Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Beekissed]

Yes! Bubble wrap is the woman's whittling stick of today....LOVE to pop da bubbles! I think it's a woman thing....

 

[flyinchicks]

What great information here. I tried to read it all but wow lots of information.

I have a question (it may have already been answered) but I am getting cornish in next week and I am going to purchase what I need to make FF. I have read alot about people using chick starter because they already had it. I can only find medicated chick starter in my area but plenty of grains (rural georgia go figure). Can you start day old babies on mixed grains or do they need they chick starter? Is there anyting that they cant have right off?

 

[aoxa]

Yes!  Bubble wrap is the woman's whittling stick of today....LOVE to pop da bubbles!  I think it's a woman thing....

 

Wait.. You're a woman?

Popping the bubbles can not be avoided. I'd have flat sheets of plastic in a month.

 

[Beekissed]

Was there any doubt?

 

[aoxa]

Was there any doubt?   

 

 

[My DHs Wife]

Quick question.

I started fermenting the feed three days ago. How do I know when it is ready?

 

[galanie]

It's ready. Many of us just start feeding it fairly quickly, like only a day later. Just replace what you took out of the bucket and mix it all up. You might have some that's just soaked and no really well fermented but even soaked feed is better for them than dry.

 

[galanie]

It may be GMO alfalfa.  When given a choice, animals won't eat it if regular is available.  If you want to see if that's the case, purchase a small amount of organic alfalfa and see how they respond!

I don't think they do Genetic Modification on Alfalfa, do they? I'll have to look. But anyway...

It wouldn't surprise me. I know that they don't like the GMO corn. Now, I've no absolute proof the regular feed corn is GMO but come on, it has to be. Organic corn, they love. I have a small amount to make GMO free Masa with and I cracked some and offered it. They ate it right up! The corn in the scratch... only if they're starving.

ETA: Looked it up, they do indeed have GMO alfalfa.

 

[Kassaundra]

I'm not too worried about the buckets. It's the feed that is out for them to eat I'm worried about. I am away from the farm from 7:30 am - 5:00 pm - so if it froze, they would have nothing to eat.

I would feed in black containers / trays whatever you use, let the sun be your friend.

 

[mammaducky1]

Have a question for those of you who have fed FF to your young chicks. What consistency do you use, watery or thick like peanut butter. I am using thick feed like peanut butter right now, and the chicks seem to be eating nonstop, but there just does not seem to be that much feed gone. Want to make sure they are getting enough. They seem healthy enough so far but it has only been 24 hours.