How to make a homemade feeder? And, is whole corn good to feed?

[Al Gerhart]

So some of the starches are turned to sugar and then into protein. That is a protein increase, correct? But the calories don't change. Still higher protein is good. Thanks for explaining the process.

 

[Manhen]

So some of the starches are turned to sugar and then into protein. That is a protein increase, correct? But the calories don't change. Still higher protein is good. Thanks for explaining the process.

Glad to espouse forth..., the calories do go down, measurable apparently but not enough to hurt I think. I would expect almost all the sugars to get eaten up. I don't know how much ethanol gets through, but the ramaki has a marinated hint to it....

 

[Al Gerhart]

Glad to espouse forth..., the calories do go down, measurable apparently but not enough to hurt I think. I would expect almost all the sugars to get eaten up. I don't know how much ethanol gets through, but the ramaki has a marinated hint to it....

I suppose calories going down is expected but higher protein means you could use a cheaper feed like corn to raise the calories.

One point though, and it wasn't you that claimed this, fermenting the feed doesn't double the feed or nutrients, or cut your feed bill in half, it doubles the volume of the feed. Kind of like adding lacquer thinner to lacquer paint, makes it spray easier but you gotta spray more of it to make up for the lower solids content.

 

[Manhen]

I suppose calories going down is expected but higher protein means you could use a cheaper feed like corn to raise the calories.

One point though, and it wasn't you that claimed this, fermenting the feed doesn't double the feed or nutrients, or cut your feed bill in half, it doubles the volume of the feed. Kind of like adding lacquer thinner to lacquer paint, makes it spray easier but you gotta spray more of it to make up for the lower solids content.

they fill up faster on less dry weight. Gluttons crap it out like Professor Schweetie. He is a glutton, always attacking the newest pile i dole out. Medium pile under his chin. Big pile across dias. He goes for da big one.

 

[Manhen]

I suppose calories going down is expected but higher protein means you could use a cheaper feed like corn to raise the calories.

One point though, and it wasn't you that claimed this, fermenting the feed doesn't double the feed or nutrients, or cut your feed bill in half, it doubles the volume of the feed. Kind of like adding lacquer thinner to lacquer paint, makes it spray easier but you gotta spray more of it to make up for the lower solids content.

Also. It is an ancient technique. Must be good

 

[floppysquirrel04]

Doubting Thomas here, no doubt the volume of the feed doubles but does its nutritional value change? I would think not unless some sugars are turned into starches or vice versa and somehow unlocked nutrients that were previously unavailable. palatability increased, sure.

Laying hens have one main restraint in eggs per year; the ability to ingest and digest enough protein and other nutrients needed to produce eggs. Which is why the chicken industry came up with laying pellets, not too much that gets wasted, not too little that egg production drops.

Perhaps by feeding swollen feed the bird might eat more if it is more palatable but if it eats twice as much you haven't gained anything, right? If you are feeding a quarter pound of feed per bird per day and its volume is double, that is still a quarter pound per bird.

Our friends raised meat birds and conducted an expirament. One year, they bought some meat birds and only fed fermented. They lost 2 out of the 50, and they were about 10lbs each, incredibly healthy. These were Cornish x. The next year they got the same amount of the same kind from the same place, fed the same food but not fermented. Over a dozen got sick and died, and they were really scrawny. They lived with her layers, who were healthy, so it wasn’t a fluke with the birds. Mine have become more active since I stared fermenting. I really think that the nutritional value increases with the fermented food. That’s just my opinion, so others might have other experiences.

 

[Manhen]

...not fermented. Over a dozen got sick and died, and they were really scrawny....... I really think that the nutritional value increases with the fermented food.

I prefer my grain products fermented but no more It made me plump.

 

[BYC Project Manager]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if anyone knows how to make a simple, easy, whole corn/layer pellet feeder for chickens? I would like something that keeps the food dry when it rains. I was also wondering if it is a good idea to feed whole corn?
Thanks!
- Clucky

Great conversation with the members! Thank you for starting this thread! This has been featured on our homepage.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Wow, that's cool!
Thanks!

 

[BReeder!]

I haven't read through this entire thread, but skimmed the first few pages at least. What I do is mix 1 part cracked corn and 2 parts poultry feed. I tend to use a layer feed, but occasionally switch to meat bird if it goes on sale, especially during a molt or freezing winter temps when the added protein goes a long a way. Our birds also get scraps occasionally, sometimes as a big big pile and other times as just bits depending on how much we have to give. The scraps make up a very small portion of their diet the majority of the time though. I also offer grit and eggshell. I feel that grit is very important when introducing whole or cracked corn since they need to "chew" it in their gizzards.