Ok, first let me apologize for being a bit snippy earlier. I'm sorry for that.
It was not my intention to slander any scientists. My problem with the scientifically formulated rations is that they were created as a result in the findings of "What is the least amount we can feed this animal and still keep it alive and most importantly, keep it producing eggs?" True, there are other rations out there that are a bit better.
I don't want my birds to just barely survive.
I've read those reports about dry matter and crude protein and they just drive me crazy. They say that fermenting feed is not good because it reduces proteins. No it doesn't. So what if it is wet? The birds can eat the dry pellets and then drink some water and guess what, the food is now wet. Fermenting the feed is highly beneficial as it is somewhat predigested and this makes it easier for the chickens to digest and because of that, they get more of the nutrients out of it. I never said that any scientist ever stated that water is bad for chickens. I was speaking only in regard to the bird eating a dry pellet and then taking a drink of water, essentially reducing the protein of the pellet because of the weight change etc., etc., etc. Ugh.
Anyway, this thread is about growing fodder. There have been wild jungle fowl that have never eaten a single commercial pellet and they are super healthy. They can reproduce and their chicks can survive. I do not advise anyone just quitting the commercial rations unless they have some particularly lush surroundings loaded with insects, amphibians and small rodents. I live in a barren desert with stray dogs, coyotes, hawks and reportedly, mountain lions too. So, my birds are penned and what they get to eat is what I bring to them. I'm willing to work hard for the healthy benefit of my flock. All of their feed (pellets and whole grains) is fermented, except for the alfalfa they get. I try to grow fodder but haven't been extremely successful at that. I am pretty good at growing sprouts though so they get sprouts mixed into their fermented feed almost every evening.
It was not my intention to slander any scientists. My problem with the scientifically formulated rations is that they were created as a result in the findings of "What is the least amount we can feed this animal and still keep it alive and most importantly, keep it producing eggs?" True, there are other rations out there that are a bit better.
I don't want my birds to just barely survive.
I've read those reports about dry matter and crude protein and they just drive me crazy. They say that fermenting feed is not good because it reduces proteins. No it doesn't. So what if it is wet? The birds can eat the dry pellets and then drink some water and guess what, the food is now wet. Fermenting the feed is highly beneficial as it is somewhat predigested and this makes it easier for the chickens to digest and because of that, they get more of the nutrients out of it. I never said that any scientist ever stated that water is bad for chickens. I was speaking only in regard to the bird eating a dry pellet and then taking a drink of water, essentially reducing the protein of the pellet because of the weight change etc., etc., etc. Ugh.
Anyway, this thread is about growing fodder. There have been wild jungle fowl that have never eaten a single commercial pellet and they are super healthy. They can reproduce and their chicks can survive. I do not advise anyone just quitting the commercial rations unless they have some particularly lush surroundings loaded with insects, amphibians and small rodents. I live in a barren desert with stray dogs, coyotes, hawks and reportedly, mountain lions too. So, my birds are penned and what they get to eat is what I bring to them. I'm willing to work hard for the healthy benefit of my flock. All of their feed (pellets and whole grains) is fermented, except for the alfalfa they get. I try to grow fodder but haven't been extremely successful at that. I am pretty good at growing sprouts though so they get sprouts mixed into their fermented feed almost every evening.
