Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Kilsharion]

So I did a small batch first. 64 oz of unmedicated chick starter and 64 oz of 7 grain scratch. It's in the bucket and is soaking. If it works well for the chicks then I'll keep out it.

How many times a day do you all feed your birds?

I feed once a day - morning when I let them out and they get scratch in the evening as soon as I get home from work. Well - generally my husband or neighbour gets stuck with evening duty as I'm most often at work until too late (70 hour work weeks suck, just sayin'). I don't like having feed out during the heat of the day, and our flock tends to forage quite a bit. The morning feed is the FF. The evening feed is just scratch grains. I used to put out regular, dry feed as free feed throughout the day; but, they never ate it. So, I just stopped putting it out. I increased the amount of FF a bit (about 1/3 cup a bird at the moment) and they eat it right up. My four keets are going through about 1/4 cup in the morning and 1/4 cup in the evening - but, I mix a bit of raw goat's milk in with it, too, so it's a bit more liquid-y (I know...that's not a word) than my flock's feed.


BTW - I'm guestimating on the amounts. I've not actually ever measured it. I should do so. **makes mental note**

 

[SunnysMama]

Okay thanks, I'll go back and search for it. By the time it's done fermenting they'll be six weeks.


Did you have CX birds or another breed. These are production reds. I didn't like CX birds so I vowed not to raise them this year.

Yes, I raised CX and they were so much different than the batch I raised on dry feed. Both batches of birds were purchased from the same place.

Why didn't you like them?

 

[countrygirl74]

Incorrect all above

Facts I wanted facts figures numbers that is what i wanted. I was going to do FF until I heard and saw Numbers. You see I am a accounant just by someone telling me the numbers add up and not showing me the numbers well in my world that does not add up.

I am not spreading hate in fact up unitl this past saturday I was going to do it...

I asked a simple question and it went way off course. I asked for PROOF and like stated before JUST someone telling me so does not ring my bell. I want to see numbers.

I was NOT trying to be negative but only asking for facts.Not trying to stir the pot or anything. It did sound like a great idea. I mean comeon who would not want to feed their chickens half the food and get better results. I was hoping for that.

After asking for PROOF like someone who took the time and did a study like the other link (the post on this board) that is all.

Now let me respond to a few of the people posting

Sunnysmama and Costa Rica Art

I never wnated to change anyone from doing what they wanted in fact if you go back it was Yinepu that tried to do that to me. I was ready to drop it and hinted at that a few times.

I completely understand wanting the scientific proof - especially if I was going to be raising meat birds and needed to know cost vs. profit, etc.

This is just my experience... I have all layers and a couple roos. Fed them non-ff and was going through almost 100 pounds a month - Decided to try the ff and cut my feed in half. That was all I needed to continue, but that's just me in my situation. I pay for good organic mash so I was hoping to help save money, which it did. I am not concerned with weight or anything here... just overall health and laying - which seems to be great so I have no reason not to do it. Nothing scientific about it - just experienced something good from it. I think that's just the thoughts with a lot of people on here. They tried it - it worked for them - for one reason or another. For me, it's not a lot of work - in fact, it seems easier as I only have to feed once a day and sometimes not even that as it can sit out - even get wet in a sprinkle, etc. and still be good. Since I work with a mash, there's not really any mess - just scoop it out with a strainer spoon the same as I would scoop up dry with a cup. However, there are other methods and feeds that can be more difficult or time-consuming... I think everyone has to find out what works for them and their flock and then just stick with it. My sister, for example, just does dry feed and her chickens do fine on that. To each his own...

 

[stone_family3]

Yes, I raised CX and they were so much different than the batch I raised on dry feed. Both batches of birds were purchased from the same place.

Why didn't you like them?

IMO they were far more dirty, they felt greasy when handled them and they spent most of the time bald. Not to mention they were so dumb, often times when they were free ranging I had to keep a close eye on them because they would go up near the stray cats. I also found it morally wrong to have a bird get so big in such a short time.

Maybe it's just me, but I was bothered by the whole experience which is why I'm not raising them this year.

