Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Lacy Blues]

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

Oooooo, my kind of person! Would you kindly supply the link for the website you mentioned? I'm assuming its all in one place?

I need to try to find field peas somewhere. Does your fishmeal not have any petroleum products in it? I used to get some but then found out it had some sort of petroleum product in it to keep it from going rancid. I guess that's ok if you use it as a fertilizer but for feeding? I'm not too sure about it.

 

[Kassaundra]

Here is a written recipe for LAB

*Lactic acid bacteria recipe: Lactic acid bacteria are anaerobic microorganisms that have a low Ph of 2. They can survive with or without oxygen and withstand high temperatures. They are very effective in improving soil aeration and dissolve chelates or minerals in the soil, freeing them up for plants to absorb. When plants absorb lactic acid it increases their disease and rain tolerance.

To make lactic acid, first wash rice and save the water. Take this water and fill a jar 20 cm with it. Cover it with paper to keep bugs out and let it sit in a dark spot for a week, preferably in an opaque container. It will start to give off a sour smell when it’s done. Next, pour off the rice water and add the rice water to milk, ideally raw milk, at a 10:1 ratio The lactic acid bacteria will grow vigorously in the milk. In 5-7 days the milk will have separated into the milk solids and whey. Starch, protein and fat will float on the top of the liquid which remains at the bottom. Remove the floating substance and save the liquid: this is the lactic acid bacteria. It can be stored in a refrigerator or mixed with equal parts brown sugar and stored at room temperature.

This lactic acid bacteria (LAB, in Natural Farming parlance), is diluted 1,000 times. It can be combined with IMO’s, which are mostly aerobic, and sprayed on fields. Use less LAB in the later stages of fruiting It is also used in a 3% concentration in compost, livestock water and to water plants. It is an important component of natural farming and easy to make and have on hand.

 

[Kassaundra]

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?

Just back wash it, it continues to grow, it is living growing culture.

 

[SunnysMama]

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.

Thank you!! I have a ferment that has been going for about 3 months now that I started with sourdough starter. It seems to be doing very well as I have never had a off smell in it, and it smells like pickles. I am currently making a batch of LAB and was going to add a little to my current ferment but didn't know if that was something that I would have to keep putting in.

 

[ash10383]

Oooooo, my kind of person! Would you kindly supply the link for the website you mentioned? I'm assuming its all in one place?

I need to try to find field peas somewhere. Does your fishmeal not have any petroleum products in it? I used to get some but then found out it had some sort of petroleum product in it to keep it from going rancid. I guess that's ok if you use it as a fertilizer but for feeding? I'm not too sure about it.

here is a thread I found and used the link in the second post
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/408578/seed-grain-protein-percentages

regarding the fishmeal: I don't have the label that was on the fishmeal bag came on to know it's ingredients so I googled 'fishmeal preservative' and Ethoxyquin was the most common result and I think that was it. I know I remember not liking what I found when I originally googled and thought to myself that I would buy organic fishmeal next time but I'm not about to stop using a $80 bag (50#) of feed so I try and not remember that part and tell myself it's probably still better than what is in the commercial mash they were getting
Current mixture fyi:


WINTER grain # grain % protein %
corn

5​

10%​

45​

wheat

8​

16%​

112​

oats

8​

16%​

88​

sunflower

10​

20%​

160​

millet

5​

10%​

60​

peas

10​

20%​

240​

flax

1.5​

3%​

51​

kelp

1​

2%​

5​

fish

1.5​

3%​

90​

50​

851​

17.02​

SUMMER
corn

0​

0%​

0​

wheat

12​

24%​

168​

oats

12​

24%​

132​

sunflower

10​

20%​

160​

millet

6​

12%​

72​

peas

6​

12%​

144​

fish

1.5​

3%​

90​

flax

1.5​

3%​

51​

kelp

1​

2%​

5​

50​

822​

16.44​

I want to try and add another ingredient or two in for greater diversity to each recipe

 

[ash10383]

I also use this website:
http://www.ca.uky.edu/smallflocks/feed_ingredients/grains.html

 

[Lacy Blues]

Thank you for those. I will be spending hours upon hours again working out a recipe. I had to stop before because my husband declared a halt... it was too costly. But fermenting it might make all the difference.

