How much fermented feed per bird?

[azygous]

That would be dry.

But half a cup of feed per chicken is merely an average. Laying hens and large breeds eat up to twice that amount. Bantams may eat less.

I fine tune the amount to my own mixed flock. Everyone's flock has a different composition. Each flock keeper needs to adjust the amount to serve their own flock's needs.

 

[Lortiz]

That would be dry.

But half a cup of feed per chicken is merely an average. Laying hens and large breeds eat up to twice that amount. Bantams may eat less.

I fine tune the amount to my own mixed flock. Everyone's flock has a different composition. Each flock keeper needs to adjust the amount to serve their own flock's needs.

So that would be about 2.5-3 oz dry per chicken, depending on the density of the chicken feed. That sounds good. I guess I'll first have to try different amounts dry only so I can determine how much they are actually eating each day, since theyve always been free fed. Then go from there to figure out how much I want to ferment. Thank you!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

So that would be about 2.5-3 oz dry per chicken, depending on the density of the chicken feed. That sounds good. I guess I'll first have to try different amounts dry only so I can determine how much they are actually eating each day, since theyve always been free fed. Then go from there to figure out how much I want to ferment. Thank you!

The "thumb rule" is 1/4# per adult per day for an "average" bird, but as @azygous correctly notes, every one of us has different birds, different feeds, different management methods, and different climates - all of which can adjust the "thumb rule" in ways that don't reduce to a simple formula.

Each of us goes through a stage which might crudely be called "F around and find out" as we discover what works best for our individual circumstances. But start w/ 1/4# per bird per day dry, and adjust from there. You will almost certainly discover, once you have things dialed in, that needs change throughout the year - more if you free range (as I do).

 

[Lortiz]

The "thumb rule" is 1/4# per adult per day for an "average" bird, but as @azygous correctly notes, every one of us has different birds, different feeds, different management methods, and different climates - all of which can adjust the "thumb rule" in ways that don't reduce to a simple formula.

Each of us goes through a stage which might crudely be called "F around and find out" as we discover what works best for our individual circumstances. But start w/ 1/4# per bird per day dry, and adjust from there. You will almost certainly discover, once you have things dialed in, that needs change throughout the year - more if you free range (as I do).

Yes, that is the stage where I am now. Haha! Switching from free feeding, I had no real idea how much they have been eating per day. I gave them 4 oz per chicken yesterday and they didn't eat a lot of it. But they need to get "equilibrated" to only dry feed with no ferment or produce so it can level out. I think I need to keep adjusting dry feed amounts until I get that figured out, then convert some or all to fermented and see how it goes from there. Thank you!

 

[henaynei]

While fermentation does increase the bioavailability and digestabilibty of the feed and eventually decrease the volume of dry feed used by 1/3-1/2… for me the biggest value is the fact that they are forced to eat everything in the feed.
What I mean by that is, I buy a very good quality organic cracked grain feed. The feed does have in it some additives for nutritional support and balance that are in a fairly powdered form. The chickens are able to leave most of that in the feed pan when fed dry. But when permitted all of that nutritional support becomes inexorably incorporated in the final product and they consume it all. Therefore, I’m not weeping every time I empty the feed bowl and I’m throwing out all that extra nutritional support. ;-)

 

[Agincajun]

I've been feeding FF for years now. My flock very consistently consumes around a half a cup of fermented feed per day, maybe slightly more.

I have 23 chickens, and I scoop up six cups of FF in the morning first thing to feed them, and six more cups in the afternoon. By roosting time, there is maybe a quarter cup left in the dishes, and I scrape it together, and a few of the chickens adore eating it off the spoon. No waste!

So did you start off with about 3/4 of a cup to a full cup prior to fermenting?

 

[azygous]

So did you start off with about 3/4 of a cup to a full cup prior to fermenting?

Don't get hung up on measurements. Just pour dry feed into a five gallon bucket and cover it with warm water. Add a splash of ACV to start it off. This initial ferment takes about 36 to 48 hours. Then you feed one cup per chicken per day. Some chickens eat more, some less. It's not high math.

Save a bit of this ferment to start your next batch. The subsequent ferments will take only 24 hours. I kept two buckets going at once so I never ran out. After time you will be able to judge how much your flock eats and adjust the amounts.