Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Demosthine]

I went through 750 lbs of feed for 35 birds in 8 weeks.

Ok, maybe it's just me, but that sounds like an extremely unusually high amount of food for that amount of birds. For my flock of 15 chickens and 3 turkeys, I go through a 50 pound bag every 6 weeks or so. Are you free ranging yours or are they strictly caged and fed commercial feed? Granted, I understand the broilers eat more than the layers, but over 5 1/2 times more food seems excessive.

50 Pounds / 6 Weeks = 8.4 Pounds per Week
8.4 Pounds per Week * 8 Weeks = 67.2 Pounds Total for Current Flock
67.2 Pounds Total for Current Flock / 18 Birds = 3.73 Pounds per Bird
3.73 Pounds per Bird * 35 Birds = 131 Pounds Total for Your Flock
131 Pounds Total for Your Flock / 50 Pounds per Bag = 3 Bags
3 Bags Feed * $25 per Bag = $75 Feed Costs


From my understanding you lose about 25% of the weight once dressed. I'm guessing the 8 pounds is the live weight.

35 Birds * 6 Pounds per Bird = 210 Pounds Meat
$75 Feed / 210 Pounds Meat = $0.36 per Pound


Anyway, that's based off my flock. I'm extremely curious to hear more details because I was planning on doing about two-dozen broilers this fall and am hoping to get as much information as possible. Please update us on your dressed weights. If your feed rates are more accurate, I may need to seriously rethink this. I don't have the $250 for feed that your rates would cost!

 

[Jordi15]

Actually, I leave for three days as per usual and leave out FF just like dry feed.  It doesn't go bad or anything of that nature...they eat it just fine and it's been consumed while I'm gone.  Just getting ready to do that very thing today and will be leaving three day's FF, water and a kiss for luck because they free range all the time I'm gone also. 

Ok that makes me happy! We leave on weekends a lot and I was worried it would go bad...

 

[NanaKat]

Suggestion for a strainer for your ff that is less reactive to the acid in the ACV. Window screen cloth and a round quilting hoop...they come in all sizes so you can adjust for the size container you need to strain. I found the wooden hoops hold up better in the larger size.
Window sceen comes in both a plastic and a metal mesh. Either one works in well. The metal is a little stiffer to get into the hoop, so I cut the circle and cut triangle slits to allow the screen to overlap in the hoop. Duct tape around the edge protects your fingers from the mesh. The plastic screen works well and is easier to lock on the hoop..easier on the fingers too.

 

[shanmaria1]

I will update you on dressed weights. Unfortunately I was also feeding 15 layers with this as well. I also did not start fermenting feed until they were 5 wks old.

 

[Demosthine]

I will update you on dressed weights. Unfortunately I was also feeding 15 layers with this as well. I also did not start fermenting feed until they were 5 wks old.

Ah, so the number did look worse in that post than it really was! That's very good to know, for both our budgets. It's amazing how much less they all eat on the fermented feed. That's pretty much all I'll feed now. Good luck on the processing. I hope it all goes very smooth.

 

[Regin]

My 8 are 15 weeks old and I've used about 120 lbs of feed. Three of mine are roo-pigs!
that was 50 lbs starter crumble then 70 lbs grower mash (fermented feed).

If your layers are similar to mine that would leave about 630 lbs feed for the amount fed to the broilers.
or about 18 lbs each. feed conversion 2.25 to 1.

I had read the feed conversion for the CX is supposed to be 2 to1. I think that was referring to body weight instead of dressed out.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Ok, maybe it's just me, but that sounds like an extremely unusually high amount of food for that amount of birds. For my flock of 15 chickens and 3 turkeys, I go through a 50 pound bag every 6 weeks or so. Are you free ranging yours or are they strictly caged and fed commercial feed? Granted, I understand the broilers eat more than the layers, but over 5 1/2 times more food seems excessive.

50 Pounds / 6 Weeks = 8.4 Pounds per Week
8.4 Pounds per Week * 8 Weeks = 67.2 Pounds Total for Current Flock
67.2 Pounds Total for Current Flock / 18 Birds = 3.73 Pounds per Bird
3.73 Pounds per Bird * 35 Birds = 131 Pounds Total for Your Flock
131 Pounds Total for Your Flock / 50 Pounds per Bag = 3 Bags
3 Bags Feed * $25 per Bag = $75 Feed Costs


From my understanding you lose about 25% of the weight once dressed. I'm guessing the 8 pounds is the live weight.

35 Birds * 6 Pounds per Bird = 210 Pounds Meat
$75 Feed / 210 Pounds Meat = $0.36 per Pound


Anyway, that's based off my flock. I'm extremely curious to hear more details because I was planning on doing about two-dozen broilers this fall and am hoping to get as much information as possible. Please update us on your dressed weights. If your feed rates are more accurate, I may need to seriously rethink this. I don't have the $250 for feed that your rates would cost!

I'm not going through that much food either and I'm feeding 38 chickens. I use about 50 pounds in a little over a week before I started fermenting and now it's less than that.

 

[Brada Puhi]

Aloha,

Does anyone know what kind of gas is in the bubbles?

mahalo, Puhi

 

[Regin]

I'm not going through that much food either and I'm feeding 38 chickens. I use about 50 pounds in a little over a week before I started fermenting and now it's less than that.

I noticed my first bag of food lasted pretty long, but the bigger they got, the more they ate.

 

[Windy Bay Farm]

Actually, I leave for three days as per usual and leave out FF just like dry feed.  It doesn't go bad or anything of that nature...they eat it just fine and it's been consumed while I'm gone.  Just getting ready to do that very thing today and will be leaving three day's FF, water and a kiss for luck because they free range all the time I'm gone also. 

I have a question about this; I started fermenting my feed just a little over 3 days ago and I'm wondering how long I can continue to use the feed without it spoiling ? How do I know if and when it is no longer fit to feed. At some point I'll get the amount down that I need without having leftovers but right now I'm in the early stages and am still getting used to what they can eat in a sitting.

Right now the FF has an odour that is a kind of bittersweet smell - is this normal ?