Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[LindaB220]

TW, you probably don't live in a city. But if you have been in those perfectly groomed suburbs you sometimes see little flags by the sidewalk with a kid and a dog in a big red circle with a line through it. Then in fine print underneath it reads keep off lawn, lawn chemical application. Where I live those flags are required for six MONTHS after the last application.

http://www.google.com/search?q=lawn...poCQDA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg&biw=600&bih=1024&dpr=1

These flags. If you do more than a spot treatment in my city by law these flags must be posted, and in most cities, though mine has exceptionally long requirements.

No I never heard of this before either. Amazing.

 

[Triple Willow]

TW, you probably don't live in a city. But if you have been in those perfectly groomed suburbs you sometimes see little flags by the sidewalk with a kid and a dog in a big red circle with a line through it. Then in fine print underneath it reads keep off lawn, lawn chemical application. Where I live those flags are required for six MONTHS after the last application.

http://www.google.com/search?q=lawn...poCQDA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg&biw=600&bih=1024&dpr=1

These flags. If you do more than a spot treatment in my city by law these flags must be posted, and in most cities, though mine has exceptionally long requirements.

I guess that's good considering a lot of people would spray it around like it's water. But it does look like they would regulate the sale of it if they are going to do all of that. No I don't live in a city. I live about 6 miles out of a small town of about 12,000 or so- and that's too close. lol

 

[wolfpup]

Hi guys

I started reading this post at page one - currently on page 99.

I am now convinced about ff and have been in touch with my local horse feed place (where I get my organic layers pellets from) and they have agreed to split a bag each of wheat, steamed rolled oats and barley in half for me (i.e. 1 1/2 bags in total), have got AVC with mother arriving tomorrow, and will add some of this to my normal AVC to hopefully upgrade it to also having the mother, also a 90 litre food grade lockable bin arriving in a day or so.

I only have five hens so this should last me some time !

I currently sprout lentils verdes, mung beans, alfalfa and raddish for them on a daily basis - as I have very little natural ground for them to scratch around in (about 20ft x 2ft) - but we are currently reorganising and resiting their run and have already sewn dandelion seeds all over the separate sections of new ground. We are also creating an additional 10ft x 6ft new area and filling it with soil (and worms).

I am really excited about starting to ferment their feed - my hens stay with me for life - one hen stopped laying around 8 months ago when her friend died (ex-battery) two black rocks who started laying in November and not missed a day yet - and two amber stars (arriving in two weeks). However their poo is quite soft/runny and smelly - attracting lots of nasty flies in the summer (yuck) even though their run is cleaned daily and concrete areas are washed and disinfected daily.

I am really hoping that fermenting their feed will improve their digestion/health/poo.

They love dry whole wheat and barley grains - so should still like them when fermented, also love the organic porridge & milk on cold days (its April and around 11 degrees C here in the north UK) - not tried giving it to them dry (yet). The wheat and barley I currently have is for sprouting - in order to give them grass rather than sprouts (first batch started off 2 days ago and looking good so far)

I will continue reading the rest of this thread - but will no doubt be bombarding you ff - experienced guys with questions - I am so excited though to think I can do something else (ff) to increase the health of my lovely girls.

Thank you all for your very helpful and informative posts

One question to start off though - should I continue to feed them the sprouts separately - or once sprouted should I put them in with the grains - was just worried that the sprouted stuff would go off if it is not all used in a day or so i.e. if some got left in for days and days

 

[BCMaraniac]

Hi guys

I started reading this post at page one  - currently on page 99.

I am now convinced about ff and have been in touch with my local horse feed place (where I get my organic layers pellets from) and they have agreed to split a bag each of wheat, steamed rolled oats and barley in half for me (i.e. 1 1/2 bags in total), have got AVC with mother arriving tomorrow, and will add some of this to my normal AVC to hopefully upgrade it to also having the mother, also a 90 litre food grade lockable bin arriving in a day or so.


I only have five  hens so this should last me some time !

I currently sprout lentils verdes, mung beans, alfalfa and raddish for them on a daily basis    -     as I have very little natural ground for them to scratch around in (about 20ft x 2ft) - but we are currently reorganising and resiting their run and have already  sewn dandelion seeds all over the separate sections of  new ground.   We are also creating an additional 10ft x 6ft new area and filling it with soil (and worms).

I am really excited about starting to ferment their feed -  my hens stay with me for life - one hen stopped laying around 8 months ago when her friend died (ex-battery) two black rocks who started laying in November and not missed a day yet - and two amber stars (arriving in two weeks).   However their poo is quite soft/runny and smelly - attracting lots of nasty flies in the summer (yuck) even though their run is cleaned daily and concrete areas are washed and disinfected daily.  

I am really hoping that fermenting their feed will improve their digestion/health/poo.

They love dry whole wheat and barley grains - so should still like them when fermented, also love the organic porridge & milk on cold days (its April and around 11 degrees C here in the north UK) - not tried giving it to them dry (yet).   The wheat and barley I currently have is for sprouting - in order to give them grass rather than sprouts (first batch started off 2 days ago and looking good so far)

I will continue reading the rest of this thread - but will no doubt be bombarding you ff - experienced guys with questions  -  I am so excited though to think I can do something else (ff) to increase the health of my lovely girls.

Thank you all for your very helpful and informative posts

One question to start off though   -  should I continue to feed them the sprouts separately - or once sprouted should I put them in with the grains   -   was just worried that the sprouted stuff would go off if it is not all used in a day or so  i.e. if some got left in for days and days

I would keep them separate, if it wew me for the reason you outlined.

