Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Windy Bay Farm]

My understanding is it doesn't increase the existing protein, it increases how well the birds can absorb said protein by a few percent. So a 16% feed they really absorb only like 14%, but with FF they absorb all of it.

You can usually figure that the protein in a FF is a few percent higher for all intensive purposes than a dry feed. So my fermented 20% flock raiser is probably closer to a 22% unfermented feed in the case of how much nutrients they absorb.

In other news, it's raining for the first time since putting the chicks out. I covers their tractors with tarps and they seem to be doing OK (out and about under the tarps) but I worry about the wet ground. I can move them into the brooder if all else fails but they're pretty well feathered right now... I think so long as the sky clears up by 4 or so they should be fine.

If they are absorbing more protein then why would their stools be so runny ? I'm Confused as to why they continue to have loose/runny droppings if they are absorbing more protein with the FF and I have greatly reduced the amount of moisture in the FF. I was hoping by now that their stools would be back to the way they were when I had them on dry feed.

 

[Windy Bay Farm]

I don't know. My family all sits down to fresh cooked food every night. Pray before every meal too. Not everyone is living the fast food lifestyle, even in the younger generation. In fact I think that some of my generation, with young children in tow, are looking for something better and turning back to spending more time together and simpler pleasures. With the economy so rocky I hope that people can begin to remember that it doesn't have to cost a lot to be fun. 
chicks go through a couple "juvenile moults" when they start getting their grown up lady (or man, lol) feathers. Most of mine spent a while walking around with half a tail, and the coop looked like a feather explosion. Then they grew in all they're pretty big girl tail feathers. My cockerell just decided to do this at almost 20 weeks, and now looks rumpless.... 

Thank you, BlueMouse ! After I asked the question on here I did a bit more research and found out about the juvenile molting. I always thought they went through molting after there first year ! Thanks again for replying

 

[foreverlearning]

The one I drained yesterday, like I said some of it did fill back yesterday. I had noticed that when she had it full she hated to be near the heat lamp, last night I think if she could have slept on it she would have. This morning there were NO losses!

The only way I could tell who she is was because of the zip tie on her leg. Everyone that looks like that are getting treated like her. I don't know how long this will last, or if I will have to do repeat treatments. I will keep you all posted.

 

[Triple Willow]

I cook regularly but I don't go all out like Mrs. Kay does on DD. I might if I had a big family to feed and if they were always bringing in fresh game to be cooked. If I had small kids I'm sure they and other people would think that I was abusive to them because I sure wouldn't raise them like kids these days are growing up. My little girls would not be dressed like hoochie mamas. The girls nor boys would be staring at the television having those moral-LESS Hollyweird freaks as their idol. Their bedroom wouldn't be a toy store and they would not have a 50 piece video game collection and every xbox and whatever station created that they could zone out on. And they wouldn't be walking around with a cell phone in their hand texting and ignoring everybody and everything around them. They would be sent outside to play every day after they did their chores. Kids these day act like you are commiting a crime when they have to do something. They puff and blow and whine until you think they are going to suck all the air our of the atmosphere! If I had done that my mama would have beat my hind end and she should have! I don't know what this country has come to, a mess! (Somebody, please take my soap box...! lol)

...and I have to add that I know all kids are not raised that way. There are some good parents out there doing a great job. "Everything in moderation" - well almost everything.

 

[Triple Willow]

If they are absorbing more protein then why would their stools be so runny ? I'm Confused as to why they continue to have loose/runny droppings if they are absorbing more protein with the FF and I have greatly reduced the amount of moisture in the FF. I was hoping by now that their stools would be back to the way they were when I had them on dry feed.

Mine are on ff, some have perfectly formed poop and it seems that some keep runny poop. But they are all fine. I don't know what causes some to have it.

 

[Triple Willow]

You just described my family. My husband and I both grew up in the country, but moved to the big city for college. After college we stayed and ended up having both our kids there. We both had very good paying corporate jobs, a huge house, and luxury cars. But we looked up one day and realized that the 23 year old live in nanny was literally raising our two kids (ages 2 and 5 at the time). It was SO easy to slip into this style of living, but it was NOT how either of us wanted it to be.

After a bit of a transition period where we technically worked for our city employers while living in the country, we are now completely 180 degrees from where we were two years ago. Gone are the days where we ate every meal in a restaurant. We now cook as a family every night, mostly with food that we either grew in the garden or killed on our property. We eat around the dinner table together, pray together, and spend our free time mostly outside together instead of inside around a tv like we used to. The big house is a distant memory (small houses are so much easier to keep clean, though our son misses the stairs). Yet, there is so much more satisfaction with this simpler life. We yearned for this and I feel so much pity for others of my generation who don't know any better, or worse - don't care to.

Good for you! I'm sure it was hard to walk away from all of that, but well worth it.

 

[Windy Bay Farm]

Mine are on ff, some have perfectly formed poop and it seems that some keep runny poop. But they are all fine. I don't know what causes some to have it.

It seems as though some of mine have decent stool as well but the others do not and it only seemed to happen after I put them on FF. I hope it returns to normal soon !

 

[Triple Willow]

It seems as though some of mine have decent stool as well but the others do not and it only seemed to happen after I put them on FF. I hope it returns to normal soon !

It's gross looking but it doesn't seem to have any affect on mine one way or the other.

 

[wlhtx]

Good for you! I'm sure it was hard to walk away from all of that, but well worth it.

You know, it really wasn't... I miss the people I worked with. And I miss sushi dinners. But, the rest of it - not so much.

All of our friends and co-workers in Dallas think we're nuts... But we've adopted the Green Acres theme song (I've threatened to put it on a loop blaring through outdoor speakers), and I've fully embraced my new identity as the 31 yr old crazy chicken lady.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Hi Bee,

Thanks for the info. These chicks are 11 weeks old and I didn't figure they would molt in their first year, I thought it was only after they were a year old would they have their first molt ?

Mine are losing loads of feathers to and Bee told me they were shedding their baby feathers.