Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Beekissed]

Quote:
Nope. Not whole grains. Mash is a consistency and a good mash shouldn't have any whole grains, though some might have slipped through depending upon how finely they set the grind. I added whole grains to my layer mash, so whole grains visualized there were added to finely ground mash feed from the local feed mill. A mash is something similar to gruel or porridge and these mash consistency feeds were meant for feeding as a wet feed.

The crumbles and pellets are merely the same ingredients found in a mash but are steamed to form the crumbles, and steamed, extruded and cut to form the pellets. In order for them to be processed in this manner, they have an even more fine grind than do the mash consistency feeds. Some mills fine grind their mash, some do a larger cut on the grains that allow some oats and smaller grains to escape being ground fully but it is all according to that particular feed mill's preference.

 

[aoxa]

Nope. Not whole grains. Mash is a consistency and a good mash shouldn't have any whole grains, though some might have slipped through depending upon how finely they set the grind. I added whole grains to my layer mash, so whole grains visualized there were added to finely ground mash feed from the local feed mill. A mash is something similar to gruel or porridge and these mash consistency feeds were meant for feeding as a wet feed.

The crumbles and pellets are merely the same ingredients found in a mash but are steamed to form the crumbles, and steamed, extruded and cut to form the pellets. In order for them to be processed in this manner, they have an even more fine grind than do the mash consistency feeds. Some mills fine grind their mash, some do a larger cut on the grains that allow some oats and smaller grains to escape being ground fully but it is all according to that particular feed mill's preference.

Well our feed store did not get this memo. It looks exactly like scratch here. Obviously different areas than.

I can buy a bag and prove it, but it would be a waste

 

[Eggcessive]

Aoxa, I have never seen this egg layer mash by Purina anywhere in my area. They only have chick starter/grower, flock raiser, layer crumbles or pellets, and scratch which is only 8% protein but looks like your egg layer mash. It must be just outside the US.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Nope. Not whole grains. Mash is a consistency and a good mash shouldn't have any whole grains, though some might have slipped through depending upon how finely they set the grind. I added whole grains to my layer mash, so whole grains visualized there were added to finely ground mash feed from the local feed mill. A mash is something similar to gruel or porridge and these mash consistency feeds were meant for feeding as a wet feed.

The crumbles and pellets are merely the same ingredients found in a mash but are steamed to form the crumbles, and steamed, extruded and cut to form the pellets. In order for them to be processed in this manner, they have an even more fine grind than do the mash consistency feeds. Some mills fine grind their mash, some do a larger cut on the grains that allow some oats and smaller grains to escape being ground fully but it is all according to that particular feed mill's preference.

Holy smokes! You and Aoxa both back on the same day?????? WOW!

You have been sorely missed Beekissed. I just want to be sure and let you know that. I don't need to know the reasons, I just hope you keep hangin' around again.

 

[AVintageLife]

Holy smokes! You and Aoxa both back on the same day?????? WOW!

You have been sorely missed Beekissed. I just want to be sure and let you know that. I don't need to know the reasons, I just hope you keep hangin' around again.

X2 Beekissed!

 

[SunnysMama]

Honestly, I think that the term "mash" varies from supplier to supplier. The mash that I buy from the feed store is very powdery as all the grains have been ground but my DIL buys a mash from IFA and it has more whole grains in it. So basically, EVERYONE is correct!!!

 

[bbsnooks]

My problem -besides that i have a bit of Ferment envy.. of some of your photo's..

- i have free range chooks.. < just like that word> that have better smelling poo.. when on FF/ I like that!!
I'm not liking the dough like consistancy of the ferment. i have with layer crumbles
I got some scratch.. this week I think it will filter thru the strainer better

-- 1) will I hurt my chickens < free range> if that is the only feed ( fermented feed) I give them.
2) Do i need to ad things to that feed? and if so .. what do i add. ( i had problems see below)
3) i'm sure there is some thing else i should ask here... just cant think of it.
oh just remembered.. its .. how to add ( oats , grains ect ) in order to keep the right protien content right.. and what's right?

I think part of my problem ... is that its hard to retain information from all the posts.. I've been reading from several <6-8 threads front to current>
I have the CRS disease along with a massive ammount of information over load.. ; ) I feel i have scrambled brains..

