Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Lacy Blues]

Wow, pretty quiet here lately.

Does anyone have any idea whether it would be good to add a splash of Red Cell to my ferment? I'm only doing whole grains so the liquid is liquid, not all sucked up into a disintegrating mash.

 

[Triple Willow]

My dog has decided that he likes the chicken's FF. A couple of the chickens do not like him eating their feed! Funny critters! LOL

 

[Demosthine]

My dog has decided that he likes the chicken's FF. A couple of the chickens do not like him eating their feed! Funny critters! LOL

You can do the same thing with his food, too, and get the additional nutritional benefits. Some exact process and everything.

 

[silkiemomma42]

Our great pyrenees' love to steal our chicks FF. I have thought about doing it for them too, but I have worked in the veterinary field my entire life and I know a diet of soft food, tender bites etc. is really bad for their teeth You'd have to compensate with extra brushing and lots of interactive teeth and gum cleaning toys and treats and eventually you'd have to give them a dental every year or 2. You'd have to do a cost analysis of food saved, plus dietary benefits weighed next to extended dental hygiene care etc. Also could you imagine the smell? Fermenting proteins smell sooo bad!

 

[nguyenkinhphuc2]

I am sorry that I didn't read all posts before posting. But what kind of feeder do you use to feed fermented (wet) feed? If you have pictures, it will be more than perfect. Thanks!!!

 

[silkiemomma42]

A lot of people fashion their own. Anything plastic, glass or ceramic is fine. The fermentation process can cause a few issues if used with metal. For chicks I use one of those long feeder troughs. I learned a while ago to leave the lid off, because they really enjoy trampling through their feed while they eat. There are several people on here who have fabricated their own devices so their chicks can keep dry crust free feet. I only worry about elevating it when the silkies get older. Crusty feather feet are 0 fun

 

[armorfirelady]

I made the holder for mine out of 2x2s and the trough is a drywall trough (got the idea from Mumsy)




The plastic trough just sits on top so I can easily remove it to clean it. The holder has gotten tipped over once.

 

[highline]

You can do the same thing with his food, too, and get the additional nutritional benefits. Some exact process and everything.

I've been fermenting dog food (FDF) for about 3 months now. One big difference I notice is the odor. Plain n simple, FDF stinks. I guess it's the chicken and fish meal in the food. (26% protein) Fish meal is listed about 1/2 way down the list so I don't think there is that much there, just enough to boost the protein from the normal 18% - 21% to 26%.

One of the reasons I started feeding FDF is GAS. I mix FDF with dry kibble about 1:3 and the dogs love it. But unfortunately for me the only real difference I've noticed is the farts smell different.

 

[swirler]

Oh, kibble! I was reading this thread trying to imagine throwing hearts and livers and chickens and pork shoulders into the hooch, and leaving it, and it was just ... not working for me at all.

 

[Kilsharion]

Oh, kibble! I was reading this thread trying to imagine throwing hearts and livers and chickens and pork shoulders into the hooch, and leaving it, and it was just ... not working for me at all.

I'd imagin it wouldn't.

Especially if you were fermenting inside. Fermenting fish meal and/or mbm and/or blood meal gives off an absolutely foul odour. I have smelled fermenting meat (you do it for certain types of sausage) and....seriously nasty. It's why I ferment outdoors....I don't want it anywhere inside where I have to deal with the smell.

Plus, you have to be careful fermenting any raw meat...there can be some bad problems associated with it.

I made the holder for mine out of 2x2s and the trough is a drywall trough (got the idea from Mumsy)




The plastic trough just sits on top so I can easily remove it to clean it. The holder has gotten tipped over once.

I have one kind of like this - only it's down inside a full wooden frame. It has a lid on it to keep the birds from walking on top of it and pooping in their food - which they love to do with open troughs. I used 4" PVC pipe instead of a pre-made plastic feeder; but, it's the same concept. Works great! I use smaller versions for holding the oyster shell and grit, too.