BTW, Welcome!

 

[beverly evans]

I personally won't use Roundup around my Chickens or anywhere near my land, due to the neurological damage I myself have from repeated exposure when young!

If it would do it to me I can't imagine what it would do to my chickens! Nada on chemicals of any kind I can avoid.

I had no idea Round Up was so toxic; I've been using it for years without due caution. How were you neurologically damaged, if you don't mind my asking? What degree of exposure caused it? In what way? Thanks. : (

 

[beverly evans]

Hi guys

I started reading this post at page one - currently on page 99.

I am now convinced about ff and have been in touch with my local horse feed place (where I get my organic layers pellets from) and they have agreed to split a bag each of wheat, steamed rolled oats and barley in half for me (i.e. 1 1/2 bags in total), have got AVC with mother arriving tomorrow, and will add some of this to my normal AVC to hopefully upgrade it to also having the mother, also a 90 litre food grade lockable bin arriving in a day or so.

I only have five hens so this should last me some time !

I currently sprout lentils verdes, mung beans, alfalfa and raddish for them on a daily basis - as I have very little natural ground for them to scratch around in (about 20ft x 2ft) - but we are currently reorganising and resiting their run and have already sewn dandelion seeds all over the separate sections of new ground. We are also creating an additional 10ft x 6ft new area and filling it with soil (and worms).

I am really excited about starting to ferment their feed - my hens stay with me for life - one hen stopped laying around 8 months ago when her friend died (ex-battery) two black rocks who started laying in November and not missed a day yet - and two amber stars (arriving in two weeks). However their poo is quite soft/runny and smelly - attracting lots of nasty flies in the summer (yuck) even though their run is cleaned daily and concrete areas are washed and disinfected daily.

I am really hoping that fermenting their feed will improve their digestion/health/poo.

They love dry whole wheat and barley grains - so should still like them when fermented, also love the organic porridge & milk on cold days (its April and around 11 degrees C here in the north UK) - not tried giving it to them dry (yet). The wheat and barley I currently have is for sprouting - in order to give them grass rather than sprouts (first batch started off 2 days ago and looking good so far)

I will continue reading the rest of this thread - but will no doubt be bombarding you ff - experienced guys with questions - I am so excited though to think I can do something else (ff) to increase the health of my lovely girls.

Thank you all for your very helpful and informative posts

One question to start off though - should I continue to feed them the sprouts separately - or once sprouted should I put them in with the grains - was just worried that the sprouted stuff would go off if it is not all used in a day or so i.e. if some got left in for days and days

Hi, Welcome to the thread. Any leftover sprouts will do fine mixed into the ff. Where is "north UK"? Is that meaning Canada? : )

 

[wolfpup]

Hi,

No, I mean the United Kingdom.

I think I will just add the sprouts to the fermented grains when I am feeding the hens, that way I don't have to worry about any being left in the 'soup', and they will get the sprouts at their best.

 

[LindaB220]

Hi,

No, I mean the United Kingdom.

I think I will just add the sprouts to the fermented grains when I am feeding the hens, that way I don't have to worry about any being left in the 'soup', and they will get the sprouts at their best.

Perfect, that's what I intend to do. Or sprout for 2-3 days and throw into coop like scratch. That'll get some turning done. Welcome.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

~~Triple Willow

It is simple politics. Large companies that make products like Roundup and other extreme chemicals also market these chemicals to farmers and breed GMO plants that are resistant to the chemicals. These companies not only do this, but control over 90% of the USA's seed supply for major crops like corn, wheat, alfalfa, clover and more. Almost everything you eat and grow comes from these companies, can't be legally reproduced, and can only be gotten from them. When a few companies control that much of your country's food, you can't just "regulate" the dangerous, harmful chemicals that give them their money away. How do you think that labeling laws for GMOs haven't been passed? These companies spend something like BILLIONS of dollars every time the issue comes up to make sure they AREN'T regulated. Heck, half of the UDSA and FDA's major heads, CEOs, Etc are former employees from companies like Monsanto! How can you regulate something when the people that regulate it are the people who made it? Who polices the police? :\

For reference, this is why I only buy seeds from organic only companies and only order heirloom seeds. I get mine from High Mowing seed company, but there are other good ones too.

Got my peas in the ground yesterday. And my spinach. Carrots kale and radish too.

 

[LindaB220]

~~Triple Willow

It is simple politics. Large companies that make products like Roundup and other extreme chemicals also market these chemicals to farmers and breed GMO plants that are resistant to the chemicals. These companies not only do this, but control over 90% of the USA's seed supply for major crops like corn, wheat, alfalfa, clover and more. Almost everything you eat and grow comes from these companies, can't be legally reproduced, and can only be gotten from them. When a few companies control that much of your country's food, you can't just "regulate" the dangerous, harmful chemicals that give them their money away. How do you think that labeling laws for GMOs haven't been passed? These companies spend something like BILLIONS of dollars every time the issue comes up to make sure they AREN'T regulated. Heck, half of the UDSA and FDA's major heads, CEOs, Etc are former employees from companies like Monsanto! How can you regulate something when the people that regulate it are the people who made it? Who polices the police? :\

For reference, this is why I only buy seeds from organic only companies and only order heirloom seeds. I get mine from High Mowing seed company, but there are other good ones too.

Got my peas in the ground yesterday. And my spinach. Carrots kale and radish too.

As easy an explanation of GMO's as you're ever going to hear. Another good one is DollarSeed.com. If the rain ever stops I'll be able to start planting. I'm a month late or more in NW La.