice polish 12.8
Rye 12.5
Wheat 12.5
Barley 12.3
Oats 12
Corn 9
Millet 9
Milo 9
Rice, brown 7.5
Happy fermenting!

THANK YOU for the list Bee. I was looking at bird seed for indoor birds the other day to use something to make some *Johnny cakes* for my hens and noticed they had peas & beans in them and thought I read somewhere that they were toxic for hens.....guess not. Thought the same for soybeans to.....hmmmm. Going to print this list out for my next visit to the feed store so I can get a variety for some homemade suet cakes and some extra items to ferment for them.

 

[cutechick2010]

You'll want to stay with around 16-18 % protein and also incorporate some fats of some kind...either plant or animal fats. BOSS has a lot of fat...a little BOSS may pump up your feed mix. Fish meal is a great animal fat/protein.

OK... I am a little confused on the protein amounts on some of the different grains, I saw on your list that it said 9% for the millet, but another site I was looking at said it had 15%. Where would I get the fish meal from, my feed store mabye? And how much percentage wise would be good to add?

 

[Beekissed]

I've found other discrepancies on that list as to the proper protein percentage as well but it was the only comprehensive list that I have found of all the grains...so it might be good to do your own research. Also on making your own feeds as well....many feed recipes out there and recommendations for amounts of ingredients.

I know it sounds all great to make your own feeds so that you won't have to buy formulated feeds..but those feed formulas are also easier for the new chicken owner to insure their chickens are getting the proper nutrition. I hesitate to advise new chicken keepers to march off on their own and start throwing down nutrition that may not be complete. Learning chickens is tough enough with all the info out there, feeding shouldn't be this difficult either.

I'd take it slow, feed what you know and just ferment it to get the best out of it. When in doubt and you want more whole grains, mix them with the formulated feeds to insure you are still getting all the vitamins and minerals necessary for your birds.


That's my $.02...

 

[armorfirelady]

I've found other discrepancies on that list as to the proper protein percentage as well but it was the only comprehensive list that I have found of all the grains...so it might be good to do your own research. Also on making your own feeds as well....many feed recipes out there and recommendations for amounts of ingredients.

I know it sounds all great to make your own feeds so that you won't have to buy formulated feeds..but those feed formulas are also easier for the new chicken owner to insure their chickens are getting the proper nutrition. I hesitate to advise new chicken keepers to march off on their own and start throwing down nutrition that may not be complete. Learning chickens is tough enough with all the info out there, feeding shouldn't be this difficult either.

I'd take it slow, feed what you know and just ferment it to get the best out of it. When in doubt and you want more whole grains, mix them with the formulated feeds to insure you are still getting all the vitamins and minerals necessary for your birds.


That's my $.02...

No way I was going to venture to try making my own feed.....just figured I would add it to their ff for a variety with their layer pellets. And to make homemade suet for treats