 

[Bitterroot]

Now did they track their progress? did they keep records or just off the hip type of stuff. the only benifits Ihear of is back yard hobby people NO true studies other then the one I posted.

I think the idiot bell in my head just went off.

Then please DO go where there are less idiots. This thread is a long enough read as-is without people barging in just to argue. You've said it several times. It's not for you. So go, and leave this thread for the back yard hobby people to talk about the benefits they see with their own eyes and don't need study results to tell them.

 

[yinepu]

Quote:
I feed once a day as well.. For me it depends on how hot or cold it is outside as to when I give them their feed.

Mine are also getting sprouted grains and I will be adding in raw goat milk kefir within the next week

as for how much.. i go through several 5 gallon buckets of feed a day.. that's between the chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and pigeons.

 

[Mikedero]

Then please DO go where there are less idiots. This thread is a long enough read as-is without people barging in just to argue. You've said it several times. It's not for you. So go, and leave this thread for the back yard hobby people to talk about the benefits they see with their own eyes and don't need study results to tell them.

DUDE you mis-read that and quoted me wrong I was calling myself a idiot I stated that a guy that worked for a feed factory of course was not going to want to save you feed. you got that ALL WRONG. Sure you might not understand that as a person would want facts instead of just oh it saved money, sorry each person is different on how they research things and not just change a tried and proven way.

Country girl

where did you find the mash?? maybe a local brewery?

 

[countrygirl74]

Country girl

where did you find the mash?? maybe a local brewery?

This is what I use - there are others available but I hate fermenting anything but mash. No shipping - we have a local drop. Here is a picture of how easy it is to scoop it out and put in the dishes. it drains easily through this big "strainer" spoon I picked up from Wal-mart - no complicated bucket systems or anything - just one bucket next to my feed bag. Of course, I have just around 10 full-grown chickens and 4 full-grown ducks and 9 new chicks. I just add more feed as I use feed, and add water as needed.

 

[Kilsharion]

This is what I use - there are others available but I hate fermenting anything but mash. No shipping - we have a local drop. Here is a picture of how easy it is to scoop it out and put in the dishes. it drains easily through this big "strainer" spoon I picked up from Wal-mart - no complicated bucket systems or anything - just one bucket next to my feed bag. Of course, I have just around 10 full-grown chickens and 4 full-grown ducks and 9 new chicks. I just add more feed as I use feed, and add water as needed.

That looks about the consistency of mine. I use H&H mash. I agree, mash just is so much more preferable (for me). I had never heard of Azure until you mentioned it the other day. There's none near me that I could find and H&H seems to be doing the job quite splendidly; but, it's good to have the information handy about another non-GMO feed.

 

[ChickChickChicky]

So, I'm reading through this thing...and, there are some things that jump out at me.

1. They had 30 birds age 16-38 weeks in a space that was 8 square meters....for those of you who don't know what that means...it means they had 30 birds in a total of 26 sq feet...break it down farther...less than one sq ft per bird - dunno about you, but my health would suffer in such an environment, too
2. The birds were beak trimmed and commercial stock - the stock that loves to go all cannibal on you, esp in confined spaces
3. Their fermentation process consisted of water and feed....that's it. No starter culture. After 72 hours they called it fermented and ran with it.
4. The "loss of appeal" that they refer to? It's when they would put out more than the birds could eat in a single day and expect the birds to eat it the following day....I'd pretty much turn my nose up at day old food, myself. It had nothing to do with the birds no longer finding the FF tasty when provided in a proper manner.

8 sq. meters equals just over 86 sq. feet, NOT 26 sq. ft. Quite a difference.

Trimmed beaks and commercial stock does IN NO WAY equal "stock that loves to go all cannibal on you, esp in confined spaces". I have some debeaked former battery birds (production reds) that are the most docile I've ever seen and definitely not cannibalistic.

Day old ff is still just the same old ff as what's in your bucket, it makes no difference whether it's in your bucket or in the birds' feed dish... it is the same age and the same stuff. If my birds have any feed left in their bowl the next day I dump it on the ground and it becomes magic to them, they love it even better with dirt and poop scratched into it.