Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[cutechick2010]

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...

Well, I have had chickens for nearly 20 years, but this is my first time attempting anything other than the commercial feeds. I have been doing a lot of research into things like GMO crops/grains, and I want to get away from them as much as is still possible. Thank you so much for taking the time to give me all this info, I greatly appreciate it.

LOL

 

[Beekissed]

Sorry!

I've just been getting worried about all the cooked up recipes out there on the threads right now and I hesitate to advise folks to get into unless they know what they are doing.

 

[Costa Rica Art]

Well, I have had chickens for nearly 20 years, but this is my first time attempting anything other than the commercial feeds. I have been doing a lot of research into things like GMO crops/grains, and I want to get away from them as much as is still possible. Thank you so much for taking the time to give me all this info, I greatly appreciate it.

LOL

You are fortunate that you can experiment, here in CR there are no other grains to try (that I have found). I was so happy to find out that fermenting soy would mostly negate the GMO stuff. I don't know about pesticide carry over but hopefully by the time the grain arrives here from whatever country they buy from most of that would have dissipated from the beans/grains. I ferment a mix of 50% cracked corn and 50% local chicken feed. So far I have only found one local chicken feed so I ferment for 36 hours hoping the longer ferment will do even more for my feed. Also finding ACV with or without mother is also hard to do and only in small bottles so with each batch I add a little bakers yeast to keep things going to the max and I do have the "mother" on top before I strain it. I add my 50/50 mix into the liquid that drains off the mash plus part of the left overs in the bottom of the container that was poured into the strainer. I have 30 - 4 week old chicks and 8 other assorted chickens plus 5 guineas, they all eat FF and whatever they can find in the yard. I bought a hen with 3 chicks about 2 months ago who are now about the same size as the 4 week old chicks, goes to show you that feeding chicks FF from day one really pays off (that was chick starter FF which may be just a fine grind of regular feed as my Spanish doesn't get me a good answer that I can understand). LOL The big thing is FF works better than anything else you can do to regular feed and/or what you can create, I am so happy to have found the thread and also the Bee started it, there are a few folks here now going to give FF a try. All of you keep posting whatever you try, someone else will have much happier chickens, better meat and awesome eggs.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I gave my flock 2 cups of ff today and they gobbled it up so fast I had to go get another 2 cups My ducks and geese literally made hogs of themselves. I need to get another rubber bowl so I can put out 2 bowls of ff since they had to wait in line to eat today. I am so glad I dumped previous batch and started over. If they keep this up in spring I'll not feed anything but ff.

 

[cutechick2010]

Sorry!

I've just been getting worried about all the cooked up recipes out there on the threads right now and I hesitate to advise folks to get into unless they know what they are doing.

Oh, no problem. I worry about feeding the wrong feed or a poor mix nutrition wise too, hence all the questions. LOL!

 

[cutechick2010]

You are fortunate that you can experiment, here in CR there are no other grains to try (that I have found). I was so happy to find out that fermenting soy would mostly negate the GMO stuff. I don't know about pesticide carry over but hopefully by the time the grain arrives here from whatever country they buy from most of that would have dissipated from the beans/grains. I ferment a mix of 50% cracked corn and 50% local chicken feed. So far I have only found one local chicken feed so I ferment for 36 hours hoping the longer ferment will do even more for my feed. Also finding ACV with or without mother is also hard to do and only in small bottles so with each batch I add a little bakers yeast to keep things going to the max and I do have the "mother" on top before I strain it. I add my 50/50 mix into the liquid that drains off the mash plus part of the left overs in the bottom of the container that was poured into the strainer. I have 30 - 4 week old chicks and 8 other assorted chickens plus 5 guineas, they all eat FF and whatever they can find in the yard. I bought a hen with 3 chicks about 2 months ago who are now about the same size as the 4 week old chicks, goes to show you that feeding chicks FF from day one really pays off (that was chick starter FF which may be just a fine grind of regular feed as my Spanish doesn't get me a good answer that I can understand). LOL The big thing is FF works better than anything else you can do to regular feed and/or what you can create, I am so happy to have found the thread and also the Bee started it, there are a few folks here now going to give FF a try. All of you keep posting whatever you try, someone else will have much happier chickens, better meat and awesome eggs.

Really? You don't have any grains besides corn and soy? Wow, that is awful. I don't know about the fermenting negating the GMO effects though, can fermenting actually change the DNA content?

 

[delisha]

Quote: Don't forget you can grind your feed too.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I cant wait to post pictures of the evening feeding "frenzy" and my geese with mostashes LOL! Red, my roo, omgosh his face is almost covered in FF, its just hilarious

Cannot thank you enough for this thread, my checkbook is sure a lil heavier this week.

 

[Ken Cook]

Well McMurruy said my chicks would be here by Saturday, they were right . They arrived this morning. I started the feed soaking yesterday and it's not bubbling yet. I went ahead and started them on it anyway and they are eating it. I'm not sure if I have enough ACV in it. I am using the 5 gallon bucket system and I put about 1/4 on the quart bottle in the mix. How long should it take to start bubbling?

 

[Ken Cook]

One other question, what is BOSS?