I started fermenting!!!!!

[ChickNanny13]

I have a question, what do you put the fermented food in to feed the chickens? Possibly a flat pan? i have a hanging feeder for the chick grower and I know that will not work...I'm thinking of trying this method.

Whatever you use do not use metal, utensil nor feeding pan, is what I've read.

lazy gardener love the chip & dip feeder, prior I just used a square dog dish but the girls I got now prefer the red trough chick feeder minus the top. Got in mounted to a 2x4 but think a 4x6 would be a better base to keep form tipping.

 

[chicks are life]

I added a couple scoops of chicken and chick feed to the already fermented feed that's started it was to thin.
Leaving it over night and feeding it in the morning

 

[den talarek]

No such thing as a stupid question. The best information can be find in Tikki Jane's article: https://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

Fermenting the feed produces probiotics. It breaks down the antinutrients in the grains. It acidifies the gut to make it more resistant to pathogens. Chickens who eat FF have longer villi in their guts. Those villi are the structures that hold the capillaries that absorb the nutrients. More and longer villi = better nutritional absorption. Chicken poo does not stink as much when chickens eat FF. Chicken poo is dryer when they eat FF. They get better nutrition, so they don't eat as much. There is NO waste. Rodents and pest birds can't carry the feed off like they can do with dry feed. Your feed bill will go down. The fermentation process produces Vitamin B-12, greatly increases the amount of Lysine, and Methionine in the feed, making it very nearly a complete protein.

No such thing as a stupid question. The best information can be find in Tikki Jane's article: https://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

Fermenting the feed produces probiotics. It breaks down the antinutrients in the grains. It acidifies the gut to make it more resistant to pathogens. Chickens who eat FF have longer villi in their guts. Those villi are the structures that hold the capillaries that absorb the nutrients. More and longer villi = better nutritional absorption. Chicken poo does not stink as much when chickens eat FF. Chicken poo is dryer when they eat FF. They get better nutrition, so they don't eat as much. There is NO waste. Rodents and pest birds can't carry the feed off like they can do with dry feed. Your feed bill will go down. The fermentation process produces Vitamin B-12, greatly increases the amount of Lysine, and Methionine in the feed, making it very nearly a complete protein.

 

[den talarek]

can i ferment soya?

 

[lazy gardener]

As in soy beans? soy meal? Is it a feed that you normally use?

 

[den talarek]

As in soy beans? soy meal? Is it a feed that you normally use?

i use whole wheat,barly and most cerals that are harvested localy, but my birds where eating feathers due to lack of protien, so i began to add 15% soya meal to rations and this stopped the feather eating. just habit mixing it, was concerned maybe it was not good to ferment. den [i live in poland]

 

[den talarek]

i use whole wheat,barly and most cerals that are harvested localy, but my birds where eating feathers due to lack of protien, so i began to add 15% soya meal to rations and this stopped the feather eating. just habit mixing it, was concerned maybe it was not good to ferment. den [i live in poland]

sorry, can i feed ferment to ducks and turkey as well as chickens

 

[barred2rock]

sorry, can i feed ferment to ducks and turkey as well as chickens

Yes, any animal can eat FF including yourself.

 

[lazy gardener]

i use whole wheat,barly and most cerals that are harvested localy, but my birds where eating feathers due to lack of protien, so i began to add 15% soya meal to rations and this stopped the feather eating. just habit mixing it, was concerned maybe it was not good to ferment. den [i live in poland]

As soy meal is often added to chicken feed, I see no reason why you can't ferment it along with your other grains. Glad the soy has stopped the feather eating.Welcome to BYC.

sorry, can i feed ferment to ducks and turkey as well as chickens

Yes, your ducks and turkeys will also benefit. Just be sure you are giving them enough protein. I am not sure how much protein those birds require, so you'll have to do a bit of research on that if you have not done so already.

 

[JennTNchicks]

Hi all! I have 9 chickens of varying ages...reading on fermenting feed. Just have a question... do you only ferment scratch grains or can you ferment a mix of scratch grains with protein layer crumble?