Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Turk Raphael]

Hey there chicken thief.... welcome to the BYC! You did the forum just fine. Couple of thoughts. Scratch grains are not a balanced diet for chickens and are more a treat. You might want to get a basic 16% protein feed and use that as your starting place, then add grains to it. I don't ferment in milk, just plain old water. The thing with protein is the chicken knows how much its body needs and once it's reached that point, it stops eating. So feeding a high protein diet could prove counter productive as the birds will be healthy but will "lean" out. Years ago what folks would do was to feed the birds oats soaked in milk for 2-4 weeks before butchering. The oats have a lower protein/higher fat content and it fills out/ finishes them nicely from what I understand.

You might want to be selective about putting animal protein/products (bloodmeal) in your FF... When animal products start to ferment, the smell will drive you out and bring every fly from miles around in. Whatever you decide to do, let us know what it was and how it worked out for you!

For simply fattening older cock birds, clabbered milk (we use buttermilk) and corn meal or even soaked cracked corn, rice, oatmeal etc are excellent feeds for the purpose of putting a 30 to 45 day heavy bloom on the birds. They are going to be slaughtered anyway but for long term care, more classic FF procedures would certainly pay benefits.

 

[deedles]

We have cornish cx on FF right now and what I'm going to try adding is sprouted BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds). Both an animal nutritionist that I got to speak with at the Mother Earth News fair and the guy at the feed mill think it's an excellent way to both fatten and boost the omega 3's in the finished bird, since the boss is so high in omega 3 oils. I know my guineas love to pick it out of the fermented scratch grains before anything else including millet which is amazing since they'd die for millet!

So the last 2 or 3 weeks they're going to get boss in addition to their ff. We'll see what happens.

 

[chicken thief]

Has anyone used cotton seed,canola, or sunflower seed meal in their brews to increase % protein? I'm fermenting scratch in goats milk, but might go strictly small grains.(French technique for fattñing).My dual purpose hens fend for themselves,but l'm getting into the fancy meat breeds (Malines,Barbezieux,& Bresse,etc.and would like to figure a ration that would be good for juveniles & adults.(want to stay away from store bought as much as possible. Does anyone know how fermenting in milk helps nutrition? I don't mind experimenting on my homegrown chickens (RIRxAusralorp),but leary of risking my new ones (expensive). All thoughts welcome. Thanks.

 

[Turk Raphael]

Has anyone used cotton seed,canola, or sunflower seed meal in their brews to increase % protein? I'm fermenting scratch in goats milk, but might go strictly small grains.(French technique for fattñing).My dual purpose hens fend for themselves,but l'm getting into the fancy meat breeds (Malines,Barbezieux,& Bresse,etc.and would like to figure a ration that would be good for juveniles & adults.(want to stay away from store bought as much as possible. Does anyone know how fermenting in milk helps nutrition? I don't mind experimenting on my homegrown chickens (RIRxAusralorp),but leary of risking my new ones (expensive). All thoughts welcome. Thanks.

Have you considered capons/poulardes? A 'fat chicken is just that...a fat chicken'. The benefits of sexually altering any bird (including your RIR X Australorps) will make a difference in meat AND fat quality/location that will make a seasoned gastronome weep.

 

[chicken thief]

That's next on my agenda. After l fatten the 3 roos, l'm going to start with them. I have to put together a kit (sounds like ones available aren't much good). Any pointers on getting tools would help. I think l've found rib spredder. Testicle remover might have to make.Looking into forceps,scapel,etc (maybe vet kit).I think there was a site on caponizing.(BYC?) lot of info,especially not buying nasco or hatchery catalog kits.

 

[chicken thief]

I understand it's too late to help old roos tenderness, but will caponizing take alot of the fight out of them? I have to cage mine in separate cages. When they were loose they knew who was boss, but caged together l'd only end up with one.

 

[Turk Raphael]

I understand it's too late to help old roos tenderness, but will caponizing take alot of the fight out of them? I have to cage mine in separate cages. When they were loose they knew who was boss, but caged together l'd only end up with one.

Old birds are tough for skilled folks to caponize. You could practice but the birds will die. Go here...all you need to know and everything you will need. Ah...when they die during 'practice', you can still butcher them, salt-store them in the fridge for a week and then make fine stews from them.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/graphic-pics-of-my-day-learning-to-caponize

 

[chicken thief]

Will birds on 4-5 day fermented grain need grit?

 

[Turk Raphael]

Will birds on 4-5 day fermented grain need grit?

If it's fermented well, I'd tend to say no but as cheap as grit is...why risk it?

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Are they on real dirt or indoors? If they have real dirt they don't need grit... They will dig and find their own. Honestly, they don't really need grit for ff either, nor for crumbles. Only for larger foods like pellets, bugs or plants.