Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Zootopia]

Please forgive me if this has been asked before, but whole grains are what we should be using? I've got the crumbles from Southern States and I'm wondering if I can use that until it's gone then switch to the whole grains.

Heavier, healthier meat birds are pretty irresistible, so I must try this!

Thanks

Many of us are starting our chick on fermented starter, you can also use lay pellets, just whatever you want to feed. The Idea is that the nutrients are more readily available so they don't eat as much, their poops are not as smelly and are well formed. It will not necessarily make them heavier.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

OK! I'm on board,after just reading this thread , now I get to go back and get the particulars down. I think I will be taking before and after pics. Mine are not cx, they are what I like to call Appalachian games, and some store bought layers.
It certainly makes sense, having opened a few crops that have a fermented smell, especially the wild turkeys, which leads to a question...how much protein do you think is in a grasshopper, they look like meat when half fermented, cows ferment their foods too.
Since my tiny flock just quadrupled themselves I am up for anything that cuts the feed bill and is better for them. Having been doing drywall I got the buckets too. I'll let ya know what happens, wish me luck.

 

[Beekissed]

Luck!

 

[shadowmane]

LOL... Appalachian Games. I like that. Good luck. I'm on my second day giving the chicks dry feed. I'll be re-introducing the fermented feed in the next day or two. I also threw them a worm this morning. It was funny watching them fight over it.

 

[wingstone]

Started the quail on ff saturday, morning feeding they gobbled right up, evening feeding still had some left in the morning, not sure what to think of that...do you think twice a day is enough for such a high energy bird??

 

[Island Roo]

I've been lurking on this thread for a while.

I'm gonna give this FF a try.

I can't stand the way these stinkies (previously known as meaties) smell.

There's a cloud of flies on the stinky side of the coop and none on the dual breed side - even with regular cleaning.

My guys are 7 weeks - their big day planned in 3 weeks. I'm thinking about starting to introduce fermented whole grains now and try to switch them over to 100 % FF grains in about 8 days. Current they're on grower pellets. Does this sound like it will work?

If we try meaties again we'll be going with the tractor / electric chicken wire. I'd love to do free range but that would be a giant eagle feeder. Thanks for sharing all this great info (Bee and others) - if not for your help this would be our first and last attempt at meaties.

 

[Beekissed]

That is one purdy chicken in your avatar!

 

[snowflake]

That is one purdy chicken in your avatar!

Like the avatar also,,,,, I have Freedom Rangers, 8wks, have been reading this for a couple days, haven't read all the posts but really sounds interesting, I have my meaties in tractors that I move daily and hose down the poo every night. they also free range with my eggers. I get 50# bags of 22% Hamilton feed for $13.66, They are going through 50# a week right now but the amount used is going up, I am going to try this this week, I am wondering if I can take the mother from apple cider and put it in the ACV from the grocery store and get the same results? We have a farm market on the corner that sells unpasteurized apple cider.

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

My hubby actually went into the coop today beings he hasn't seen the meaties since we got them, he has to do the killing so he stays away from them and the first words out of his mouth was WOW...they don't stink!!

Does anyone here have the Premier 1 electric poultry net? We put ours up today and I'm having issues!!! HTH do you keep it off the grass so it doesn't fault??? Grrrr...it's really starting to p!$$ me off!

 

[Beekissed]

Go back to their website and see all the hints and tips on their fencing....really helpful. I'm so glad your meaties passed the stink test!