I did change up their diet.. one 24 hour period when a blizzard forcasted.. and I brought my 2 new recruits in.. and gave them shelled sunflower seeds just as a treat till the morning. For the next 2 days their poo was black and sticky ... ( note to self .. dont do that again.. )

My Co-op has the following available
Oats . whole and rolled -- corn-- milo - Millet - whole barley -- soy beans -- Boss and Striped sunFlower seeds
on the more pricier.. Peanuts - Safflower - Millet - Fish meal - Flax
< i've heard some say flax not so good to ferment.. but.. maybe it could be mixed as additive 10 minutes b4 serving to adsorb the slop that some dont like that gets on their feathers - i could see this working for show birds>

Thanks for the input.. after checking prices ect.. i can see how it may be easier to put up with the dough like layer mix in straining. Esp for a small flock owner like me.. ( soon to have 25.. )

 

[SunnysMama]

I have a question about LAB? Do you have to inoculate (for lack of a better word) with the LAB every time you add more feed or does it continue to grow?

 

[ash10383]

Quote:

- i have free range chooks.. < just like that word> that have better smelling poo.. when on FF/ I like that!!
I'm not liking the dough like consistancy of the ferment. i have with layer crumbles
I got some scratch.. this week I think it will filter thru the strainer better

-- 1) will I hurt my chickens < free range> if that is the only feed ( fermented feed) I give them.
2) Do i need to ad things to that feed? and if so .. what do i add. ( i had problems see below)
3) i'm sure there is some thing else i should ask here... just cant think of it.
oh just remembered.. its .. how to add ( oats , grains ect ) in order to keep the right protien content right.. and what's right?

I think part of my problem ... is that its hard to retain information from all the posts.. I've been reading from several <6-8 threads front to current>
I have the CRS disease along with a massive ammount of information over load.. ; ) I feel i have scrambled brains..

I did change up their diet.. one 24 hour period when a blizzard forcasted.. and I brought my 2 new recruits in.. and gave them shelled sunflower seeds just as a treat till the morning. For the next 2 days their poo was black and sticky ... ( note to self .. dont do that again.. )

My Co-op has the following available
Oats . whole and rolled -- corn-- milo - Millet - whole barley -- soy beans -- Boss and Striped sunFlower seeds
on the more pricier.. Peanuts - Safflower - Millet - Fish meal - Flax
< i've heard some say flax not so good to ferment.. but.. maybe it could be mixed as additive 10 minutes b4 serving to adsorb the slop that some dont like that gets on their feathers - i could see this working for show birds>

Thanks for the input.. after checking prices ect.. i can see how it may be easier to put up with the dough like layer mix in straining. Esp for a small flock owner like me.. ( soon to have 25.. )

just wanted to let you know that I feed my hens (11 right now) a whole grain diet and just started to ferment it. I feed a mixture of BOSS, wheat, oats, millet, field peas, flax, fish & corn in the winter. You can find the protein percentages of each grain online to calculate a mixture in the 16-17% range. it takes me about 30 min to mix a 50 # batch up in a large trash barrel which lasts 2-3 weeks. I grind the peas as they would not eat them whole or sprouted in a kitchen aid grain mill attachment. When I was feeding it dry I also ground the flax as they were leaving them whole as well. This last batch of feed I left the flax whole but might try grinding it next time and keeping it seperate and sprinkly on top just before feeding with the fish as I don't ferment the fish either because it stinks. I started doing this last fall and girls seem to like it are doing well on it. My 1 yr olds layed pretty much every day all winter but my 2 yr olds did stop laying during the shortest days but have since started laying again with the longer days. They also have free choice oyster shell & grit. I just started fermenting it about 2 weeks ago. I have a 3 bucket rotation so that it ferments 3 days before feeding and I reuse the water that drains off. I found the price of my whole grain feed was about the same price or slightly cheaper than the mash I was getting and I could have a soy-free feed which is important to me. I don't find it too time consuming or rather the time spent is worth the benefit ( I work full time with a young toddler ) The flax, fish & kelp may seem expensive when you are buying the 50# bag but you are using so little of it at one time that it will last a long time. I plan on using whole grains when I get my 25 red rangers in another month, just in a different ration to get the higher protein level than what I feed my layers....**Disclaimer: I am by no means an expert on poultry nutrition and have only been feeding whole grains for 6-9 months but am completely satisified with the results....however I have noticed many thinner shells that crack easily in the last couple of weeks which is basically since I started fermenting it so I am thinking I will also start including some of the crushed egg shells in the feed to ferment also

 

[colburg]

I have a question about LAB? Do you have to inoculate (for lack of a better word) with the LAB every time you add more feed or does it continue to grow?

No, you do not need to inoculate it every time. The hooch and FF left in your bucket IS the inoculant for the feed you add each time. I haven't added any ACV to my FF since I started in September, Kassaundra has never used an inoculant.

The only time you need it, is when you start, and even that's optional. There is the exception of trying to recover a batch that has been overrun with bad bacteria though.