Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Kilsharion]

Quote: I know that is what I do. I kept saying, everyone says this is easy, I'm not seeing it. Well if I don't have to strain it so much, go buy a bag of Oats from the feed store and add it to it to thicken it, then that will be easy. It takes me so long to strain, I'm doing it two times a day and it can take me up to an hour or more, to feed my chicks and breeders and layers. No more major straining for me. I feel like

Ah!! See -you're straining it. I have the same kind of consistency. I use H&H feed with a blend of BOSS, cracked corn, quinoa, millet, barley and lentils that I mix up myself as their 'scratch' that I mix in. It comes out almost exactly like my morning oatmeal....perish the thought.

My secret? I use a slotted scoop - kinda like a slotted spoon only larger. All the tiny holes in a strainer were driving me nuts. The slotted nature holds in the feed because it's tending to mass together rather than run away - the nice thing about using the H&H mash along with the scratch. You lift it up in the slotted strainer, let it sit for as long as it takes to pour a cup of coffee, give everlasting thanks to the java gods for sharing of their ambrosia and stumble back to the feed bucket.

My husband made my scoop - but, I don't see why you couldn't modify a plastic collander or even use one if the holes are the right size.

 

[colburg]

So I'm wondering.. Can you basically ferment any food you give them??

I've ferment everything that I feed, except scraps. I even ferment egg shells and meal worms on occasion. People have fermented fish meal.

I even ferment some moldy pellets once just to see what happened. Fed it out like normal and everything was fine.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I started ff with my layers in Feb. My favorite hen used to be on the light side but I picked her up the other day and noticed she seems to have more breast and weighs more. Also, I have quite a few chickens and they go through about 9 (50 lb) bags or more of feed per month. Well a few weeks after starting with ff I have noticed a dramatic decrease in feed consumption yet a noticeable increase in weight and (dare I say) egg quality and quantity. I wish I would have kept notes, but like I said I have alot of chickens.

We have meaties that we got last week, 35 of them. Started them on ff when they got here. They have already doubled in size (I know it's normal) and don't seem to eat as much or drink as much as the ones we did last fall that ate non fermented feed. I am keeping notes on them, to see if it pays off in the end... ff vs regular. I kept notes last fall so this spring I will compare.

Only thing I was wondering about is it necessary for cornish x to be on medicated feed being that I usually butcher at 7 weeks? I usually use medicated but the bag of feed that I grabbed is not medicated. Should I get medicated from now on? Just wondering what you all think.

I think if you're going to eat them then you shouldn't medicate them. Fermenting will take care of their colons. If you're concerned about it, you can stir in some yogurt (plain and unsweetened) and that will take care of them double duty!

 

[NotAFarm]

It is easy......don't over think or over do it. Here is my bucket. It has BOSS, scratch, crumbles and pellets in it.....and, of course, Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar and water. I keep mine in my laundry room in the winter and in my garage when the weather is above 50 F. I carry the bucket out to the barn where my coop is and where I keep my colander and second bucket.


Here is my "drainage" bucket.........


Here is the colander I use in the drainage bucket...

I pour the fermented feed into the colander....



I let it sit while I open doors and check water...I shake the colander to remove excess liquid
and use a long handled slotted spoon to serve it to the flock


Here is the "backslop"/drainage/juice/whatever you want to call it, that is added back to the black bucket. I quickly rinse the black bucket but don't throw the water out. I pour the backslop into it and then add the BOSS, scratch, crumbles and pellets.


I put the feed into several plastic bowls so everyone gets a chance to enjoy....


Where did I get my "equipment"?
Colander was purchased at WalMart about five years ago (I have two).
Slotted long handled spoon is from a set by Patriot Plastics (Made in the USA) purchased last year.
Flat sided bucket can be found anywhere they sell horse/livestock supplies.
Black bucket (made in USA) was purchased at the Dollar Store.

I have 24 large fowl chickens. They get free choice oyster shell and crumble/pellets and during this winter, I have started feeding them fodder for fresh greens. They get "treats" of meal worms but these are usually reserved for chicks, with or without broody mamas.

I will be feeding my meat birds with fermented feed this year. I will try to keep track and see if I think it makes and difference in feed cost, health and smell.

 

[Triple Willow]

Hi everybody. I have enjoyed reading all of your posts and trying to soak up all the information y'all have provided. I plan to start using FF next week with some new chicks. This website is pretty great, lots of info!

Have any of you made homemade yogurt to use in your FF? I believe that is what I am going to do. It is really pretty easy to make. It has been a while since I have made it so you might want to check me online and also get more specific instructions.

Homemade Yogurt

1/2 gallon whole milk
8 oz plain unflavored yogurt

Heat milk on stove to boiling point BUT DO NOT LET IT COME TO A BOIL. Remove the milk from the heat and let it cool to lukewarm (wrist test) then add the yogurt and gently stir with a non-metalic spoon. (Don't add the yogurt to hot milk or it will kill the probiotic culture.) Pour the mixture in a non-metalic container, cover with a towel and store in a warm place for 12 hours. A small cooler works great to keep it warm. The longer it sits the more sour it gets. At the end of 12 hours put in refrigerator.

(You might want to look online to see what the exact temperatures are that you heat the milk to then cool it to.)

 

[Kilsharion]

Notafarm...that is exactly what I meant for a colander. All the ones around here have holes not slits.

 

[mstricer]

I don't understand that concept of homemade yogurt. when you ste using yogurt from the store and whole milk. isnt the same if you just use the yogurt you just bought. I'm trying to get some raw milk from my neighbor, I think I can make it out of that, right.

 

[Kilsharion]

I don't understand that concept of homemade yogurt. when you ste using yogurt from the store and whole milk. isnt the same if you just use the yogurt you just bought. I'm trying to get some raw milk from my neighbor, I think I can make it out of that, right.

"Homemade" to me means from the raw ingredients...

Yes, you can make homemade yogurt from raw milk. Here's a blog post about doing it. Go down to the "Best Raw Milk Yogurt Ever!" headline and start reading from there.

You can get yogurt starter cultures like this. Or, you can use yogurt itself. I think the reason they use yogurt itself is because the enzymes are already there - kinda like using someone else's mother to start your sourdough culture.

 

[mstricer]

Thank you I understand.

 

[fishermans wife]

I started FF for the first time about 36 hours ago - so excited! I stir at least 2 times a day, it is in the house - but it still shows no signs of fermentation? I originally put 1/4 cup of Braggs with mother in it , then added another "glug" last night as nothing was happening, that I can see or smell anyway, do I just wait it out? It is in a 2 part 5 gallon bucket with a towel over the top. Thanks for you help!