Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[armorfirelady]

Well the 1st suet tasting was a hit

Big bossy girl was all over it. If you can see it her face/beak,wattles, breast is covered with FF. She apparently get into eating.......you would think with her mates pecking the leftovers off her would encourage her to eat less messy. I came back after bringing in a couple loads of wood to find the suet was in her mouth as she ran around the area........like little kids with candy

And this is just a cute pic I wanted to share with you all. This chair was put in here as a hawk cover for the winter about 2 weeks ago. Today 3 of them decided it was a great perch


I also want to mention that since being on the FF for 12 weeks now that these hens have filled out beautifully (my newbie opinion of course) A couple look like their going thru a molt but their feathers are so shiny, soft & beautiful reddish brown. One has gotten darker feathers and I think its cuz she molted first. About 1 1/4 cup of food last these 4 hens all day & its licked clean at bedtime. They still love to forage in their runs tho. Water consumption is down also. They are now 29 weeks old and still no eggs but I am wondering since being on the FF that they grew/matured slower hence meaning they should lay longer once they start? Only bossy hen has large wattles & crest. The other 3 are in various sizes but still not like hers.
And these hens have had no problems with the cold weather either. I really think its because of the FF. More nutrients keep them healthier & better able to keep warm

 

[Ullie]

My chickens don't seem to enjoy the FF as some of the rest of the ones that post on here.
They are still eating quite a bit of their dry food, actually I would say more of it then the ff.

Yes I've done all the steps correctly, I am using Organic Grower feed, BOSS, and wheat grass.
They pick out the BOSS and some of the other stuff but at the end of the day I have almost half a scoop left.

Are my chickens they only ones or are their others who chickens aren't such fanciers of the ff?

 

[pigeonguy]

Proprietary info!

Can't very well sell them if everyone has the recipe!

Must have missed that post.

 

[Beekissed]

My chickens don't seem to enjoy the FF as some of the rest of the ones that post on here.
They are still eating quite a bit of their dry food, actually I would say more of it then the ff.

Yes I've done all the steps correctly, I am using Organic Grower feed, BOSS, and wheat grass.
They pick out the BOSS and some of the other stuff but at the end of the day I have almost half a scoop left.

Are my chickens they only ones or are their others who chickens aren't such fanciers of the ff?

Stop presenting a choice and they will eat it readily enough. They will eat it if they are hungry and they will eat it every day you put it in the feeder...just stop giving them a buffet of choices. Same food, just a different texture and with improved nutrition so there really is no need to present them with a choice.

 

[mrsamplias]

Grains/feeds used in this manner? Right now, the chick starter, but when it is done(#50 bag), I'll switch to cracked corn, barley and wheat grains. I'll venture to say they will probably have to ferment a little longer then the fine starter crumbles.

Bee, at what age of the chicks did you switch to the cracked corn, barley, and wheat grains? Did you switch slowly, mixing the starter with the grains? Thanks for your help!!

 

[Beekissed]

Two weeks is when the CX went through their chick starter, I think..and that's when I started them on a whole grain mix and then layer/whole grains. That was also when they went out on their first free ranging.

I didn't introduce it gradually...just started feeding it. Meaties will eat anything you put down...be careful if you ever fall down in the coop.

 

[mrsamplias]

Two weeks is when the CX went through their chick starter, I think..and that's when I started them on a whole grain mix and then layer/whole grains. That was also when they went out on their first free ranging.

I didn't introduce it gradually...just started feeding it. Meaties will eat anything you put down...be careful if you ever fall down in the coop.

okay, thanks! I missed that step some how. I have so much to learn.

I had read some where that the feed wasn't switched from grower to layer feed until they started laying, and I thought that I had to wait until then to add the whole grains...

I guess I'll be heading to the feed store in the morning!!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Meaties will eat anything you put down...be careful if you ever fall down in the coop.

Ugh no kidding! beware to the white bucket carrier, i use freebee bakery buckets to feed all my critters and sheesh! i put tools in a 5 gallon one to work on my main coop (Duh), and was swarmed by my "starving" meaties thinking dinner was 5 hours early! they were very perturbed, lots of stink eyes, there was no food when i set it down in the coop

my boots were sure getting pecked that day.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My chickens don't seem to enjoy the FF as some of the rest of the ones that post on here.
They are still eating quite a bit of their dry food, actually I would say more of it then the ff.

Yes I've done all the steps correctly, I am using Organic Grower feed, BOSS, and wheat grass.
They pick out the BOSS and some of the other stuff but at the end of the day I have almost half a scoop left.

Are my chickens they only ones or are their others who chickens aren't such fanciers of the ff?

It took a while for some of mine to come around to it, Now I have dropped back on dry feed and am feeding more ff. Give them some time.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Stop presenting a choice and they will eat it readily enough. They will eat it if they are hungry and they will eat it every day you put it in the feeder...just stop giving them a buffet of choices. Same food, just a different texture and with improved nutrition so there really is no need to present them with a choice.

I have a heated dog bowl that I have been using for the ff sometimes there is still some left at the end of the day is it okay to leave it and just add more? I'm still trying to get the right amount put out it's kinda hard when feeding a flock of over 30 and keeping it at the right amount. I just cut back on feeding the dry too so I am pretty sure that will get them to eating more of the ff.