Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[aoxa]

Okay, stead as she goes! Thanks for the reassurances. Feeding less was one of the goals, so I should be happy they aren't eating more!
<feeling silly>

Feed them half of the total you fed them dry. See how long it takes them to clean it up.

I don't like FF sitting out for more than 4 hours. I want them to lick it clean.

 

[Lacy Blues]

OK today is day #3 of FF. My girls attacked it the first day, nibbled the second, and are avoiding it today. Are their tummies sore? I'm chalking it up to adjustment. I'll wait a week. My FF is nice and thick now, smells kinda pickley. I brought them a tray of fodder and they attacked that, so they're eating. I'm getting eggs every day. I'm going to stay the course...I hope the adjustment period is fast. Also, maybe I'm overfeeding. I'll cut back. Today I also gave them 2 cups of whey, which they usually love, but I poured it over FF and they wouldn't look at it. Hmmmmm....I don't have much time to hang out and watch them, I'll update you tonight. Did you all noticed an adjustment period? If so, how long did it last?

Maybe mix in some yogurt (unsweetened and plain) and then dollop some on top. My birds cannot resist yogurt.

 

[texasmomma]

It took mine a while to like it, but they all eat it now. I even started chicks on it. If you also have any other food available, they will stick with what they know, instead of the new. Adapting to change is not easy for chickens.

 

[B J Hopkins]

He is a real looker! If his temperment is as handsome as he is, i would say he is a keeper. He certainly looks to be calm and sweet.

Well, he's just sitting in my arm. I don't have a tight hold on him at all. Wasn't too easy to catch him though. Right now he has been the least of the 3 roos being held for a meal. Now it's just him & his brother. Although brother has more copper in the neck feathers, he's just not as well formed as Yancy.

 

[zinia8]

Started feeding FF in Oct. I use layena scratch grains bird seed and boss. the schools loved it now they just eat the boss out of it and leave the rest.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Started feeding FF in Oct. I use layena scratch grains bird seed and boss. the schools loved it now they just eat the boss out of it and leave the rest.

Drastically decrease the amount given... they'll eat it.

 

[mrsamplias]

use a black plastic can place it in the sun in the winter and shade in the summer.

Thanks for this reminder. I was wondering why it was taking the food so long to ferment, and I realize that it is cold in our garage. I just moved the ff to our greenhouse. It should start cooking soon!

 

[Pozees]

Lacy Blue, good suggestion about the yogurt, in fact I was wondering whether it might help the conversion to FF to feed yogurt as a side treat for a few days before switching over to FF just to boost intestinal flora, for those seeing extended periods of loose stool. Those already started and still getting loose stools can feed it with the FF or separately with some goodie on it to encourage consumption if needed.

The time you most need to worry whether they've had enough to eat is 20 minutes before bed, when they should be filling, or have already filled, their crops for the night. If they have not and it's going to be very cold overnight, give them a little scratch - might even scatter it over the FF to get them to eat more of it.

Chickens are naturally suspicious of new things, although I have found some that were instant hits - cooked oatmeal on a cold morning, especially with some corn and peas stirred in, and meal worms were no-brainers, yogurt and pumpkin required only a few minutes of skepticism by a couple of them and once they saw others eating it they decided it must be good.

Kassaundra I'm glad to read you are continuing to feed both FF and dry feed, I have continued to offer both as well, and find some days they ignore the dry and others they want a little. I've also found since I increased the ratio of grains to feed in my FF the girls have consumed more oyster shell.

 

[aoxa]

We've started juicing for ourselves, and have been giving them all that is leftover from that. They ATTACK it!

So the chickens ate the carrot, tomato, beet and celery stuff. It's really weird how juicers work, almost looks like powder afterwards.

 

[flyinchicks]

I don't like FF sitting out for more than 4 hours. I want them to lick it clean.

How long does everyone leave theirs FF out once it has been put in the pen. Just like some others have said I am having a hard time with amounts. It changes from day to day how much they consume.

I feed in the morning before work so I fill feeders so they don't run out. They are on the roost when I get home. Sometimes its cleaned out when I get home and sometimes there is a little left. It is never much so the next morning whatever is left I scoop into a dog bowl (for easy identification). Anyway sometimes mine will be out 25-26 hours before eating. At that point if they don't finish it I will trash it (happens very seldom). Should I not be leaving it so long?