Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Beekissed]

YW!

 

[bbdal]

Any breed pros and cons for meat birds as far as taste, length of time until slaughter, amount of feed consumed from day 1 until slaughter, forage ability, etc? Such as cornish x vs a different meat bird. I am not looking for a dual purpose. We have rir for eggs. Thanks!

 

[Beekissed]

I've only done the CX and I love, love, love their foraging skills and drive! Nothing forages better than a chronically hungry bird!

They all sorta taste like......chicken.

 

[B J Hopkins]

I've only done the CX and I love, love, love their foraging skills and drive! Nothing forages better than a chronically hungry bird!

They all sorta taste like......chicken.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Oh, wanted to post pics of the nice(r) poos my CX chicks now have after being on ACV fermented organic starter for nearly 2 weeks, and also a pic of the feeder I built last night- a temporary solution until they are out of the cardboard box.

THAT is sooooo stinkin' cute!!!! LOL the feeder, not the poop.

 

[Chucklecluck]

Anyone had any experience with sulmtaler chickens been debating in investing

 

[deserthomestead]

I'm formulating a new homemade feed, but I'm not sure if it can be fermented. The protein source in the feed will be dehydrated beef liver. Can small pieces of meat go into the FF?

The feed would be
50 lbs wheat
50 lbs oats
8 lbs dried liver
1/2 lb trace mineral salt

I know most commercial feed uses fish meal or bone meal, and this shouldn't be *that* different. I guess another option would be to puree fresh liver and mix it into the fermented grains before feeding.

 

[RedRidge]

I'm formulating a new homemade feed, but I'm not sure if it can be fermented. The protein source in the feed will be dehydrated beef liver. Can small pieces of meat go into the FF?

The feed would be
50 lbs wheat
50 lbs oats
8 lbs dried liver
1/2 lb trace mineral salt

I know most commercial feed uses fish meal or bone meal, and this shouldn't be *that* different. I guess another option would be to puree fresh liver and mix it into the fermented grains before feeding.

I wouldn't bother fermenting the liver... it will just smell.
I add several different animal protein sources and just add them daily to my ff just prior to feeding.

Also... if you reduce your oats and wheat to 40lbs each and add 10 lbs of field peas, that will bring your protein up to 16.2%... a better protein amount for layers than the 15.2% the above ration provides.
Or increasing your liver to 12 lbs (hydrated) would put you just over 16% at 16.1%
For chicks or meat chickens an even greater protein increase is needed... and calcium and limestone added according to management group also (since you wouldn't want the added calcium for chicks)... but guessing you already knew that and this is just your base ration for all management groups...

 

[RoseMarie1]

Well I fed mine their first fermented food today and it was a BIG hit! I had to go get my camera and let them have some more since they wiped out the first batch in no time. Didn't know HOW much they would need so I just brought them some more along with my camera. They were still peaking away at their bowls 30 minutes later so I just went and got them some more. I noticed tonight they didn't go hog wild over the dry chick starter that was left in their bowl from last night. lol Wanting them to finish that so I can take the gutter out to use out in the run for their FF. That way I wont have those nasty cock roaches in there anymore I hope. I just hate those things!

I video'd it but have NO CLUE how to get it on here. I put it on my facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=548807978511429&saved


I sure hope Bee sees this. I noticed 2 cockerals going at it today so I think time is close to get rid of some rir cockerals.

 

[deserthomestead]

I wouldn't bother fermenting the liver... it will just smell.
I add several different animal protein sources and just add them daily to my ff just prior to feeding.

Also... if you reduce your oats and wheat to 40lbs each and add 10 lbs of field peas, that will bring your protein up to 16.2%... a better protein amount for layers than the 15.2% the above ration provides.
Or increasing your liver to 12 lbs (hydrated) would put you just over 16% at 16.1%
For chicks or meat chickens an even greater protein increase is needed... and calcium and limestone added according to management group also (since you wouldn't want the added calcium for chicks)... but guessing you already knew that and this is just your base ration for all management groups...

Thank you! In that case, should I even bother dehydrating the liver? It may be easier to add it pureed, or maybe diced.. any tips on where to get limestone?