Giving my flock barley mixed

[centrarchid]

With some feeding regimens the dietary fiber can be advantagous. Especially when diet is nutrient dense as enabled by using some commercial formulations.

 

[LindaB220]

I routinely soak oats during winter. Birds will consume it first relative many other diet components. Duration of fermentation time and temperature both important to make nutrients more available.

What kind of oat do you use? I bought triple washed whole oats that the racehorses use. It took days of soaking and rinsing to sprout a tiny little bit. I was going to use it in the growout beds for the chickens with a caged top. Do you buy oats without hulls or crimped. I'd love to get some into my birds. It's so good for them. Other than making a porridge with leftovers, I have given them any that they will eat. Certainly not fermented several days.

 

[LindaB220]

That mash is probably just spend grain after the brewing process with is mainly made from the indigestible hulls

You are right Irishhenman, here's a link:

http://growlermag.com/spent-but-valuable-ideas-for-using-spent-grain/

 

[centrarchid]

What kind of oat do you use?  I bought triple washed whole oats that the racehorses use.  It took days of soaking and rinsing to sprout a tiny little bit.   I was going to use it in the growout beds for the chickens with a caged top.   Do you buy oats without hulls  or crimped.   I'd love to get some into my birds.   It's so good for them.  Other than making a porridge with leftovers, I have given them any that they will eat.  Certainly not fermented several days.  

Whole oats. > Five days. Only early stages of germination realized before fermentation kicks in. Keep less than 25% of intake based on dry weight basis.

 

[LindaB220]

Whole oats. > Five days. Only early stages of germination realized before fermentation kicks in. Keep less than 25% of intake based on dry weight basis.

I think I'll try soaking for a few days and then fermenting. Maybe they would eat it then.

 

[Chris09]

I think I'll try soaking for a few days and then fermenting. Maybe they would eat it then.

Just soaking is good enough, and they should go nuts over it.
My bird would eat soaked oats (or other grain as far as that go) all day if I would let them.
There are a number of "recipes" for soaked oats and grains out there, I myself have 3 or 4 that I use but the thing to remember is that the oats will let you know when there ready to feed.

 

[LindaB220]

Just soaking is good enough, and they should go nuts over it.
My bird would eat soaked oats (or other grain as far as that go) all day if I would let them.
There are a number of "recipes" for soaked oats and grains out there, I myself have 3 or 4 that I use but the thing to remember is that the oats will let you know when there ready to feed.

I wouldn't mind a recipe or two. Please

 

[Chris09]

I wouldn't mind a recipe or two. Please

I'll post a recipe or two up for ya. give me a minute to dig them up.

 

[Chris09]

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[Chris09]

Simple recipe -
Take a plastic container with a tight fitting lid and add the amount of oats that you will be using for one days feeding in it.
Add enough water to cover the oats about 2 inches and cover.
The next day a good bit of that water should be soaked up and you will have to add more water to cover the oats again.
Keep doing this until the oats don't soak up anymore water.
When the oats stop soaking up water it is done and is ready for feeding.
*Note - You can substitute some or all the water with apple juice. (the good stuff thats unfiltered and looks like they ground the tree up with the apples)

This is a little more complex and meant to feed a lot of birds. Also I found it on the net sometime back.

SOAKED OATS RECIPE
By Alan Butler
Use whole not rolled or crimped oats. The oats mixture does not affect the taste of the eggs nor the taste of the meat of the fowl.
Here is how I do my mix.....the oats do not smell bad and the fowl LOVE them.
1) Get a thirty two gallon PLASTIC heavy duty garbage container with a lid.
2) Into this container add the following ingredients:
1 gallon of apple cider vinegar (not apple flavored vinegar)
1 lb (454 grams) of dark brown sugar
1 cup of RED CELL vitamins
1 12oz (340 grams) container of the cheap brand of ground cinnamon
1 packet of vitamin / electrolyte powder
4 quarts of vegetable juice concentrate
3) Fill the container half full of water and stir all the ingredients thoroughly.
4) Add 100 lbs (45.5 Kg.) of whole recleaned Race Horse oats
5) Fill the container with water and cover.
6) after 24 hours add more water and do so everyday until the oats no longer soak it up.
I usually wait 5 to 7 days before I feed them depending on the outside temperature.
I feed a mix that has 25% oats in it. With this mix they do not smell or "go bad".
It seems to me from my experience with my fowl that the longer they soak the better the fowl love them.