Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[enola]

Wow. Sounds like a night mare. Did they offer to give you a credit?

 

[RachelJG]

I haven't contacted the hatchery yet. It's a longer story than I've let on yet... I tried brooding my first batch of 50 outside with hot waterbottles and such instead of a lamp because in order to get them conveniently close to my house but not get in trouble with the landlord or local authorities, I had to put them in a place without electricity. I read up on old-fashioned "fireless" brooders and built them a cozy hover. They weren't good about using it though, and my vegetarian, suburban, and aspiringly aristocratic mother arrived for a visit the same day they did, so I couldn't bring them into the house until she left three days later... Then I wasn't prepared to have them inside and wasn't able to provide them with very spacious accommodations. When they were still dying at 1.5 weeks... back in their spacious, electricity-less brooder enjoying 80 degree days and 65 degree nights with lots of water bottles, I still assumed it was the lingering affects of stress and my poor management... or maybe because the wind had blown from all four points of the compass within one week... including blowing into the ventilation opening strongly enough to disturb a flame at the level of the brooder floor... I was really not having good luck! ...So I didn't really suspect the hatchery or the feed ferment until my second batch, brooded in spacious, warm, indoor luxury started dropping like flies! I've lost 21 out of 106... I think. I lost count and had to guess based on having ordered 51 each time and the hatchery normally sending 2 extras. Their policy only guarantees the birds (not counting extras) through the first 24 hours. I didn't want to call and accuse them of sending me sick birds if there was still a good chance it was something I did.

 

[osbmail]

I weighed one of the 38 red broiler from moyer hatchery.At 16 days I t weighed 12ozs hope I am on track.I have fed about 2 pounds per chick of dry chick starter plus another pound or more of fremented Brewers grain.

 

[WIchickens]

Is anyone willing to share their "recipe" for what they ferment? All I have planned so far is just plain broiler feed, but now you all have me thinking.....

Also - how long do you feed them on chick starter...if at all?

I love all this information!!

 

[LadyIsadora]

Is anyone willing to share their "recipe" for what they ferment? All I have planned so far is just plain broiler feed, but now you all have me thinking.....

Also - how long do you feed them on chick starter...if at all?

I love all this information!!

this is one recipe that adds up to about 17% protien. It was designed for ducks but would work for chickens too I think. I got it form another site but I didnt write down the name, sorry I cant credit the chef.
1Kg Wheat
1Kg barley/ Oats
1 Kg Corn
1.5Kg Chick Peas
1 Kg lentils/ Peas
350 g sunflower seeds
50g shell grit

---grind ingredients to suit your needs.

I would consider adding Sesame Seed in the mix to get the necessary B2 (riboflavin) I have not done that yet. I need to research if that is ok and cost effective
Also Flax seed, high in omega 3 and much other good stuff but it must be fresh ground for each batch to preserve the oily goodness. A coffee grinder works well.

 

[enola]

I feed all of my chickens an all flock feed and supplement calcium. I ferment the all flock, scratch feed and throw in some alfalfa pellets.

I don't feed chick starter any more.

 

[Latestarter]

I did just unmedicated chick starter for the first 6 months or so then switched over to the following combination:

game bird 28% protein
broiler finisher 18% protein
barley
oats
millet
milo
scratch grains
BOSS

to end up with a mix that's about 14-16% protein.

 

[Beekissed]

Is anyone willing to share their "recipe" for what they ferment? All I have planned so far is just plain broiler feed, but now you all have me thinking.....

Also - how long do you feed them on chick starter...if at all?

I love all this information!!

Unmedicated chick starter at times for chicks, but even when I do the chick starter, I mix it with layer mash by the second week anyway and integrate the chicks with the flock and feed everyone the same thing. Layer mash from the local mill is what they usually all get...no special mixes or elaborate recipes as the milled feed is already mixed to a balanced ration.

Free range and layer ration, that's about as complicated as it gets.

 

[osbmail]

I am just mixing wet Brewers grain with chick starter 50 percent brewer grain 50 chick starter.The brewer grain just ferments on its own I just use it till I get more.Had some for 5 days in bucket with a lid it never seem to get any worse after 2 days.

 

[Aprildeesunshin]

I have an odd question. I made my first batch of goat cheese and have about 1/2 gallon of whey left. Would it be good to put this as my water in my FF? Would it be good or bad and why? Thank you!