Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[flyinchicks]

Also our local Walmart now has Heinz brand ACV with the mother. Its about $1 cheaper than the Braggs.

 

[Beekissed]

yes makes total sense. I have 30 laying hens and Saturday I butchered 20 cornish. I was going thru 2-5 gal buckets a day so the "good juice" helped speed things along. I was using every bit out of the bucket. I am only a few days past butchering but it seems like 1-5 gal bucket a day will feed the layers. I am still going to keep 2 bucket systems going to get a little more goody growing.

Also ate my first cornish I ever butchered last night and it was wonderful. I didnt season it at all and put in the rotisserie. I can only compare it to store bought since it was my first but yumm. It also felt good knowing that I was eating a chicken raised on FF. No medicated feed at all. Happy to be feeding this to my family. So thankful to all for sharing knowledge.

Feels good, huh? I like it because it's like thumbing one's nose to the agribiz corporations that produce that poison food. I like to say in my mind~"I can do it better than you and it won't harm my family, so there!".

Yeah..I often have conversations in my head. What of it?

 

[flyinchicks]

Feels good, huh? I like it because it's like thumbing one's nose to the agribiz corporations that produce that poison food. I like to say in my mind~"I can do it better than you and it won't harm my family, so there!".

Yeah..I often have conversations in my head. What of it?

It is a great feeling. Throw in there the green beans I grew and canned myself and some homeade dumplings. I am on a mission to be completely self sufficient. I have been gardening veggies for years now I have the chicken for both eggs and meat. I can't decide whats next a cow or a pig.

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

I would have never thought of fermenting the feed for the chickens. I am glad somebody brought up the idea and the process. BYC threads make for good learning on good animal husbandry, although of course there are some who are jut as good examples of "what not to do".
I am learning as I go along. If my parents had any chickens when they were younger, neither of them had ever talked about it. They were both country folk.

 

[Beekissed]

I would have never thought of fermenting the feed for the chickens. I am glad somebody brought up the idea and the process. BYC threads make for good learning on good animal husbandry, although of course there are some who are jut as good examples of "what not to do".
I am learning as I go along. If my parents had any chickens when they were younger, neither of them had ever talked about it. They were both country folk.

Jump on board...it's a good bus filled with satisfied customers!

 

[aoxa]

Mine are pretty aromatic after 24 hours.  I have had my buckets going for @ 6 weeks.  I added Braggs to start and splashed extra in the first few weeks but haven't added any lately.  I think its a matter of getting good cultures started and then letting them do their job.  I also stir twice a day to bring the good stuff to the top.  I have also noticed when I feed if I clean the bucket there is a nice layer of greyish white on the bottom of my top bucket.  It looks the same as the film that developes on the top when the water is absorbed.

Well these buckets have only been going for 4 days. Maybe that's why.. My chick bucket has been going for 3.5 weeks.

 

[flyinchicks]

Well these buckets have only been going for 4 days. Maybe that's why..

My chick bucket has been going for 3.5 weeks.

I bet that's why. I wonder if adding ACV here and there would help it along.

 

[texasmomma]

I feed starter until it's gone or for two weeks, whatever comes first...then every single bird is on layer rations.

Except I have 50 pounds of the stuff and it's not going away very fast. I only seem to get 2 chicks at a time. LOL

 

[aoxa]

I bet that's why.  I wonder if adding ACV here and there would help it along. 

I have kept adding it. Hopefully it starts to ferment properly soon.

I also do it in a colder environment than most of you guys. It's in my barn, in a makeshift closet with a heat lamp. Doesn't seem to be more than 40 degrees at most in there. Probably will just take a bit longer.

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

Jump on board...it's a good bus filled with satisfied customers!

Hi again Bee! We have chatted a bit before on here, before the new format took effect. It just took me time to get back in and get used to finding my way around here again.