Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

Date sort Score sort
Well I started feeding FF about a week and a half ago. I still keep dry layer or starter out for the birds right now. There is one thing I have already noticed that will keep me using FF. I had 3 hens that had bare backs. No matter what I tried they would not keep feathers there. I fed gamebird feed, cat food, scrambled eggs and nothing worked. I tried putting them in saddles but when one of my hens got hung up on a fence wire I took them off. I noticed last night that all three have new feathers covering at least half their backs! They are super big, shiny feathers to boot. I always thought my birds feathers were in good shape but this is a big difference. I will keep feeding for this alone.

I now have some baby corturnix quail, does anyone know if I can give the FF to them?
 
It should do them a world of good...start their bowels off right and help them utilize their feed.

Good to know about the feathering! Interesting....and we will have to keep track of any other benefits we notice along the way.

I did a fecal examination today...yeah, I know it's gross but I'm a nurse and a mother, so it comes natural to me.
big_smile.png
I separated and examined a large dropping from one of my CX and found grass, pieces of bug shells, etc. and very little feed residue...a tiny fragment or two of what looked to be corn. I smelled it and it had absolutely no smell whatsoever, which surprised me...I have a very sensitive nose, much to my dismay, so I can pick up on smells real well.

I had done one of these when they were little and found no smell but I expected it to be so when they were little...young bird, not old enough to have formed much bacteria in the intestines so didn't expect to smell much anyway.

Another thing...my CX had very yellow/orange legs the last time and they do this time also but when I see pics of other people's CX their legs aren't so yellow. The CX in broiler houses don't seem to be that yellow either. I'm wondering if it's the amount of corn in the layer ration...this layer ration isn't the greatest I've ever had. Too much corn for my liking...so much so that the only whole grain I'm mixing in now is the barley. I've cut out the wheat and the cracked corn. I'm doing 50% layer ration and 50% barley.

The CX helped me garden today...
roll.png
...got in the way, ate a ton of worms and one joined me on a bench later and snuggled against my leg to go to sleep. I pet him and he chirped to me and then he couldn't keep his eyes open any longer and just dozed off. Who says these birds have no personality? When they aren't ravenous, they can be quite the charmers...like teddy bears with big orange feet.
big_smile.png
 
ladyokie said:
Well I started feeding FF about a week and a half ago.  I still keep dry layer or starter out for the birds right now.  There is one thing I have already noticed that will keep me using FF.  I had 3 hens that had bare backs. No matter what I tried they would not keep feathers there.  I fed gamebird feed, cat food, scrambled eggs and nothing worked.  I tried putting them in saddles but when one of my hens got hung up on a fence wire I took them off.  I noticed last night that all three have new feathers covering at least half their backs!  They are super big, shiny feathers to boot.  I always thought my birds feathers were in good shape but this is a big difference.  I will keep feeding for this alone.  

I now have some baby corturnix quail, does anyone know if I can give the FF to them? 
Click to expand...


I was wondering this too but I'm getting Bobwhite Quail.
 
ladyokie said:
Well I started feeding FF about a week and a half ago.  I still keep dry layer or starter out for the birds right now.  There is one thing I have already noticed that will keep me using FF.  I had 3 hens that had bare backs. No matter what I tried they would not keep feathers there.  I fed gamebird feed, cat food, scrambled eggs and nothing worked.  I tried putting them in saddles but when one of my hens got hung up on a fence wire I took them off.  I noticed last night that all three have new feathers covering at least half their backs!  They are super big, shiny feathers to boot.  I always thought my birds feathers were in good shape but this is a big difference.  I will keep feeding for this alone.  

I now have some baby corturnix quail, does anyone know if I can give the FF to them? 
Click to expand...


Only difference I ever saw between corturnix quail and chicken food requirements is that the quail need more protien. Tend them well, those little buggers STINK. Mine did anyway. I had them in a wire bottom thing kind of like a rabbit hutch and there was no way on earth I could do any sort of deep litter or anything. You're either going to have to clean, clean, clean or have something that you need to keep way far away from the house. I just gave mine away. I found I didn't like the taste of them enough to put up with the stink.
 

Similar threads

F
    • Like
How can I turn meat bird feed into layer feed?
2
Replies
13
Views
1K
FrostRanger
FrostRanger
Rethia
    • Love
Fermenting feed for newborn chicks
Replies
7
Views
907
ChaosMom
ChaosMom
ChaosMom
    • Like
    • Love
For those who ferment: how do you handle (human) vacations?
2
Replies
13
Views
692
ChaosMom
ChaosMom
K
Fermented food question - smell and how to feed
Replies
6
Views
3K
Daisy June
D
N
    • Like
Fermented feed vs crumbles/pellets
2
Replies
11
Views
2K
U_Stormcrow
U_Stormcrow

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom