Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Kassaundra]

I wondered how long your feed lasted. I made a gallon for my new 13 chicks and it lasted 4 days, then today I half filled my 5 gallon bucket and will see how long it lasts. I'm making half of a 5 gallon bucket for my 14 3.5 mo old pullets It lasts them 3-4 days. My soaked oats that I fermented in a 18 gallon container is bubbling and fermented after 5 days. Kept it under water. I add 2 cups to my small remaining amount of ff but they are eating it. Yea!!!!

Sometimes a month or more, sometimes a couple of weeks, depending on how many I have at the time and how well they are foraging for themselves. Summer and winter are heavier fermented feed eating times, summer is just to hot for them to get out and forage much and winter there isn't a lot to get.

 

[LindaB220]

Sometimes a month or more, sometimes a couple of weeks, depending on how many I have at the time and how well they are foraging for themselves. Summer and winter are heavier fermented feed eating times, summer is just to hot for them to get out and forage much and winter there isn't a lot to get.

What do you put in your mix? Ratios?

 

[ChocolateMouse]

My ferment is really starting to take off now that it's out of the cup and into the 2 liter. I am feeding a whole jug of it to the chicks in 36 hours, but it's starting to get that sweet-sour smell to it! I'm just leaving some back in the bottom of the jug when I go to add more feed. It holds about 3C dry feed which expands into about 2 liters wet. The chicks are loving it and still aren't drinking more than about a quart of water a day amongst the 15 of them.

 

[Sabz]

I noticed the drop in water intake also! This is great stuff.

 

[RuzichFamily]

This thread is so huge I can't begin to read it all! Good stuff tho. As a livestock guy I've been around fermented feed forever, haylage, silage, ddg, etc.; but never thought about it w/ the chickens. It makes sense and I think they also eat more just like hogs do when you put them on a wet feeder vs. a dry. I noticed a difference in about 3 days. Weight gain, shiny feathers, and less water intake. Currently I'm making a day or so's ration at a time and I have 4 buckets that are 1 day apart in the process. Mixing 2 parts 16% protein layer pellets, 1 part 21% protein meat ration and 1 part scratch.

 

[ccr chickens]

Ok how much ff per day per bird cause mine will eat as much as I can give

 

[Kassaundra]

What do you put in your mix? Ratios?

I do equal parts wheat, corn (cracked), and oats, would love to add barley, but have all kinds of trouble finding it. I top dress w/ game bird (high protein and no meds). I tried fermenting it in w/ the grains but feel I loose a lot of the value b/c I keep my ferment w/ an inch or so of liquid over the grains.

 

[Kassaundra]

I do equal parts wheat, corn (cracked), and oats, would love to add barley, but have all kinds of trouble finding it. I top dress w/ game bird (high protein and no meds). I tried fermenting it in w/ the grains but feel I loose a lot of the value b/c I keep my ferment w/ an inch or so of liquid over the grains.

I am all about K.I.S.S I don't do a lot of additives and ratios and all that.

 

[LindaB220]

This thread is so huge I can't begin to read it all! Good stuff tho. As a livestock guy I've been around fermented feed forever, haylage, silage, ddg, etc.; but never thought about it w/ the chickens. It makes sense and I think they also eat more just like hogs do when you put them on a wet feeder vs. a dry. I noticed a difference in about 3 days. Weight gain, shiny feathers, and less water intake. Currently I'm making a day or so's ration at a time and I have 4 buckets that are 1 day apart in the process. Mixing 2 parts 16% protein layer pellets, 1 part 21% protein meat ration and 1 part scratch.

Grand to have you. Sounds great on the results. I'd bump up the protein a little more because right now you have about 13%. Maybe another 1/2 part of 21% protein. I'm calculating the scratch at 9% Fermenting feed is the best decision I've made since I decided to raise chickens.

 

[LindaB220]

I do equal parts wheat, corn (cracked), and oats, would love to add barley, but have all kinds of trouble finding it. I top dress w/ game bird (high protein and no meds). I tried fermenting it in w/ the grains but feel I loose a lot of the value b/c I keep my ferment w/ an inch or so of liquid over the grains.

What kind of oats do you buy? Whole? Crimped?