Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Its an insecticide...... A by product of the Orange Juice industry. also used as a cleaner. biodegradeable and smells good too.

Orange oil link

deb

 

[crazyaboutchickens]

I totally agree with you. Too many people would rather rely on chemicals and over-complicated remedies for their birds rather than the simpler things like maintaining their immune systems. Recently I have switched my whole flock of ducks and chickens over to fermented feed, thanks to you, and the information in this thread. Also, I don't know if you ever decided to write a book or if it was just a random idea, but you should.

Amen!  So glad you could use the info and so glad to have you here!  About the book...if I ever do write it, people will either love it or they will hate it because I'm going to tell it like it is.  Take it or leave it! 

That's the way things should be written. I will definitely be getting a copy in that case.

 

[rosiekitty94]

okay, you're going to have to help me out here!
so let's get this straight...
so to make fermented feed you mix chick starter, water and vinegar in a sieve like container? Could I use my multi-flock starter/grower? How much what is the ratio of water to feed to vinegar. I'm assuming ACV is vinegar...? What kind of vinegar should you use? Should you put a lid on the fermentation bucket at night?
Thanks! Sorry I'm kinda slow to catch on!

 

[waltandlori]

My next brooder is going to be on wire.... covered with shelf liner at first while they are itsy but by week two it will be wire. I tried to brood up 40 Guinea Keets in tubs and it was a nightmare between the poo and the spilled or knocked over water and feed. Guinea Keets are very very active little Jack Booters.... they run screaming every time they see you for the first couple of weeks too.

For what its worth they wont get acclimatized in the garage.... Is there a way you can rig a spot out in the coop where they can go to get warmed up? I have seen old time warming units which are just four legs with a lamp on top and fabric hanging down in strips on the sides to keep the heat in. The chicks come and go from in there to get warmed up or to nap what ever they need. If you can make the legs on the warmer adjustable so you can raise it up as they grow.

deb

I'm probably all wet, but I was under the impression to keep them warm and drop the temp 5 degrees every couple days. I can't do that anywhere but the garage (not heated garage) but I leave a window open for fresh air. The brooder for the first week was just a cardboard corral, then I brought in the tractor and just shined the heatlamp in one end and the other has a tarp on it for going outside so they get out of the sun. When it's hot it is hot in there and when it is cold it's cold in there. unfortunatly the weather is not co operating, I was good for a week or so it was warm then it went cold like in the low 40's a lot of them have bald spots so I don't want to get them chilled. I've been turning the heat lights off during the day and just heating the room at night last night it was only 73 in there so they are getting used to the cooler air. I'm not sure exactly where their home is going to be, bbbeeeeccaaauuse, when the grand daughter was here wifey decided to get some more freeloaders,,,, I mean aahhh goats, Pygmy goats and they are now in the new fenced in coop. My to do list grows bigger than I can knock them off. lol oh well meatys only have another 4-5 months. I don't remember having any trouble at all last year, beginners luck or else I'm overthinking again.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:

For what its worth they wont get acclimatized in the garage.... Is there a way you can rig a spot out in the coop where they can go to get warmed up? I have seen old time warming units which are just four legs with a lamp on top and fabric hanging down in strips on the sides to keep the heat in. The chicks come and go from in there to get warmed up or to nap what ever they need. If you can make the legs on the warmer adjustable so you can raise it up as they grow.

deb

I'm probably all wet, but I was under the impression to keep them warm and drop the temp 5 degrees every couple days. I can't do that anywhere but the garage (not heated garage) but I leave a window open for fresh air. The brooder for the first week was just a cardboard corral, then I brought in the tractor and just shined the heatlamp in one end and the other has a tarp on it for going outside so they get out of the sun. When it's hot it is hot in there and when it is cold it's cold in there. unfortunatly the weather is not co operating, I was good for a week or so it was warm then it went cold like in the low 40's a lot of them have bald spots so I don't want to get them chilled. I've been turning the heat lights off during the day and just heating the room at night last night it was only 73 in there so they are getting used to the cooler air. I'm not sure exactly where their home is going to be, bbbeeeeccaaauuse, when the grand daughter was here wifey decided to get some more freeloaders,,,, I mean aahhh goats, Pygmy goats and they are now in the new fenced in coop. My to do list grows bigger than I can knock them off. lol oh well meatys only have another 4-5 months. I don't remember having any trouble at all last year, beginners luck or else I'm overthinking again.



