Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Tivona]

Here are 3 websites talking about the nutrients of various different sprouts if your interested:

International Sprout Growers Association

sproutpeople.org

And ISS at http://www.sproutnet.com/sprout_nutritional_analysis.htm


Not sure how any of the sprouts actually compare to the same of fermented but at least you can have an idea of how the sprouts compare. And you do have to be more careful with sprouts then the ferment in this thread, at least as far as I have seen. I have done sprouts many times over the years but I am new to fermenting so I could be wrong.

 

[unkadan]

Last winter I sprouted, corn, oats, wheat, soybeans, and boss using the stacked burlap bag method shown here on BYC on another thread. Not sure about the nurtitional values but as a midday treat the cooped up birds enjoyed it and did exceptionally well all winter.

One thing for sure,,,you will add mass/weight to the expensive seed you use, meaning 1# of seed will more than triple in weight when sprouted,,it takes a couple minutes each day to make,,I'll be doing it again.

In one of the utube video's with Joel Salatin he talks about it and he is working on a device to make growing sprouted grain easier for large numbers of layers right in the high tunnel with the birds. Might work in Virginia winter but here I will continue doing it in the basement.

 

[Beekissed]

I've always wanted to try it but never got around to it....may try it a little this winter to see if it can help replace some of the greens lost in winter. I'd have to take it a little further than the 3 days to sprout to get any green going, though.

 

[Kassaundra]

I sprout grains in the winter for the girls, but I just do sprouts not young plants.

 

[unkadan]

I didn't grow to the green stage, just nice long 2-4" sprouts and I use a 5 bag or 5 day rotation

the greens would be great and I do have a non-heated greenhouse just not inclined to do it trying to supplement with 50 birds

 

[Leahs Mom]

I didn't grow to the green stage, just nice long 2-4" sprouts and I use a 5 bag or 5 day rotation

the greens would be great and I do have a non-heated greenhouse just not inclined to do it trying to supplement with 50 birds

Quote: I also sprout rather than doing them to the "grass" stage. That wheat grass feeder in the the plastic plastics looks interesting, though.

Not sure if it's worth the extra time/hassle to do that though.

 

[Kassaundra]

Well I just got access to quite a bit of out dated bread, which I think will be on a regular basis, my husband doesn't ask enough questions. Anyway it is both the good whole grain type and the white, and the fake whole wheat, the brownish colored white bread. I set it out to ferment and it is humming right along and the girls love eating it, just not sure how healthy it is for them. They still have access to thier layer feed (dry) 24/7, I only ferment grain not their layer feed.

 

[wingstone]

This seems like a good place to pose a question (I really do not like the meat bird threads).but anyway I have a young JG roo and young splash marans,,,i am trying to get away from ordering meaties a couple times a year, does this sound like a good mix to start breeding for my own meaties.......I am not concerned about slow growth, I do need birds that I can get some weight on though........They would have their own coop with a 1 acre fenced pasture....suggestions appreciated, not set on this mix, it is just what I have available...what would be the time frame for this mix???

 

[Lacy Blues]

I don't see why not. They're both good sized birds. Don't know what the time frame would be though.

 

[armorfirelady]

Well I just got access to quite a bit of out dated bread, which I think will be on a regular basis, my husband doesn't ask enough questions. Anyway it is both the good whole grain type and the white, and the fake whole wheat, the brownish colored white bread. I set it out to ferment and it is humming right along and the girls love eating it, just not sure how healthy it is for them. They still have access to thier layer feed (dry) 24/7, I only ferment grain not their layer feed.

Do you just put the bread in with your fermented grains? If so I asusme you cut it up into cubes?