Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Beekissed]

lol recycling at it's best. I just can't get over the fat Old Bertha had on her AND in her. That is something and she must have been finding some good bugs at your place along with that good ff food. So do you have any hens left that are laying? How did the roos do this evening being put all together or did you put the news ones back in their pen?

Little Red is still laying..as usual..when everyone else is in a slow down. All my old hens are past regular, excellent lay but Little Red Hen is still trying her hardest to put eggs in that nest~she will be my last cull. Slowly but surely, the older gals will be processed this year. I have 4 new girls coming up to POL, so I'll have eggs again soon. If we are all still here in the spring, I may add to this little clutch of layers but adding a few more pullets..I'll try to add a BA or RIR set.

The young roosters remaining had a ball free ranging all day but went back to their pen to roost tonight. Tomorrow that will not be available to them and they will either roost with my flock or they will find areas outside to roost. I'll put them on the roost in the coop if they try that. Integration goes so much easier when a flock is free ranged as they have plenty of room to avoid each other and get acquainted slowly.

 

[Triple Willow]

@Bee... Hope your finger is not too sore. I have a cut on my foot and soaked it in water w/ epsom salt today and it doesn't hurt anymore - good stuff!

 

[RoseMarie1]

Little Red is still laying..as usual..when everyone else is in a slow down. All my old hens are past regular, excellent lay but Little Red Hen is still trying her hardest to put eggs in that nest~she will be my last cull. Slowly but surely, the older gals will be processed this year. I have 4 new girls coming up to POL, so I'll have eggs again soon. If we are all still here in the spring, I may add to this little clutch of layers but adding a few more pullets..I'll try to add a BA or RIR set.

The young roosters remaining had a ball free ranging all day but went back to their pen to roost tonight. Tomorrow that will not be available to them and they will either roost with my flock or they will find areas outside to roost. I'll put them on the roost in the coop if they try that. Integration goes so much easier when a flock is free ranged as they have plenty of room to avoid each other and get acquainted slowly.

Not understanding Bee? Why wont their pen be available tomorrow?
Glad you're still getting eggs from Little Red!

 

[RoseMarie1]

@Bee... Hope your finger is not too sore. I have a cut on my foot and soaked it in water w/ epsom salt today and it doesn't hurt anymore - good stuff!

Yes it is TW that's what I used when I cut my toes all the way down on the top with that board and post we had torn off the chickens pen. Was trying to roll the thing over to get it out of our way and it came back and scraped the hide off the top of my big toe. Had to hold onto the tree there for a minute it hurt so bad. It really dug into my toe close to my cuticle and THAT hurt. Anyway I soaked it 3 days in it because it got really red since the part by the cuticle was so deep. It's healing up now.

 

[Triple Willow]

Yes it is TW that's what I used when I cut my toes all the way down on the top with that board and post we had torn off the chickens pen. Was trying to roll the thing over to get it out of our way and it came back and scraped the hide off the top of my big toe. Had to hold onto the tree there for a minute it hurt so bad. It really dug into my toe close to my cuticle and THAT hurt. Anyway I soaked it 3 days in it because it got really red since the part by the cuticle was so deep. It's healing up now. 

Dang I bet that hurt! This morning (and the past few days) it was hurting to walk on the foot I have the cut on. After soaking in that stuff I can't hardly tell it's there now. I just wanted to clean it real good, didn't know it would do what it did so quickly.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Dang I bet that hurt! This morning (and the past few days) it was hurting to walk on the foot I have the cut on. After soaking in that stuff I can't hardly tell it's there now. I just wanted to clean it real good, didn't know it would do what it did so quickly.

oh yeah it hurt. I was close to a tree when it happened and I just grabbed hold of the tree and had to stand there for a minute! Glad I didn't have to potty when it happened!

I'd wet on myself.
Oh yeah after the 3rd time I soaked my foot I could see it was starting to heal. Some really good stuff! Glad yours is better to! Hubby asked me just yesterday, is this epsom salt any good sitting in here? Y yes it is I said. I just left it there when my toe was hurt. I put it up today.

 

[jajeanpierre]

lol recycling at it's best. I just can't get over the fat Old Bertha had on her AND in her. That is something and she must have been finding some good bugs at your place along with that good ff food. So do you have any hens left that are laying? How did the roos do this evening being put all together or did you put the news ones back in their pen?

BeeKissed,
I've read your comments about excess protein and wanted to comment. If the calories aren't coming from protein, they are coming from fat and carbohydrates. Any protein reduction means an increase in the levels of carbohydrates and fats. I wonder if older chickens don't have insulin resistance, which would make them fat on few calories. I don't see the evil you do in excess protein. If there is too much protein, it is simply broken down into energy, albeit, expensive energy. There is no disagreement from me that protein costs more than carbohydrates or fats.

 

[Chad Cool]

Can i start My "FF" with Layer mash" and Buttermilk plus water?

 

[Triple Willow]

Can i start My "FF" with Layer mash" and Buttermilk plus water?

Yes. In around 12 hours you should have a good ferment. In about 1/2 to 2/3 of a bucket of feed and water I add about a cup of buttermilk. The amount does not have to be exact at all.

 

[Windy Bay Farm]

Let's just put it this way...you could go lower on protein..much lower..and it would still be a healthy, balanced ration.  Even more so.  This saves you money as you can cut that layer ration with a cheaper whole grain by 50% and still have good nutrition.  Especially when you ferment...that kicks the actual protein used and it's usability up to the nth degree. 

I've noticed more and more people reporting the only layer rations they can get are 20% or higher and I'm wondering why the feed businesses are upping that protein all the sudden...possibly to justify a higher price?  To satisfy an urban market of inexperienced flock owners who are thinking that more protein equals better nutrition? 

The whole idea of this fermented feed is to increase usability of proteins so you can feed less total feed and also cut your ration with cheaper grains and still get the right amount of protein.  But what I'm seeing is folks fermenting their feed and then throwing more and higher protein supplements in on top of the fermentation.  That's not saving money, not feeding less feed nor is it keeping the nutrients at a balanced and safe level.  It's just throwing a bunch of money in a bucket and fermenting it, then shortening the life of the chickens...which also hurts the pocketbook. 

I'm having trouble understanding the rationale behind these methods.    

Windybay, your feed seems too high in protein and too low in calcium. Calcium should be like 5%....

Thank you both for your responses.

If I take my layer mash and mix it 50:50 with crushed barely, will this lower the protein % ?

Also, how can I up the calcium intake from what is available in the layer - the layer is 3.8% calcium.

Unfortunately my options of feeding a different layer with less protein and more calcium is limited as my local feed store only sells this type of layer feed.

Thanks for your info.