Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[aoxa]

Does anyone else use this brand (almost said breed there for a second - chicken brain I tell you).

Apple Cider Vinegar - Product Information
Made from organic apples.
Balances your acid-alkaline levels.
Certified-Organic, Kosher, Unfiltered, and Non-Pasteurized...

Omega's Certified-Organic Apple Cider Vinegar is made the "old fashioned" way, by allowing the natural fermentation process to occur to full-strength (5% acidity), without chemicals, additives, preservatives or water.

Natural sediment is the true sign of raw, unfiltered vinegar, and naturally contains pectin, trace minerals, beneficial bacteria and enzymes making it one of the best Apple Cider Vinegars around.

Traditionally, Apple Cider Vinegar has long been regarded as a versatile folk remedy due to its mineral content. It promotes a healthy acid/alkaline balance. Its crisp, zesty flavor makes salad dressings come alive.

Ingredients: Certified organic, raw apple cider vinegar.

* Made from certified organic apples, and prepared and packaged in a certified organic facility. Fermentation process produces 5% acetic acid.

Certifications:


Benefits
These include:
Naturally contains pectin, trace minerals, beneficial bacteria and enzymes making it one of the best Apple Cider Vinegars around.
High mineral content that promotes balance in the body's acid/alkaline levels.
Rich in phosphorus, magnesium and manganese and is also a good source of other minerals including zinc, iron and copper.

I can find this or braggs in my grocery store. I chose this one, as the bottle was bigger for the same price. Thoughts?

Also note I got my MIL to pick it up. She is a notorious label reader. Braggs has water in it!

 

[Turkeytruff]

The bacon fat and cottage cheese will add more protein not sure of the amount but it will raise it though. I don't know or don't remember how many birds you have. So I don't know how much feed you need. Here's how I would go just because these numbers are easy.
10 lbs your mix with with 8 ounces lard and 8 ounces cottage cheese and 10 ounces calf manna (you might be able to put more calf manna but I don't use it so I don't know) That as a guess without going to a lot of trouble looking up bacon grease protein or cottage cheese protein would put you around 14 or 15 % protein.Then remember this in the old days that is what the experts said it took to raise chickens. today they say 16%. I don't think it is all about % but what is in that % and how much gets used. I read somewhere that fermenting lets the birds use the protein 12 % more efficiently. So think on all of this and see where it takes you experiment. What was said about cat food would get you there also. I just chose grease because to me it is free.
Now didn't I start on this for feathers. It is not always feed if birds any bird is bored it will pull feathers. Look at there surroundings and see if there is something there that can be done. More room or let them out more throw scratch 3 or 4 pieces at a time and make them run for it.
Anyway hope I didn't get 2 different problems mixed up It's late and I'm tired night.

thank you pigeon guy! He has stopped pulling feathers and I am hoping he was just going through some boredom stuff. The 2 bronze turkeys sometimes have a little 'dominance dance' & the one who starts it is the one who was eating the feathers... They have an enclosed (hawk wire overhead) space of about 150 feet x 30 feet - they go in and out of the henhouse but roost outside at night. I have 14 chickens, 7 of which are bantams. they are pretty happy and busy normally running around and scratching outside and they chow down the FF like little vacuum cleaners. I let them out on controlled runs through my raised beds and the neighbouring field at least once a day so they get some exercise. I also went and bought a sack of game bird and turkey feed - so between all this I'm sure it will sort itself out. I really appreciate this forum - thank you everyone, so much, for the advice and help and humour

 

[chickachee]

I'll be 63 in Dec. Never felt my age until this year. Lost my daughter & Mother this year. My chickens are my therapy.

December, what day? Mine is the 22nd. I'm starting to feel a little rickety from time to time too, but I'll keep pluggin' away... I feel like I don't act my age (I'm sure some people I know would be nodding their heads vigorously right now - HA!).

Part of the reason I got chickens was because my Mom always talks about the chickens on her uncle's farm. She got a big kick out of seeing mine this Fall when she visited.

My condolences on the loss of your daughter and Mother. Chickens ARE good therapy. I laugh a lot when I watch them! I'm glad yours help you too.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Hey everybody... talk about winter warming for ff...

I was looking at this for another reason... a fish tank... but then thought about some of you trying to figure out how to keep your ff from freezing this winter.

http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/WaterHeating/SteveTank/SteveTank.htm

 

[Miss Lydia]

I went and lowered the pop door going into the chicken coop today so hopefully my ducks and geese can't get in there without getting on their knees[do they have knees]? well anyway I put the ff in there plugged up, a heated bowl of water and a forage cake to nibble also, they all went in early since it has been pretty rainy/snowy windy and cold all day, they went right to the ff. Hopefully they'll finish this bowl since it's suppose to be the same way outside tomorrow too. They finally said around 8" of snow for us. winds around 60miles an hour.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Does anyone else use this brand (almost said breed there for a second - chicken brain I tell you).

I can find this or braggs in my grocery store. I chose this one, as the bottle was bigger for the same price. Thoughts?
Also note I got my MIL to pick it up. She is a notorious label reader. Braggs has water in it!

Does it say with mother over to the right? if so it's what your looking for. Haven't seen that brand in my part of the country.

 

[texasmomma]

That acv says unpasteurized on it and comes from a good company. It should be all right. You'll know if it doesn't make fermented feed.

 

[pigeonguy]

Don't know...never tried it without it. Depends on the surrounding temps as to how much the grain ferments but the studies stated that it would normally take 8-15 hours but is faster when active enzymes were added. Didn't remember how much faster... I'm old and can't remember a lot of things, ya know.

OK, enough of this teasing and inferences....how old is everyone? I'm 46. OH, STOP IT!!!! Stop laughing!

It's not THAT old!!!

I,m 53 my grandma is 94 and still gardens. So I think we are all young.

PS: My Internet was down all weekend I was Jonesing hard. Its like going through withdrawals.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

OK i did it, read alllll 236 pages of it.

But i haven't got a single question either you guys rock!
Fantastic exchange of information, thank you so much.
My set up will be 4 - 5 gallon buckets with lids. 2 for pigs, 2 for my birds.
Want to have a good rotation on the feed so its well fermented. have a closet in the laundry room that will be perfect for it.
Right by the back door, cant get any better than that. I have all the feed mixed and waiting, just need my vinegar to arrive.
I am processing my Meaties on Thursday, so can't report this time but will definitely do FF for my spring batch, and turkeys then too.

 

[delisha]

Quote: I am sorry to hear of your deep loss..I am sending out a cyber hug