Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Lacy Blues]

OK FINALLY - I have true FF. I now understand what it looks like when it rises as well as when it is submerged in some water just slightly moistened. etc

The meaties are going crazy for it now. They are jumping at me and onto the food dish when I open the door to slide it into their
grow out pen. 4 weeks old and almost 2 lbs. One of them is showing signs of a leg issue and is breathing a little heavier than the
rest but is still moving around flapping her feathers, eating and drinking. So far she's holding her own. Will continue to monitor. not really sure what I'm looking for though.

I introduced the FF to our laying hens as a snack today. They took their time eating it but eventually ate it all. I consider this a
success and thanks to those of you providing support and challenging me to be patient. That truly was the trick. It took almost
8 days for my starter to take.

Calcium should help with that. Yogurt is high in calcium, so is alfalfa and other dark leafy greens such as kale, etc.

 

[BirdbyGavin1103]

OK FINALLY - I have true FF. I now understand what it looks like when it rises as well as when it is submerged in some water just slightly moistened. etc

The meaties are going crazy for it now. They are jumping at me and onto the food dish when I open the door to slide it into their
grow out pen. 4 weeks old and almost 2 lbs. One of them is showing signs of a leg issue and is breathing a little heavier than the
rest but is still moving around flapping her feathers, eating and drinking. So far she's holding her own. Will continue to monitor. not really sure what I'm looking for though.

I introduced the FF to our laying hens as a snack today. They took their time eating it but eventually ate it all. I consider this a
success and thanks to those of you providing support and challenging me to be patient. That truly was the trick. It took almost
8 days for my starter to take.

I'm glad it finally worked for you.

 

[Kilsharion]

Calcium should help with that. Yogurt is high in calcium, so is alfalfa and other dark leafy greens such as kale, etc.

And, avoid foods high in oxalic acid. Oxalic acid will bind the calcium that is available in the food and make it so much waste. Here's a list of foods that contain oxalic acid and the amount per 100g.



Vegetable

Oxalic acid
(g/100 g)​

Amaranth

1.09​

Asparagus

.13​

Beans, snap

.36​

Beet leaves

.61​

Broccoli

.19​

Brussels sprouts

.36​

Cabbage

.10​

Carrot

.50​

Cassava

1.26​

Cauliflower

.15​

Celery

.19​

Chicory

.21​

Chives

1.48​

Collards

.45​

Coriander

.01​

Corn, sweet

.01​

Cucumbers

.02​

Eggplant

.19​

Endive

.11​

Garlic

.36​

Kale

.02​

Lettuce

.33​

Okra

.05​

Onion

.05​

Parsley

1.70​

Parsnip

.04​

Pea

.05​

Pepper

.04​

Potato

.05​

Purslane

1.31​

Radish

.48​

Rutabaga

.03​

Spinach

.97​

Squash

.02​

Sweet potato

.24​

Tomato

.05​

Turnip

.21​

Turnip greens

.05​

Watercress

.31​

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/Other/oxalic.html


Kale is nice and low on the chart; but, if you are already having calcium issues, adding it might not be a good idea. I'd avoid any oxalic acid containing plants all together until the calcium issue is overcome. But, that's me. I tend to be overly cautious....

 

[Costa Rica Art]

And, avoid foods high in oxalic acid. Oxalic acid will bind the calcium that is available in the food and make it so much waste. Here's a list of foods that contain oxalic acid and the amount per 100g.


http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/Other/oxalic.html


Kale is nice and low on the chart; but, if you are already having calcium issues, adding it might not be a good idea. I'd avoid any oxalic acid containing plants all together until the calcium issue is overcome. But, that's me. I tend to be overly cautious....

Do we assume that being it is not on there that soy is OK as far as oxalic acid is concerned? Being that is the only feed we can get here I don't need another problem for my flock. But I do ferment for 4 days hoping that will take care of the soy problems, any idea about that?

 

[SeattleLeah]

Have other people had problems with chicks walking all over the FF and getting big clumps building up on their toes? Now a few of my chicks look like they have bumblefoot from the constant irritation of the crusted feed on their toes. I've lifted all the feeders up to hang on the side of the brooder but they still manage to get up there and dig around in it. I dont know what else to do and am considering going back to dry feed until they are older!

 

[Demosthine]

Soy is not good for animals or humans in any way, shape or form. If it is really the only thing you can get, you don't have much of a choice I guess.

No, fermenting will not take care of any soy problems, unfortunately. It is a high oxalic acid food according to many sources regarding kidney stones. I do my absolute best to keep it out of my family's diet, including my animals.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Have other people had problems with chicks walking all over the FF and getting big clumps building up on their toes? Now a few of my chicks look like they have bumblefoot from the constant irritation of the crusted feed on their toes. I've lifted all the feeders up to hang on the side of the brooder but they still manage to get up there and dig around in it. I dont know what else to do and am considering going back to dry feed until they are older!

Depending on how wide your feeder is, if you can get it against the wall, you could attach a piece of 1x2 lumber (or however wide you need it) slightly above the feeder leaving room for their heads to get through but not get up and walk in it. You will have to adjust the position of this lumber as they grow but it will keep them out.

 

[Kilsharion]

Do we assume that being it is not on there that soy is OK as far as oxalic acid is concerned? Being that is the only feed we can get here I don't need another problem for my flock. But I do ferment for 4 days hoping that will take care of the soy problems, any idea about that?

Fermentation and heating will reduce the amount of oxalic acid considerably. Most of the oxalic acid, and nearly all of the phytic acid present in soybeans will be removed during a true fermentation. It sounds like you are running a true fermentation (ie: active cultures for several days).

One reason soy is so bad is that it is not only high in oxalic acid; but, it is also high in phytic acid (one of the highest ratings of any food). Both of these are significant blockers of calcium and iron as well as other nutrients essential to good health. True, fermentation will remove these acids. It's still a food that many prefer to avoid; however, it sounds like you are doing what you should to help ameliorate the issue.

There is some belief that vitamins C and D will help to overcome the remaining binding happening on the nutrients and increase the absorption in the body. However, too much vitamin C will actually work inversely and block key nutrients. So, as with all things, use with moderation.

 

[Kilsharion]

Have other people had problems with chicks walking all over the FF and getting big clumps building up on their toes? Now a few of my chicks look like they have bumblefoot from the constant irritation of the crusted feed on their toes. I've lifted all the feeders up to hang on the side of the brooder but they still manage to get up there and dig around in it. I dont know what else to do and am considering going back to dry feed until they are older!

Yes, it happens. I have had my husband make me a feeder with a lid that lifts up. When it is closed, only their heads can fit in from the side of the feeder (think covered trough). They then tend to stand on top of the cover and eat upside down

But, they no longer walk in it - which is a bonus. And, the risk of broken necks is reduced as the lid hangs out a wee bit over the edge of the trough.

I had been using a tupperware lid due to mixed brooding...and, the little buggers would darn near take up living in the middle of their food. It never caked up on them (I am not using a food that contains a binder, so that might explain it); but, they sure loved to tromp all over it.

 

[bbdal]

What do you all find works well to stir and scoop with? I am using a 5 gallon bucket that is about 3/4 full and have a hard time reaching the bottom of the bucket.