Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[RedRidge]

Quote: Keep in mind this is for confined chickens who aren't getting anything else.
Free ranging is a different story.
Also... I raise BSF and freeze them during the summer when mine free range, so I have BSF all winter... so this reduces this total also.

I balance rations and mix for my cattle and sheep too... I'm a pretty anal person.

I feed everything by weight (I probably own 5 scales) LOL

 

[Beekissed]

ya know I noticed something today. I fed mine much more than they normally eat in a day so they would have a little left over for the a.m. so I wouldn't have to get up SO early to feed them in the a.m. When I went to shut their back gate to their roost tonight they had licked their bowl clean. They didn't get out to forage at all today so this is why I had no left overs and they even ate more today to. So foraging has saved me a lot of food that I didn't even realize it was saving me. Had plans today so couldn't let them out. Foraging saves on the food bill as well as gives them some goodies. Mine love to munch on the grass for awhile before they head for the bushes.

And how! Folks think that it's a husbandry choice simply because the birds are happier but the side benefit is that they receive a superior nutrition that I didn't have to buy! Any time you can cut costs on raising food it's worth it. It saved me so much money when raising meaties that I could come in waaaaay below everyone else on the total cost of the meat, which makes it cheaper than store bought and still have a superior, free ranged and healthier meat to eat. It's a win/win.

All because of one free dog...that's the success of my free ranging. One free dog. It's so simple that I wish I could bottle it and give it to every flock owner...but folks are always looking for the catch when it's too simple or doesn't cost any money.

 

[RedRidge]

I don't feed my production layers at all during the summer. Only those who are confined like chicks. Really helps the feed bill

 

[BlueMouse]

I'm a sucker. I give my layers a couple scoops to sweeten the pot when they go in at night

but, that's like, a cup and a half at MOST for nine birds? and they're all healthy happy and fat as little butterballs. I call that a win! now, the chickens in the tractors eat a lot more than that. I give them each a spoonfull, so about a half cup, twice a day. the turkeys a little more than that. And they get moved to fresh grass twice a day. We go through feed quicker than I would like, but with 15 guineas, six turkeys, and ten meat birds we still went through only about 50lbs a week. At butcher the guineas were excellent size, but I wasn't as happy with our meat birds. They had body fat, so obviously they were getting enough to eat. I think I need to feed them more when they're younger, and then less when they're a bit older. That's what I'm trying with this next round. Although, I kind of blame genetics with this round too. One was a total runt, as small as my DP birds at the same age, and the several that we had out on free range full time were about the same size as the ones in the tractor. I'll see what my results are with this second round, which are from a different source, and with a slight change in management.

 

[Beekissed]

Yeah...I give mine a dab before bed too. Seems to round out their nutritional needs and it isn't much compared to most folks' feed ration. And..I like to get some FF in their systems to keep their bowels in good health and the eggs sweet tasting.

 

[Triple Willow]

Keep in mind this is for confined chickens who aren't getting anything else. Free ranging is a different story. Also... I raise BSF and freeze them during the summer when mine free range, so I have BSF all winter... so this reduces this total also. I balance rations and mix for my cattle and sheep too... I'm a pretty anal person.

I feed everything by weight (I probably own 5 scales) LOL

RedRidge I believe you are a brainiac. Feeding the way you do is the way to make a profit at this stuff!

 

[Erin~TheChickenLover]

I've come across a problem. It seems like when the ff isn't completely submerged in liquid, it turns a grey color and has a rotten smell. I won't feed that to the chickens. Do I just need to keep more water in the ff and stir it more or is there a problem? I'm worried about it getting bad mold and bacteria and whatnot in it and making the chickens sick.

 

[wlhtx]

If you'll read through some older pages on this thread, you'll see that we all get a grayish film on the top of the feed. Many refer to this as the "mother" or the good bacteria that shows your ferment is working. Just stir it back into your bucket and feed it out.

As for the "rotten" smell, that may just be your nose. I say that because my DH literally banned our ff bucket from the shop because he couldn't stand the "rotten" smell - when the smell just smelled a little sour to me, not rancid in the slightest... I will say that the super hot temps we've been having has strengthened the smell somewhat, but the chickens still love it!

 

[Beekissed]

I've come across a problem. It seems like when the ff isn't completely submerged in liquid, it turns a grey color and has a rotten smell. I won't feed that to the chickens. Do I just need to keep more water in the ff and stir it more or is there a problem? I'm worried about it getting bad mold and bacteria and whatnot in it and making the chickens sick.

If I didn't feed that kind of feed to my chickens they'd have starved that last few years!

I never keep mine submerged and it always has some of the scoby in evidence on the top when I go to feed. I just feed, give it a good stir and it's all better. Next day..same thing. The reason you can't smell your FF as strongly when it's under water is because...it's under water. The feed tends to hold smells more than the fluids but I'm assuming that is because inside the feed is where the active metabolism of the bacteria is taking place, therefore the smells that are a byproduct of that metabolism are stronger in the actual grains.

It will not get bad mold and it will not get the chickens sick...my old birds are at the top of their game and still putting eggs in the nest during the heat and molting, so if this feed is making them sick, I'm not seeing any evidence of it.

This is the feed before I stir it and feed it....a beigey white film is laying along the top of the feed. Depending on what feed mix I am using, that film is beige, white, or light grey.




This is the same bucket with the mix stirred and the feed piled up on one side to show the fluid level that I keep in the mix most of the time...never do I keep it over the feed except when I first replenish the bucket with fresh, dry grain and fresh water. After that is absorbed I don't add any more water to bring the fluid over the feed.




If you are throwing away that film on the feed, you are throwing away the best portion...it's the same material I take out of the silt in the bottom of my bottom bucket about every 4-6 mo. and it is extremely sour in smell, soft and gooey. The animals all fight to eat that stuff when I take it out, though it is very strong in smell and a light greyish white in color. That's the mother, the scoby, the good probiotics produced by this fermentation. It's all good!

 

[colburg]

Tried posting this on the Heritage thread, but didn't get any responses, so maybe somebody over here can help.


I have a question about a chicken I just put in the fridge. One of our broody's was in bad shape when I went to feed this PM. Mouth full of slime, and extra runny poop. Wouldn't swallow when I put water in her mouth.



When skinnin her, the crop was about 3/4's the size of my fist...pretty dang big. It also seemed very dry, not mushy at all. I feed fermented layer pellets only in the evening, but we were on vacation and the in-laws decided they need a little more food yesterday morning, and fed them straight wheat in the AM. The trough was still half full of wheat when I fed that evening. BTW, her crop was full of nothin but wheat.



I think it was an impacted crop(if there is such a thing) that did her in, but what's also interesting was her innards. Everything had an extreme coating of yellow fat. You couldn't see any pink on the gizzard it was so thick. I never even saw the heart.



The weirdest part was the liver. I could just poke it witha finger and my finger would go straight through. It was a meduim brown color, didn't look right at all. I've only butchered about 60 chickens and never seen anything like this, so I'm hoping someone may have a clue as to what was going on.



Thanks,