Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[vfem]

Hubby is pushing me to process tonight... we've got a big weekend planned. Then he's going camping next week, and the week after is my birthday so I'm hoping for a date night and a beach trip. So I don't think we can wait 4 more weeks and get some nice tender birds. With him working 10+ hour days and all I got going on no way we could squeeze in a week night process. Plus I want to get more birds soon, I'm pretty pleased with how this has gone.

I will get final weights from these guys, and then try the ff again from the beginning next time with a new batch and see how much better they do.

 

[crazychickenwom]

!!!!PLEASE HELP!!!!

Not only do I have the runtish chick... but now I have one with sour crop... I have been putting the ACV in their feed of course, but quit putting it in the water... did I do the wrong thing?

I got her to vomit this afternoon and a lot of feed and bile like stuff came out, but her crop is still as big as the rest of her. I separated her from the rest of the flock into an area right next to them. After that I couldn't remember what else to do... I have since read several things on here... acv water only for 3 days, then yogurt for a couple then slowly reintroducing food... olive oil syringe a few times a day... monistat... I am just not sure who's advice to follow... anyone have any experience with this and what did you do that worked???

I will check again in the morning, for now I with held food, still gave her plenty of acv water. Thanks in advance for your help!!

 

[lhousesoccer]

This looks awesome and I want to try it. I'm sorry for not reading all 61 pages or replies (!! popular thread !!) so maybe it's been asked and answered already, but can this fermenting be done with regular Blue Seal or Agway type crumbles or pellets? Or do you have to do it with actually whole, real grains? If the latter, where do I find that?

Thanks!

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

I'm mixing my commercial feed with grains so you are fine there. If you want to add grains (cheaper than feeding straight commercial feed) you can usually find them at your local co-op's or feed stores.

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

!!!!PLEASE HELP!!!!

Not only do I have the runtish chick... but now I have one with sour crop... I have been putting the ACV in their feed of course, but quit putting it in the water... did I do the wrong thing?

I got her to vomit this afternoon and a lot of feed and bile like stuff came out, but her crop is still as big as the rest of her. I separated her from the rest of the flock into an area right next to them. After that I couldn't remember what else to do... I have since read several things on here... acv water only for 3 days, then yogurt for a couple then slowly reintroducing food... olive oil syringe a few times a day... monistat... I am just not sure who's advice to follow... anyone have any experience with this and what did you do that worked???

I will check again in the morning, for now I with held food, still gave her plenty of acv water. Thanks in advance for your help!!

Hmmm...how do you know when a chick has sour crop?

 

[vfem]

I processed the birds last night though I was sure they could have used another week or so. I didn't have time for the next 3 weekends. I only ended up with 3.5lb finished birds (1 almost 4lbs). I noticed there hearts were HUGE, made me realize I could have lost them any day though... I've done my heritage breed extra roos before and their hearts were half the size.

Anyways, it was probably nothing but it made me worry I may have done something wrong, or that is normal for a cornish x?

 

[griffinkid02]

Just want to add, that my nankin bantams seem to have made a turn for prefering dry crumbles to the FF but not by much. Also while my birds are not meat birds I wanted to share for anyone looking at this and wondering about using it on a non_meaty, non-layer breed; one of the biggest provlems with nankins at this time (aside from the hovering on extinction bit) is color. Nankins should range from med to dark chestnut in roos and light to med chestnut in hens. Most nankins I have seen have hens closer to wheaten. My birds are BEAUTIFULLY dark. This is in part due to there fine heritage, I got them from a breeder who consistantly wins her competitions, but I am conbinced the FF is contributing exponentially, as my birds have darkened almost two full shades since starting the FF.

 

[bj taylor]

my first day of ff. they tore into it like they hadn't eaten in awhile, even though they had free choice dry sitting next to it. this evening i gave them another little cup. one girl hogged it & wouldn't let the others eat until she couldn't eat anymore. then eveyone else got a chance.
i have a few bugs to work out, but i like it alot. i'm wondering if i can keep it on the kitchen counter & add some kitchen scraps to it during the day - or will it be stinky? with 9 birds i use just a little.

 

[chicks4fun]

I processed the birds last night though I was sure they could have used another week or so. I didn't have time for the next 3 weekends. I only ended up with 3.5lb finished birds (1 almost 4lbs). I noticed there hearts were HUGE, made me realize I could have lost them any day though... I've done my heritage breed extra roos before and their hearts were half the size.

Anyways, it was probably nothing but it made me worry I may have done something wrong, or that is normal for a cornish x?

Do you know what their weight was before you processed them? I am raising my first meaties & I have weighed them but I have no idea how much you lose to the processing.

 

[muckmuck]

In regards to the "fermenting" process, is the goal to create a fermentation like you do with beer? where the goal is to transform the carb/sugars? or is it one of creating an acidic environment and encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria? I have seen where it was recommended to start with yeast in the water, unpasteurized ACV or "mother" from vinegar production. I'm definitely not an expert but from google I can tell that there are at least two different chemical process' going on and am just curious what everyone thinks is going on in there fermentation buckets.

Max