Do you have a recipe you use for chicks? Or do you just grind up you adult mix fairly small?

 

[Kilsharion]

Thank you for those.  I will be spending hours upon hours again working out a recipe.  I had to stop before because my husband declared a halt... it was too costly.  But fermenting it might make all the difference.

Do you have a recipe you use for chicks?  Or do you just grind up you adult mix fairly small?

You'd be surprised at how cost efficient it can be if you can find a grain elevator near you that will work with you. I don't know your area of the nation, so I'm not sure how easily it would be to find one. But, if you're anywhere rural, they are generally not too hard to find. Most are very helpful. At least, that's what I've found around the areas I've lived.

 

[bbsnooks]

Here is a written recipe for LAB

*Lactic acid bacteria recipe: Lactic acid bacteria are anaerobic microorganisms that have a low Ph of 2. They can survive with or without oxygen and withstand high temperatures. They are very effective in improving soil aeration and dissolve chelates or minerals in the soil, freeing them up for plants to absorb. When plants absorb lactic acid it increases their disease and rain tolerance.

To make lactic acid, first wash rice and save the water. Take this water and fill a jar 20 cm with it. Cover it with paper to keep bugs out and let it sit in a dark spot for a week, preferably in an opaque container. It will start to give off a sour smell when it’s done. Next, pour off the rice water and add the rice water to milk, ideally raw milk, at a 10:1 ratio The lactic acid bacteria will grow vigorously in the milk. In 5-7 days the milk will have separated into the milk solids and whey. Starch, protein and fat will float on the top of the liquid which remains at the bottom. Remove the floating substance and save the liquid: this is the lactic acid bacteria. It can be stored in a refrigerator or mixed with equal parts brown sugar and stored at room temperature.

This lactic acid bacteria (LAB, in Natural Farming parlance), is diluted 1,000 times. It can be combined with IMO’s, which are mostly aerobic, and sprayed on fields. Use less LAB in the later stages of fruiting It is also used in a 3% concentration in compost, livestock water and to water plants. It is an important component of natural farming and easy to make and have on hand.

I have been wondering about this as a compost tea.. ingredient.. after soaking all the grains.. Have you ever diluted the liquid and used as a garden amendment?? thanks for posting kassaundra..

I have clay soil.. at a new to me house and .. have been using organic and permaculture ideas..
it seems this may fall right in there, to be a good side product of the FF.

I have also spent the day researching the black soldier fly larvae.. as a compost -/ and chicken feed
It looks like an inexpensive way to ammend the feed bill.. with home grown food for the chick's.

ge


SUMMER
corn

0​

0%​

0​

wheat

12​

24%​

168​

oats

12​

24%​

132​

sunflower

10​

20%​

160​

millet

6​

12%​

72​

peas

6​

12%​

144​

fish

1.5​

3%​

90​

flax

1.5​

3%​

51​

kelp

1​

2%​

5​

50​

822​

16.44​

I want to try and add another ingredient or two in for greater diversity to each recipe

This is great.. Thanks.. for posting this.. I was wanting this kind of info..


any Central Kansas folks.. on this list??
I'm traveling this weekend.. and am interested in silkie's
if there is some one in my area.. thanks let me know.
Debra

 

[ash10383]

Quote:
I agree, find a feed store or check around and see who is willing to work with you, they can generally order anything you want in. When I first looked at doing whole grains, I checked bulk food stores first and people grade grains were much more expensive and I couldn't justify it.

Quote:
I'm still working on my starter & grower recipes. I'm hoping I can use my grinder to make it but it is just the Kitchen Aid attachment and my mixer is pretty hot after 5# of peas so not sure it'd survive (but if I killed it then I could get the 6qt version that I want )