Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Pozees]

For those who have used FF long enough to know, are there ever issues with chicks started on FF going to new homes where they prefer to feed dry crumble or pellets?

 

[Lacy Blues]

I sold some pullets to someone who does not ferment. I sent some feed with her and suggested she feed their entire portion til about half of it was gone then start adding some of her food into it... that way they can get used to their new home but not have to deal with new food too.

 

[cutechick2010]

Holy cow is right. Look for a local grain mill. I haven't checked other places but the local grain mill sell wheat/millet mix for $18 for 100#.

I will have to check on that. I ordered it through my feed store, his prices are generally the best in my area, but he said something about there being a poor harvest this year?

 

[Pozees]

I sold some pullets to someone who does not ferment. I sent some feed with her and suggested she feed their entire portion til about half of it was gone then start adding some of her food into it... that way they can get used to their new home but not have to deal with new food too.

That's a great idea! Thanks!

 

[aoxa]

I have whole grains mixed in with chick starter from day 1. Millet, BOSS, corn, barley and oats are all in that mix. They do not like the BOSS right now

What are your prices like for the millet? I just ordered a bag for the first time to put in my FF mix, and holy cow! It is $25 for a 50# bag!

Like Lacy Blue said - wild bird seed.

That's what I did. I am only using the millet in the chick FF, as it's too pricy for the regular FF. It attracts the chicks to the feed to start them out. I haven't added more since I started the first batch yet, but I have a big bag of wild bird seed that I was adding. It has BOSS, Millet, chopped peanuts, sunflower seeds and safflower seeds. I added a 3 grain scratch as well that has barley, oats and cracked corn. For the 3 grain scratch it is around $13 for a 50 lb bag. Our feed is $15.50 here. Pricey, but the FF makes it last a whole lot longer!

You might be able to get a bag of wild bird seed for less?

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: Like Lacy Blue said - wild bird seed.

That's what I did. I am only using the millet in the chick FF, as it's too pricy for the regular FF. It attracts the chicks to the feed to start them out. I haven't added more since I started the first batch yet, but I have a big bag of wild bird seed that I was adding. It has BOSS, Millet, chopped peanuts, sunflower seeds and safflower seeds. I added a 3 grain scratch as well that has barley, oats and cracked corn. For the 3 grain scratch it is around $13 for a 50 lb bag. Our feed is $15.50 here. Pricey, but the FF makes it last a whole lot longer!

You might be able to get a bag of wild bird seed for less?

I also purchased bird seed instead of a bag of millet because of the price. It has everything in it I already use plus the peanut hearts and much cheaper with 4 hens. I havent heard of 3 grain scratch. The scratch I get has cracked corn, millet & ? (i havent figured out the other ingredient)

 

[Maven]

Last time I went to the feed store, I asked for a bag of scratch and when I got home noticed that the ticket didn't say 'chicken scratch' it said 'poultry grains.' Opened the bag and it was completely different from the scratch I've always gotten - had so much more in it - millet, corn, oats, what looks like the peanut hearts, and two or three other things I can't quite identify. I don't know if they made a mistake or if this is a new scratch blend they do for winter, but I sure do LIKE it! And so do my girls!!

Mine are 21 weeks old on Friday. They've been on FF since they were around 8 weeks old. I just cannot get over how much money I save on FF - there is ZERO waste of feed, they are all so healthy and shiny, and the coop is a breeze to clean!! I spend about 1/3 of the money on feed for 30 chickens that a neighbor of ours spends for 16 chickens. I've tried to get him to switch over to FF several times but he'd rather complain about the cost of feed than do something about it.

Oh, well, that's his wallet, not mine!!

 

[Beekissed]

Last time I went to the feed store, I asked for a bag of scratch and when I got home noticed that the ticket didn't say 'chicken scratch' it said 'poultry grains.' Opened the bag and it was completely different from the scratch I've always gotten - had so much more in it - millet, corn, oats, what looks like the peanut hearts, and two or three other things I can't quite identify. I don't know if they made a mistake or if this is a new scratch blend they do for winter, but I sure do LIKE it! And so do my girls!!

Mine are 21 weeks old on Friday. They've been on FF since they were around 8 weeks old. I just cannot get over how much money I save on FF - there is ZERO waste of feed, they are all so healthy and shiny, and the coop is a breeze to clean!! I spend about 1/3 of the money on feed for 30 chickens that a neighbor of ours spends for 16 chickens. I've tried to get him to switch over to FF several times but he'd rather complain about the cost of feed than do something about it.

Oh, well, that's his wallet, not mine!!

I have encountered TONS of people like that and about all aspects of their lives. They seem to enjoy stress and the attention they get from vocalizing their stressed situations, so are quite unwilling to do anything proactive to change it because they are getting the benefits of all the attention they crave.

 

[aoxa]

Last time I went to the feed store, I asked for a bag of scratch and when I got home noticed that the ticket didn't say 'chicken scratch' it said 'poultry grains.' Opened the bag and it was completely different from the scratch I've always gotten - had so much more in it - millet, corn, oats,  what looks like the peanut hearts, and two or three other things I can't quite identify. I don't know if they made a mistake or if this is a new scratch blend they do for winter, but I sure do LIKE it! And so do my girls!!

Mine are 21 weeks old on Friday. They've been on FF since they were around 8 weeks old. I just cannot get over how much money I save on FF - there is ZERO waste of feed, they are all so healthy and shiny, and the coop is a breeze to clean!! I spend about 1/3 of the money on feed for 30 chickens that a neighbor of ours spends for 16 chickens. I've tried to get him to switch over  to FF several times but he'd rather complain about the cost of feed than do something about it. Oh, well, that's his wallet, not mine!!

I have encountered TONS of people like that and about all aspects of their lives.  They seem to enjoy stress and the attention they get from vocalizing their stressed situations, so are quite unwilling to do anything proactive to change it because they are getting the benefits of all the attention they crave. 

I choose not to associate with these people. My time is too valuable to be wasted on such non-sense.

I put up with it from my family (my grandparents), but I will not put up with it from 'friends'. This is how I have friendships that have lasted a lifetime (though I'm young yet, but have had the same best friend since I was 12).

I blank out when my grandmother starts talking about the cost of lettuce and how it is outrageous. I go to my happy place.

 

[Beekissed]

Everywhere I have ever worked is literally filled to the gills with these types of people! Can't escape them, though now I have....

I have family like this and I too avoid them like the plague. I have also slowly cut all my former "friends" out of my life that also have this problem....and that took out most of everyone I know. It's almost an epidemic proportions plague of the mind for society now to complain loudly and often about things they could easily change, but won't. But they still expect you to sit still and listen ad nauseum to their litany of problems.

I'm a fixer, not a whiner. If I have a problem I tackle it. If I cannot solve it, I learn to bear it gracefully...and quietly. The world is more and more lacking in those who are willing to solve the problems and more abundant in those who like to hear the sounds of their voices in a high pitched and rhythmic drone set on the Problem Station.

Don't believe me? Go to the section of the forum that deals with health issues and injuries and try to help. The most frequent flyers on that forum are also those who will either ignore your help and continue to do it "their way"...as that has been so successful for them in the past, or they will deny a million times that your solution will work "for me" and that they could "never do that!!!"~translate "WILL never do that".

It all makes my butt tired and it gets more tired the older I get.