Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Beekissed]

For nonfood animals, I don't mind using a mild dewormer about once every year, off the feed store shelf. Strongid paste, horse wormer, for $7.99....lasts for a couple of years and does the job well. The cats get a small bead smeared on their tongues, the dogs a small dose on a dog biscuit. Never had a problem with worms here and all animals look great.

 

[pigeonguy]

I am starting my FF tomorrow but, was lookin at the protein levels and noticed my feed label says "Do not provide additional grain." Is this only cause the feed manufacturer wants me to use as much there feed as possible? Also for now am just using crumbles with ACV. It's 17% protein Next week I plan on adding more grains. Is it to much protein if I add Flaxseed and barley to this mix, with Boss tossed to them for a treat from time to time.

Flaxseed = 37% Barley = 12.5% BOSS = 10% So it depends on how much of each you giving. Maybe you should worry more about the fat content of the flax and Boss. flax = 38% BOSS = 25%

 

[pigeonguy]

For nonfood animals, I don't mind using a mild dewormer about once every year, off the feed store shelf. Strongid paste, horse wormer, for $7.99....lasts for a couple of years and does the job well. The cats get a small bead smeared on their tongues, the dogs a small dose on a dog biscuit. Never had a problem with worms here and all animals look great.

I got about 50 cats can.t even catch half of them. Mean as all git out. They do good know so the wife's happy and if shes happy I'm happy, You know what the thing is they don't even look at the chickens was the same with pigeons. Still don't like them they are lucky I love my wife.
Don't tell her I said that out loud.

 

[B J Hopkins]

OH my goodness! I miss checking out this thread for one day and find I'm 168 posts behind!!!

 

[FlaRocky]

Quote: Flaxseed = 37% Barley = 12.5% BOSS = 10% So it depends on how much of each you giving. Maybe you should worry more about the fat content of the flax and Boss. flax = 38% BOSS = 25%

For the new people.... What is BOSS??? And does it vary on the mix, depending on the area you live? Maye Ride the Glide......Got Gait.....I Do.....

 

[Ashdoes]

BOSS
Black. Oil. Sunflower. Seed.

 

[outdoorlvr35]

OK Didn't think the fat content through first, Maybe just won't use the flax. Glad I asked first. Thanx. Just in case someone maybe havin trouble finding un pasteurized apple cider vinegar, yes my Kroger said they had Braggs but also found it at wal-mart but it's Heinz.

 

[mickey328]

I got a small bottle of Bragg's with the mother and poured it into a gallon of the plain, generic stuff. Each time I'm getting low, I use some to innoculate a new gallon container. Makes it pretty darn cheap

Flax does have oil (fat) but it's the good kind...unsaturated and it's very high in Omega 3 anti oxidants. For no more than should be included, it will do much more good than harm. I give my girls about a tablespoon per week in their feed and mix it in my cereal as well.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Oh, heaven help me if life has just begun...I don't think I have the strength to do this for another 46 years!

I've done a lot of livin' in that time and I'm 'bout worn down to a nub.

Me too Bee! Some days I'm just plain worn out.

Well let me tell ya. And I hope this is true for you. I felt worn out from about 44 to 51 (just wished it was over) and the don't know what happened but life got better think I got use to the pains don't think they went away (actually I know they didn't) but I am able to do more like when I was younger. My wife 7 years younger than me now feels worn out and she is at the same age I was when she was telling me. Your only in your 40's quit complaining now roles are reversed. I'm a little easier on her though cause I been there done that. Been with that woman 32 years married 26 of them and still don't know what she see's in me to keep hanging out. Keep exercising and eating chicken it's good for ya and will make you young again.

That sounds just wonderful! I'm 50 now. Hopefully next year I'll get my second wind.

Ibuprofen (in the tone of homer Simpson) AAAAAAHHHHHHH.

Forgot about those yep every day like clock work. Wife sets them aleve (anyway that's what she says they are) beside my coffee I never see the bottle. She sez she likes them little blue pills um I mean oh never mind.

It's really not necessary to supplement a 17% protein ration. Upping the proteins to that degree can cause problems down the road if you are not careful.

I think she was talking about adding grains and this practice would lower the protein content as most grains run between 10-13% protein.

I got a small bottle of Bragg's with the mother and poured it into a gallon of the plain, generic stuff. Each time I'm getting low, I use some to innoculate a new gallon container. Makes it pretty darn cheap

Flax does have oil (fat) but it's the good kind...unsaturated and it's very high in Omega 3 anti oxidants. For no more than should be included, it will do much more good than harm. I give my girls about a tablespoon per week in their feed and mix it in my cereal as well.

Yes, flax is very good for them... and us. I wouldn't cut it out completely. Just feed less or less often.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Tried something different in the ff yesterday.

First the history: My ff has been going about a month. I make it in a small container that sits on the kitchen counter. Container holds about 1/2 -3/4 gallon. It contains mash (fresh-ground from a local feed mill, organic, no soy, fish meal & fertrell as the vitamin/mineral mix so this stuff is powdery). Started with ACV. (NO BAKERS YEAST. NEVER BAKERS YEAST!!!!!!!!!!!

)

Now the Present:
I had 1/2 of a packet of Caldwells Culture for Fresh Vegetables in my fridge. ( http://www.culturesforhealth.com/caldwell-starter-culture-for-fresh-vegetables.html )
(Disclaimer: I had purchased some of the cultures to try w/sauerkraut, pickles and other fermented veggies I make. I don't usually use any starter culture for these but decided I wanted to try some once to see if there was any difference in results.)
So...I decided to put the rest of that packet of cultures into my ff yesterday. This morning it looks better than I've ever seen it look - and smells great!

When I remove feed, I remove enough to feed, then add more back into the same container (as most of you do) so the cultures should continue to propagate and grow stronger. I'm pretty happy with what I'm seeing today! I think this will give the LABs (Lactic Acid Bacteria) the upper-hand in the mix and make a much better chance to dominate the mix - which is just what I want.