Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[B J Hopkins]

I think the funniest thing I have seen mine eat is spaghetti. They grab a mouthful and run with the others chasing them. lol They are really not to bright - every time they find something good to eat they start sqwalking and running. Well of course everybody is going to try to catch them and take it away, whatever it is! lol

My chickens love any kind of pasta! In the winter when it's REALLY cold, I'll cook some up and feed it to them. Warm belly's, warm body.

 

[OHhappychicks]

I'm sorry to be asking questions about fermenting here instead of reading thru the whole thread, but that is ALOT of reading!!

My 1st question is, what are the benefits of fermenting? 2nd - How often do you feed the fermented feed? 3rd - Can you use a 5 gal dry wall compound bucket? (cleaned of course) I'm wanting to use this for my meat birds, does it make a difference in the taste of the bird? 5th - What grains, or feed would I need to use for the fermentation? I would like to start on this asap. This is the first time having meat chickens. I want to use it for my laying hens as well, would I use the same "recipe" for both? We feed our layers, laying mash mixed with BOSS, a little oyster shell and a little flax seed. My hens are off laying for some reason. Our rooster died about a couple wks ago, so I don't know if that is the problem, but it has been since then that we have been getting 1-2 eggs a day, when we had been getting about 5 a day. We have 8 laying hens right now, but 24 chicks coming up. How old do the chicks need to be to feed fermented food? Thanks to all for sharing your knowledge with me!!

I forgot to mention, our chickens all free range every day. Going now to browse this thread!

Also forgot to mention, (as I'm reading at the beginning), My chicks are eating purina medicated (

) feed. Can this be fermented?

 

[OHhappychicks]

Well I just went ahead and started some of the chick starter. Just about 1/2 of an ice cream bucket full. I set it in an enamel stock pot. I don't think vinegar reacts with enamel, is that right? So here goes!!!

 

[Triple Willow]

Well I just went ahead and started some of the chick starter.  Just about 1/2 of an ice cream bucket full. I set it in an enamel stock pot.  I don't think vinegar reacts with enamel, is that right?  So here goes!!!

Hi OHhappychicks. I think the person to follow would be "Bekissed". You might want to click on her name on one of her posts and read her postings. I just started with the fermented feed a couple months ago so I am still learning. I have 15 fourteen week old birds on it and just started about 25 chicks on it. They all LOVE it and I mean seriously LOVE IT! lol When I first gave it to the chicks they looked at it kind of funny and pecked at it but once they start eating it they will dive in when you give it to them. I guess most people do use the natural apple cider vinegar in the ff but I have use other sources for fermentation: yogurt, buttermilk, baking yeast, and the probiotic chick packets from the feed store. I'll let the more experienced folks tell you all the benefits of fermenting feed. But one thing I will mention is the medicated feed. I don't and won't use it. If you feed the fermented feed you shouldn't need it at all. I'm not sure if it will work to make the fermented feed. I'm sure someone else can tell you. Good luck with you birds and fermenting. Take care.

 

[Triple Willow]

My chickens love any kind of pasta! In the winter when it's REALLY cold, I'll cook some up and feed it to them. Warm belly's, warm body.

Hi B J. I feed my dogs real warm feed late at night when it gets down real cold. Also a high energy dogfood helps in the winter. Like you, I figure "warm belly, warm body".

 

[Triple Willow]

Well I just went ahead and started some of the chick starter.  Just about 1/2 of an ice cream bucket full. I set it in an enamel stock pot.  I don't think vinegar reacts with enamel, is that right?  So here goes!!!

Your feed needs to be in either plastic, glass, some sort of stoneware or something similar. The bacteria in the fermentation does not work well with metal.

 

[OHhappychicks]

So I should take it out of the enamel? The feed is in plastic bucket, but it is setting in the enamel pot. I will try to find something else to put it in until I get some feedback. Thanks!

 

[Pent]

I ran out of my Fermented Feed two days ago, and had to buy more from the store and feed it moistened, not fermented. Well, my coop smells terrible today; it has never smelled this bad, and I think I can rightly blame not fermenting the feed. I got a huge bag so I won't make this mistake again. Thank you guys so much for introducing me to this stuff! When I put the fermented feed in today, they weren't nearly as excited as they used to be... until they tasted it, and realized the good stuff was back. Then the feeding frenzy began.

My dual purpose birds are growing beautifully, and save for the two bigger roos who are getting their big boy feathers in, my little flock is stunning. Good, stout bodies, perky and healthy, excellent feathering; I couldn't be happier.

 

[Triple Willow]

So I should take it out of the enamel? The feed is in plastic bucket, but it is setting in the enamel pot. I will try to find something else to put it in until I get some feedback.  Thanks!

It is fine as long as the metal isn't in direct contact with the feed. I'm sure some folks who know a lot more about fermented feed will be along to help you out soon. One tip, when you mix it up allow several inches for the feed to expand as it absorbs the water and the bacteria starts working. Otherwise it will expand and run over the sides of your container and make a mess! I don't know when I will ever learn this. lol

 

[mlowen]

Kilsharion knows fermenting like the back of her (?) hand. Find her posts, too.