Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[SunnysMama]

My hens have been eating FF for over a year now with no signs of aggression or poor plumage (my girls that molted this year feathered in so much faster and look amazing). As a matter of fact they are shinier and softer on the FF than they were on straight crumbles. My feeder that has the cry crumbles (offered free choice) in it will last them for about 3 - 4 days and they will go through 9 - 10 quarts of FF in a day (before you freak out on how much feed...I have 52 layers and 2 roosters that consume this amount). My eggs shells are a lot stronger on the FF, also. I have nice healthy, happy hens that wait very impatiently at the gate for me to bring the FF to their feeders!!

Kjordanov...just curious what you found as negative effects in the article.

I promise that I am not trying to be mean or argumentative, just wanting to know everyone's opinions.

 

[SunnysMama]

FF actually reduces my time spent every morning; but, that's because if it's not FF, it's a wet mash...that I have to mix every morning. With FF, it's scoop, add back feed and water, distribute FF to birds, call it done. Takes me from about 45 min in the morning (wet mash) to about 15 minutes in the morning (FF). Considering my work schedule, this is a benefit for me. The results I've seen in my birds has been beneficial, as well. I don't have the time to sit down and draw up a scientific paper and publish it....nor do I have the inclination. The real life results suit me fine. The fact that I have completely eliminated the need for dry food in their run (thus no longer having to worry about spoilage when we get our rare rains), the healthier looking/behaving birds, the easier clean up and the reduction in time required to provide their feed have all been pluses in my book. So far, I've not found a negative.


3. Fermented feed seemed to loose attractiveness for the birds quite rapidly, resulting in a more aggressive behaviour and a poorer plumage condition than in birds given dry feed. The use of fermented feed reduced the litter DM content.

There, certainly, has been no loss in interest in the FF from my birds - makes me wonder what they were doing that the birds lost interest? Mine jump up onto my hands before I even get the food bowls down; and, when I go to pick them up - just like the other person said - they look licked clean. I'm still trying to figure out how animals with beaks can get a bowl so empty...

4. During the experimental period, the body weight gain of hens receiving fermented feed was 80 g higher than of hens fed the dry mash. Presumably because of an extended adaptation time to the feed, the onset of lay occurred later when hens were fed on fermented feed, resulting in non-significantly reduced total egg production (75 vs. 82%).

There is certainly weight gain involved... I couldn't tell you the specifics of why - just the fact that there certainly was a difference in weight by ~1 pound. That would be significantly more than 80g...

8. It was concluded that fermented wet feed offers potential benefits for health and nutrition, but may become suitable for layers only after the practical problems related to this feeding form have been overcome. However, an early adaptation of the birds during the rearing period seems to be necessary.

I am unwilling to pay $44 to view the entire text, so I cannot see the "practical problems" to which they refer. However, many have switched their full grown birds to FF and not required an "early adaptation of the birds during the rearing period".

I'm very curious as to what they were using for their FF. How they fermented. And, so on. I just - well...I have other things that I need to spend that $44 on at the moment.

My sentiments exactly!!

 

[Mikedero]

Like I stated I was looking for proof from a professional stand point. If FF was the great thing everyone is talking about then there would be allot more stuff regarding it.

For me and my stand point and for the fact I will only have 18 layers and about 30-45 broilers this year it is easier for me to feed standard feed. Each person is different.

For instance my time is once every 3 days about 5 minutes filling the auto feeder and once every 2 weeks about 5 minutes filling the waterbarrels. So for me to go out there every day a few times is not worth my time.

I go out when I get out of work to collect eggs that is about it maybe 1 hour a week in total.

for me my savings was this past weekend when I bought 20 bags (50 pounds each) at a show for 9.99 each VS the normal price of 17.99 so I saved more by buying at this sale then I would with FF. those 20 bags should last me thru the summer

Ok I am out of this topic now. Sorry to bother anyone but for me FF is a no go.

 

[Costa Rica Art]

that is funny yes we did.

Proof is in the pudding this is what I was looking for some real information that is not biased in any way. Just the facts I wanted before jumping into something that will add time to my day. I work 50+ hours a week and another 10-15 on the my little farm. time is not soemthing I can afford to waste. so that is why I wanted to make sure there was proof of something before doing it.

Go to this lady's site who has done a lot of research and has references to back up what she says. I have read a lot of the references and in my opinion feeding FF is the way to go, people have been eating fermented food for thousands of years.
http://scratchcradle.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/fermented-feed/ Also I have a chemistry professor friend who thinks feeding FF is the best way to go. The eggs from my flock have a much better colored yolks, they stand higher when put in a dish and the whites are not nearly as runny as they were on the same feed before I started fermenting the chickens feed. The cockerels that we have been butchering have less greasy fat and the meat smells better. As far as I a concerned the meat tastes better and is more tender. The cockerels were allowed to run around in the backyard during the day, not much there to eat but they got good exercise.

 

[Kilsharion]

**grins** who needs books when they have this thread?

Sorry - had to...my fingers made me...

 

[Mikedero]

Go to this lady's site who has done a lot of research and has references to back up what she says. I have read a lot of the references and in my opinion feeding FF is the way to go, people have been eating fermented food for thousands of years.
http://scratchcradle.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/fermented-feed/ Also I have a chemistry professor friend who thinks feeding FF is the best way to go. The eggs from my flock have a much better colored yolks, they stand higher when put in a dish and the whites are not nearly as runny as they were on the same feed before I started fermenting the chickens feed. The cockerels that we have been butchering have less greasy fat and the meat smells better. As far as I a concerned the meat tastes better and is more tender. The cockerels were allowed to run around in the backyard during the day, not much there to eat but they got good exercise.

Again not proven just a local backyard study not proof. besides the poster is a backyardchicken member

 

[Kjordanov]

I know my life's very busy also so I have a very large waterer and feeder so that I only have to refill it maybe once every two weeks.

 

[Mikedero]

Each to their own, no need to defend what you believe as each are different. I just wanted proof

OK move on as I am for me not worth my time, for you maybe. not everyone is going to agree and there is nothing wrong with that.

I am just glad I found proof before doing it

 

[Mikedero]

I know my life's very busy also so I have a very large waterer and feeder so that I only have to refill it maybe once every two weeks.

That is what I do I put in 10-15 pounds and that lasts almost a week and my waterer holds 15 gallons and I change that once a week.

Me the poop smell is not a big deal once a week I clean the run and coop about 20 minutes worth of work and it goes in the compost pile.
I am good with my current methods as my egg production has not gone down even in the winter. (with help from lights and a timer)

 

[Kjordanov]

 That is what I do I put in 10-15 pounds and that lasts almost a week and my waterer holds 15 gallons and I change that once a week.

 Me the poop smell is not a big deal once a week I clean the run and coop about 20 minutes worth of work and it goes in the compost pile.
I am good with my current methods as my egg production has not gone down even in the winter. (with help from lights and a timer)

Yeah I don't really mind the smell either, I open up their door daily anyways which airs it out. Since I only have 6 chickens it doesn't need to be cleaned every week. It stays clean for around a month then I clean it out