Oh my no not all wet I thought they were mostly fledged.... my bad ....

deb

 

[AletaG]

okay, you're going to have to help me out here!
so let's get this straight...
so to make fermented feed you mix chick starter, water and vinegar in a sieve like container? Could I use my multi-flock starter/grower? How much what is the ratio of water to feed to vinegar. I'm assuming ACV is vinegar...? What kind of vinegar should you use? Should you put a lid on the fermentation bucket at night?
Thanks! Sorry I'm kinda slow to catch on!

U.nP.astuerized apple cider vinegar. (ACV). Most feeds here use shorthand ACV to mean the unpasturized version... the 'mother of vinegar' is a massively awesome probiotic, and is a cheaters way to start off fermenting your feed. Ferment whatever you want to feed your birds. Only no-no I've really seen is you don't go with whole grains and day old chicks, hard for them to eat. You need enough water make it wet! and enough UPACV to start. I did about 10C feed plus about 1.5gal water and about 1/4c vinegar. I cheated and used a fish air bubbler for aeration, or just stir a couple times a day, it needs air. Mine ended up too thin, so had to use a big pasta strainer scoop to get it out. I feed about 1 full (wet) cup to 4 adult birds once a day. Mileage will vary.

 

[Beekissed]

okay, you're going to have to help me out here!
so let's get this straight...
so to make fermented feed you mix chick starter, water and vinegar in a sieve like container? Could I use my multi-flock starter/grower? How much what is the ratio of water to feed to vinegar. I'm assuming ACV is vinegar...? What kind of vinegar should you use? Should you put a lid on the fermentation bucket at night?
Thanks! Sorry I'm kinda slow to catch on!

You are starting this in the cool time of the year, so it may take a little longer to ferment. It does best in ambient temps of 70 or above. You don't really have to have a sieve like container, many do it in a simple bucket. You can ferment any grain you have and feed it to all ages of birds. There is no ratio, you will have to play with it until you get the right texture for you...just use common sense on how much your feed will absorb, so when you mix your feed and water, place your water about 4 in. over the feed and have it well stirred. It will absorb and you can just keep all surfaces moist by stirring and it will ferment in that way just fine. If using chick starter, most like to keep it to a peanut butter consistency, so mix accordingly. You can place mother vinegar (you can find it at Walmart, Heinz brand) and it doesn't take much so just put a splash into your mix...it can help get things going along. After that initial ACV, you shouldn't have to ever add it again...just use a little of the previous batch of feed to get the next one started.

Things to remember, no matter what you hear:
You do not have to keep your feed submerged under the FF water at all times.
You do not have to strain it if you just mix it thicker.
Do not use ACV every time you mix more feed...just use some of the previous feed to inoculate the next.
You do not have to use distilled water and town water is fine.
It will not spoil as long as you are tending it every day and it won't even spoil if you have to leave it for a few days on a trip.
The film you see on the top is not going to kill your birds due to mold...it's beneficial microbes often referred to as the scoby.
Use a plastic bucket or stoneware crock but never metal unless it is really high quality stainless steel...the acid in the feed will corrode other metals and leach into the feed. Bad juju.
Don't offer other types of feed as an alternative...just the FF. They will eat it and once they do, they will practically mug you to get more.
Don't try to ferment fish meal or feeds with fish meal unless you want the CSI knocking on your door to investigate the dead body you are hiding.

 

[foreverlearning]

okay, you're going to have to help me out here!
so let's get this straight...
so to make fermented feed you mix chick starter, water and vinegar in a sieve like container? Could I use my multi-flock starter/grower? How much what is the ratio of water to feed to vinegar. I'm assuming ACV is vinegar...? What kind of vinegar should you use? Should you put a lid on the fermentation bucket at night?
Thanks! Sorry I'm kinda slow to catch on!

Forget about the sieve unless you are doing bigger grains the holes will clog too much. Yes, what you have will work. I used a 5gal bucket, 1/4 feed, 2/3 water, and about 3 glugs of acv. I have been using mass amounts lately so I use that within a day. Keep any fluid that is in the bottom and you won't need to add more acv.

 

[RoseMarie1]

BEE was it mineral oil or castor oil you used on your chickens feet for the mites scaly legs? I was thinking castor oil but I think that's wrong.

 

[Beekissed]

BEE was it mineral oil or castor oil you used on your chickens feet for the mites scaly legs? I was thinking castor oil but I think that's wrong.

You were right! Castor oil it is!