Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Lacy Blues]

@Lacy Blues... which breed do you have, Leghorns?

No, I have Andalusians... see my profile picture. They are both members of the Mediterranean class of breeds.

 

[Triple Willow]

No, I have Andalusians... see my profile picture.  They are both members of the Mediterranean class of breeds.

Okay...pretty!

 

[TexasLisa]

Hi everyone! I am new to BYC and chicken raising. I have read this thread with great interest and am going to start a batch of fermented feed for my 3 New Hampshire hens. They are 21 weeks old and have yet to give up any eggs but I know they are coming soon!

Thank you for all the great info! Especially BeeKissed. Your knowledge has really helped this newbie to ensure I have happy, healthy chickens!
Howdy and

from Rosenberg, TX!!
Lisa

 

[Triple Willow]

TW, have you checked your chicken's stool since feeding the flax seed?  I had added some last winter just to see what would happen, if anything, but found flax seed being passed through the digestive system undigested and expelled in the feces.  As the FF is already increasing the Omega-3 of the regular grains, I don't know how much is being accomplished by adding the flax, particularly if it is not being ground up in the gizzard due to being too small, too slick and too hard to be penetrated by the fluid of the FF.  Are you adding ground flax or the whole seed?

Just did another stool check for any whole flax seeds. I didn't see any, not even in those with the looser poop. But now that you mention it I believe I will give them some more grit.

 

[Triple Willow]

My guess is that the commercial egg producers use fishmeal.......most likely due to cost.....vs flaxseed.

I eat a cereal that has flaxseed call Uncle Sam's cereal, so I guess I am getting my Omega-3's but my chickens aren't.  Only problem with that cereal is that the whole flaxseeds end up and the bottom of the bowl.....and the bottom of the box!

I got some flax cereal from Kroger's a couple times. It was good but Kroger is too far away. Yep that cereal sort of did that too. That flax oil that healthfood places carry is expensive! I had rather buy the seeds and grind them up in the coffee grinder and eat it in something like yogurt. It's a whole lot cheaper that way. Flax/borage oils did help my mom's diabetes at one time.

 

[Beekissed]

We sometimes grind it and use it in homemade bread, along with other grains like sunflower, sesame, etc.

I don't know about y'all's birds but I have cut way down on feed and I still have birds that are just waddling with fat, so I can't imagine adding any extra nutrients into the FF. This fermentation has turned regular layer rations and whole grains into some kind of super food and I'm really having to regulate intake to keep them to a healthy conditioning without overfeeding them. I'm at a cup and a half right now for 13 birds and they are still waddling as they forage.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Mine don't even get feed some days, except for a little scratch which enables me to do a head count. I do make sure my capons get feed since they are strictly for meat to be processed late this fall.

 

[perchie.girl]

Mine don't even get feed some days, except for a little scratch which enables me to do a head count. I do make sure my capons get feed since they are strictly for meat to be processed late this fall.

Just curious.... with the great meat bird crosses out there Is there a difference between a Capon and non Caponed with regard to flavor?

deb

 

[Triple Willow]

We sometimes grind it and use it in homemade bread, along with other grains like sunflower, sesame, etc. 

I don't know about y'all's birds but I have cut way down on feed and I still have birds that are just waddling with fat, so I can't imagine adding any extra nutrients into the FF.  This fermentation has turned regular layer rations and whole grains into some kind of super food and I'm really having to regulate intake to keep them to a healthy conditioning without overfeeding them.  I'm at a cup and a half right now for 13 birds and they are still waddling as they forage. 

Mine are too heavy too. I got a pretty good deal on some rolled oats so I have been feeding 9 parts of 1/2 oats & 1/2 grower and 1 part flax seeds. That way I can feed the cheaper oats but still have a good protein source with the flax (plus extra omega-3). I use so little flax that it goes a long way. I am fixing to readjust to a winter feed mix - probably scratch (or corn), grower and flax. They are definitely ready for winter - pudgy! I don't want them hungry but dang - I may have to go to all they can clean up in 5-10 minutes! lol

 

[AletaG]

Just curious.... with the great meat bird crosses out there Is there a difference between a Capon and non Caponed with regard to flavor?

deb

Not sure, my last capon lesson was cut short, 'cause it was an experiment. The guy teaching me has always done DualPurpose breeds before with good results (basically won't eat anything else), but the CX we tried, the ribs float down to far under the hip bone. We stopped after the 3rd not so successful attempt resulted in a broken rib. His neighbor wanted to try caponizing his CX; still not sure why. Seems like it would cause more trouble with something that already has problems. Bee?

I will say that the best part about a caponed DP, other than being able to keep a large number of decent aged male meat birds about without all the crowing, is the schmalz. Mmmmm. If I can get this figured out, won't be buying much butter.