Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[B J Hopkins]

It was 22 this morning at 7AM when I went out to feed my flock. Water was frozen. The tarp over my FF trash can (plastic) was frozen, even the lid was frozen to the can. BUT - the FF was not frozen in the slighest! It was warm and bubbled when I stired it. For the time being I'm leaving my FF outside on the stoop to one of the chicken houses.

My one question is about their poo. Most everyone mentions how much firmer their chicken droppings are. Mine are still messy. Any suggestions as to why?

 

[Beekissed]

Mine either and I take that as a bad sign. I let the chickens direct the health of this feed. They are not enthusiastic for this current mix and this is the first time this has happened since I've been feeding the FF. That means I need to go back to the drawing board and get back to a mix that isn't quite so fermented...I think I'm letting it get too far gone and maybe past healthy ferment. I'm going to examine my reservoir tomorrow and may dump it and start it anew.

The chickens are fine and acting fine but my nose is telling me that something is not as good as it once was and the chicken's may just be doing the same.

 

[Beekissed]

It was 22 this morning at 7AM when I went out to feed my flock. Water was frozen. The tarp over my FF trash can (plastic) was frozen, even the lid was frozen to the can. BUT - the FF was not frozen in the slighest! It was warm and bubbled when I stired it. For the time being I'm leaving my FF outside on the stoop to one of the chicken houses.

My one question is about their poo. Most everyone mentions how much firmer their chicken droppings are. Mine are still messy. Any suggestions as to why?

I just don't know. Are ALL of them messy or just a few?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

It was 22 this morning at 7AM when I went out to feed my flock. Water was frozen. The tarp over my FF trash can (plastic) was frozen, even the lid was frozen to the can. BUT - the FF was not frozen in the slighest! It was warm and bubbled when I stired it. For the time being I'm leaving my FF outside on the stoop to one of the chicken houses.

My one question is about their poo. Most everyone mentions how much firmer their chicken droppings are. Mine are still messy. Any suggestions as to why?

Hi BJ, What is in your mix you ferment, just feed, or is there different grains?

 

[B J Hopkins]

Hi BJ, What is in your mix you ferment, just feed, or is there different grains?

It is not all the birds having a problem with their droppings. Some are nice & firm, some are very runny. Same w/the Turkey's. I use a 2.1oz coffee can to measure my feed. I use Egg pellets, corn pellets and Scratch mixed w/rolled oats & or rolled corn (no corn right now). 4 scoops Egg pellets, 1 scoop corn pellets, 1 scoop scratch. I ferment w/Kombucha tea. It has great Scobi and gives a good smelling ferment to the feed. Sometimes it's oatmeal thickness, sometimes thicker. The chickens & Turkey LOVE the food. Use to be when I'd open the gate to the chicken yard I had a hard time keeping the chickens in while I dispensed feed. Now All the chickens flock around me so tightly I have a hard time not stepping on them! They clean up every scrap of the feed. I'd asked way earlier in this thread if the fermented Kombucha tea would be OK in place of the ACV and received good comments on it.

 

[Beekissed]

Maybe it's time to add a little of the ACV to the mix and see if it changes their bowel performance? I've not had any on the FF to have runny poops except the normal cecal poops that all chickens have now and again but they aren't exactly runny...just moist, as per usual.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Mine either and I take that as a bad sign. I let the chickens direct the health of this feed. They are not enthusiastic for this current mix and this is the first time this has happened since I've been feeding the FF. That means I need to go back to the drawing board and get back to a mix that isn't quite so fermented...I think I'm letting it get too far gone and maybe past healthy ferment. I'm going to examine my reservoir tomorrow and may dump it and start it anew.

The chickens are fine and acting fine but my nose is telling me that something is not as good as it once was and the chicken's may just be doing the same.

I'm glad you said this because I was thinking the same, I'll dump and start over that may be why they aren't eating it as good and I thought it was the weather.

 

[delisha]

I have learned that I have to empty, sanitize and start fresh every two weeks. I thinks it is the high humidity in my kitchen. You need to find what works for you.

 

[delisha]

Kombucha producers often claim that kombucha 'detoxifies the body and energizes the mind', although little research of its health benefits has been published.
A review of the published literature on the safety of kombucha suggests no specific oral toxicity in laboratory animals.While no randomized, case-controlled studies have been published in relation to its effect on humans, there has been suspicion in isolated incidents of its effect on the central nervous system, liver, metabolic acidosis, and toxicity in general, though no specific links have been established. Acute conditions, such as lactic acidosis, caused by drinking of kombucha, are more likely to occur in persons with medical conditions.Other reports suggest care should be taken when taking medical drugs or hormones while regularly drinking kombucha.[14] It may also cause allergic reactions.
Many claims have focused on glucuronic acid[citation needed], a compound used by the liver for detoxification. The idea that glucuronic acid is present in kombucha is based on the observation that glucuronic acid conjugates (glucuronic acid waste chemicals) are increased in the urine after consumption.

 

[3 NH reds]

Maybe it's time to add a little of the ACV to the mix and see if it changes their bowel performance? I've not had any on the FF to have runny poops except the normal cecal poops that all chickens have now and again but they aren't exactly runny...just moist, as per usual.

acv in the water does do wonders, I just dump some in the 55 gal barrel. I also add some to the mash now and then. When I 1st started I would have to dump the starter liquid after a few batches, now I have a slurry/ pitch starter that they love and I could not even say how many batches it has fermented. Couldn't say what changed but I will take it.