Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Beekissed]

The meat chicks had a ball today and seem to be thriving well. Saw them dusting in the DL today, foraging a little and lying in the sunshine. One seems to be limping that wasn't limping yesterday so I figure a leg got caught on something....examined the leg and couldn't see anything wrong with it, nor could feel anything internally wrong with it. Will wait and see how it goes along. They are all fat and sassy, full crops and rip snorting around the coop.

They will lose their brooder space for sleeping by next week so they will have to sleep elsewhere by then. They will also lose their feeder, so will make them one this weekend and start feeding them outside, if I can. I may start feeding all the big birds outside now if I can keep the dogs out of the feeders. The coop is getting too crowded with brooders, half grown chicks, adults, etc. for everyone to be eating in the coop all at the same time.

 

[TexasLisa]

Ditto! I'm not really a complete nut but I believe in being prepared for whatever may come.

Is that a true statement????

Lisa

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I am more on the sustainability bandwagon than the prepping bandwagon myself. I figure if SHTF my practical wilderness knowledge will go a lot further than 6mo of supplies in a house in a suburb where guns are nigh-on illegal... And a bow will last me a lot longer than a stockpile of a few boxes of ammo! Properly cared for a bow will last centuries. I have two longbows right now but I am going to get a compound the fall for funsies! My sweet city-boy beau promised to take me out HUNTING in a romantic cabin in the WOODS for our anniversary this year! I gotta get my aim down!

In SHTF, I like the idea of being able to have nothing and still have everything I need at my fingertips. Nobody can steal something you don't have. Nobody knows where you live if you live wherever your feet stop moving for the day. As a general rule if I have nothing then I am more valuable alive to pass on my skills than dead to anyone. And if I really wanna get out of a sticky situation... I also know most of the VERY toxic plants in the area. Foxglove, lilly of the valley, and hemlock anyone?

In reality, though I just do this because I love the idea of a food system that doesn't scare me, you know? I can eat good food and reduce my risk of really bad diseases while staying in shape and maybe even paying a small bill? That's a major accomplishment in my book!

 

[BCMaraniac]

Ditto! I'm not really a complete nut but I believe in being prepared for whatever may come.

Did I read that right?

 

[Triple Willow]

BCMaraniac & TexasLisa... Yesss! I'm close but not complete- IMO anyhow! LOL

 

[tjo804]

Quote:

Thanks

 

[wolfpup]

I knew there was a reason I felt at home here

I am one of those 'nutters' mentioned a couple of pages back - I do have 6 months of food stocked, and am prepared for most things that could go wrong in the UK - its come in handy once or twice (no electric etc) - we were the only house on our street with lights, once went two days without water - I was supplying water to my neighbours (all of us are pensioners) and once no heating in mid winter (boiler broke Xmas Eve

) - that was the time my hubby finally came round to the fact I am not in fact certifiable - as I had two calor gas portable heaters and 6 full bottles of gas - unused up to that time.

I don't count myself a 'prepper' (although I do belong to the oldest prepper forum in the UK) - but I am of the age where I remember my grandmother having a very well stocked pantry (read overstocked) and when I asked her why - she just replied, "you never know what is around the corner".

Anyhow, back to the reason for this wonderful thread - I started at page one 5 days ago - currently on page 208 so still a ways to go. Today I gave my girls their first taste of ff - consisting of:

Organic layers pellets (50%)
organic wheat
oats (steamed rolled) - not organic - cannot get any yet
organic barley
a very small handful of fish food pellets - all making up the other 50%

in addition:
a small handful of oystershell is also in the fermenting bowl.

They tore into it as if they had never seen food before in their lives !

I hope they will be getting enough protein and calcium with the above - perhaps someone more experienced can confirm for me please? - I only have a few girls - all layers. Oystershell is also freely available as is grit (much smaller). In addition I do sprout mung beans, alfalfa, lentils verdes and raddish for them on a daily basis and am also starting sprouting wheat and barley for grass that should be ready in another week.

In addition they get AVC in their water, a poultry mineral with seaweed and probiotics - and an eggshell improver (a little each day on their sprouts).

I have just had to rehome the boss hen as she was a serial feather eater - so hopefully this new diet will help my other girls grow some nice new feathers - and I am getting another two girls in a couple of weeks.

 

[tjo804]

Pretty prettty Please would some one look at my emergencies post and see if they can help or even tell me if they've ever heard of this before?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-time-please-help-includes-pics#post_13237698

Please?

 

[wolfpup]

An addition to the post above.

Was a little concerned about the protein levels after trying the formula found in this thread, so I have dumped a big spoonful of both red split and whole lentils verdes into the mix as on researching I came across this:

Lentils, cooked
1.00 cup
(198.00 grams)​

Calories: 230
GI: low​

NutrientDRI/DV​

molybdenum

330%​

folate

89.5%​

fiber

62.5%​

copper

55.5%​

phosphorus

50.9%​

manganese

49%​

iron

36.6%​

protein​

35.7%​

vitamin B1

27.5%​

pantothenic acid

25.2%​

zinc

22.8%​

potassium

20.8%​

vitamin B6

20.5%​

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=52

I wont be cooking the lentils for them - I sprout lentils verdes for them anyway, but I have put them into my fermenting mix listed in my previous post above. Hopefully I will now have enough protein for my layers - but if I find I am short I can always add some dried cat food biscuits

 

[wolfpup]

Dont know what happened there hopefully this will be easier to read:


molybdenum330%
folate89.5%
fiber62.5%
copper55.5%
phosphorus50.9%
manganese49%
iron36.6%
protein35.7%
vitamin B127.5%
pantothenic acid25.2%
zinc22.8%
potassium20.8%
vitamin B620.5%