Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[bruceh]

in my observation by trial and error and i would others input to see if this true or not. before fermenting feed my 16 layers would produce 6-8 eggs a day. when i started fermenting the egg production dropped considerably .after the birds adjusted to the fermented feed it took a about a week to 10 days. egg production picked up big time 10-14 eggs daily. i switched back to dry feed for a week or so, egg production again dropped to 5-7 eggs daily. when i put the birds back on fermented feed the egg production increased each day by 2 . . 4 days into being back on fermented feed the birds laid 11 eggs today.


my goal here is to see if by lowering ph and making the nutrients more available has effect on production. people have reported that yolks are considerably larger.



bruce

 

[aoxa]

I'm really unsure of how much to feed of this. For now I have been filling at 5pm and it is all still there when I let them out in the morning. By the time my fiance went and checked on them today at 1pm, they were out and were breaking into the restricted part of the barn to get at the dry feed. Anyway.. Obviously what I'm giving for wet is not enough. I'm going to actually ferment once I get back from my week vacation. For now I've been getting them used to eating wet feed with ACV in it. They LOVE it. I use the top of two trash cans. One scoop in each top and I make it into a PB consistency with the ACV in there.

Someone said wet is better than dry, and I find it triples the mass of food. That's gotta save me money, right?

Also noticed the protein content of my food was 15% - not enough. I'm feeding grower, and they don't have other options for local feed. It's that or Purina. I have this thing for local though..

 

[galanie]

Is it? I've been feeding wet feed every night now. They love it.

Yes, in one of the studies on FF that Bee linked a while back it was noticed that simply soaking the feed in plain water made more nutrients available. Not nearly as much as fermenting does but it's still better than dry.

Interestingly enough, soaking a seed has a similar effect. Prior to it actually sprouting, it has more nutrients available for absorption than does dry seeds such as wheat.

 

[aoxa]

Yes, in one of the studies on FF that Bee linked a while back it was noticed that simply soaking the feed in plain water made more nutrients available. Not nearly as much as fermenting does but it's still better than dry.
Interestingly enough, soaking a seed has a similar effect. Prior to it actually sprouting, it has more nutrients available for absorption than does dry seeds such as wheat.

That is interesting!

I'm sure even a bit of ACV in wet food adds that much more.

 

[Celie]

If I do not have ACV, can I use beer?

 

[Taniamax]

Yes. They DO GM alfalfa and it's becoming prevalent. A friend sent me this documentary on GMO and how its affecting US and our animals if anyone is interested in watching. It's pretty interesting.

Hey, thanks for this! It is really good information.

 

[Zanna]

If I do not have ACV, can I use beer?

Along these lines........ Every year I make Raspberry and Marionberry Vinegars. Usually they are just an infusion, berries/honey/vinegar leave on windowsill for 72 hours, strain, done. Got busy this year and left the jars a little longer than normal and they formed the mother. Would this work as well as ACV?

 

[Pozees]

I'm really unsure of how much to feed of this. For now I have been filling at 5pm and it is all still there when I let them out in the morning. By the time my fiance went and checked on them today at 1pm, they were out and were breaking into the restricted part of the barn to get at the dry feed.

Anyway.. Obviously what I'm giving for wet is not enough. I'm going to actually ferment once I get back from my week vacation. For now I've been getting them used to eating wet feed with ACV in it. They LOVE it. I use the top of two trash cans. One scoop in each top and I make it into a PB consistency with the ACV in there.
Someone said wet is better than dry, and I find it triples the mass of food. That's gotta save me money, right?
Also noticed the protein content of my food was 15% - not enough. I'm feeding grower, and they don't have other options for local feed. It's that or Purina. I have this thing for local though..

Good for you! I buy from a local feed mill that sources as much product as possible from local farmers.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Hey, thanks for this! It is really good information.

Welcome. When I watched it I thought it was a concise presentation that I could direct someone to if they had an interest in reasons why people avoid GMO.

 

[aoxa]

Good for you!  I buy from a local feed mill that sources as much product as possible from local farmers. 

I would much rather supply the local man instead of a huge corporation.